Energy & climate:
LIFEnews features 2007

Amassing experience in biomass

The ILUBE project from Slovakia (“Integrated logistics for use of biomass energy” - LIFE03 ENV/SK/000577) provides an excellent example of how LIFE funding can assist in the development of markets for new energy-related products. The success of the project, delivered by beneficiary the BIOMASA Association, has been recognised internationally with two awards, the European 'Climate Star' award in 2004 for local climate protection activities, and, more recently, the 2006 National Energy Globe award for Slovakia. Energy globe is a prestigious award for projects contributing to sustainability. The European Parliament is one of the lead partners behind the award.

The focus of ILUBE was biofuels production. When the project began in 2003, biofuels hardly made any contribution to the Slovakian energy mix, in contrast to neighbouring Austria, where they accounted for around 15 percent of fuel consumption. ILUBE concentrated on wood pellets made from spruce and beech sawdust. From 1999, when the BIOMASA Association was formed, to 2002, a number of preparatory activities took place: pilot wood-pellet boilers were built, and feasibility studies were conducted. The securing of LIFE funding, as well as support from other financers, allowed the BIOMASA Association to step up to a larger scale, and start work on a wood-pellet production plant.

Biomass in the form of wood pellets offers major advantages for heating compared to coal and oil. Wood pellets produce fewer emissions and reduce smog, and their use means that less fuel has to be imported and transported. Biomass is also cost-effective, especially in a situation when the price of natural gas is rising.

As well as constructing a production facility, the project worked to establish a demand for biomass by negotiating with local authorities and installing wood-pellet boilers in schools – an ideal use for the burners. The project reconstructed boiler rooms in 44 public facilities and also tested smaller-scale boilers in private homes. Most have a capacity of up to 2,500kW, and are centrally monitored by BIOMASA, enabling efficient control of the production of biomass and the logistics of supply.

The new production facility built by the project is located at Kysucky Lieskovec. It began operation in October 2004. At the plant, moisture in the sawdust used to produce the pellets is boiled off and large magnets remove any scrap metal content. The sawdust is then compressed to make pellets of around 1.5cm in length. The production capacity of the plant is 12,000 tonnes of pellets annually.

The project achieved reductions of 15,920 tonnes of carbon dioxide, 53 tonnes of sulphur dioxide, 15 tonnes of nitrogen oxide, 77 tonnes of particulates and 3,500 tonnes of carbon monoxide. It has had positive results in terms of both energy and money savings. One public institute, NEDU Lubochna, reduced its fuel costs by around €45,000 after installation of a wood-pellet based heating system. The beneficiaries believe there is scope for expansion, and biomass could supply up to 20 percent of Slovakia's energy needs. Initial investment costs for biomass are higher than for fossil fuel boilers, but the long-term cost savings and benefits of biomass provide a strong justification for supporting the fledgling industry.

For more information, visit the project website.

Integrated logistics for use of biomass energy
LIFE03 ENV/SK/000577