BTN - The Bioenergy Technology Transfer Network

Context

Biofuel production and use support both the mitigation of climate change and the creation of new businesses for rural areas. The EU has set the goal of doubling the share of use of renewable energy sources by 2010 from the 1998 level. The target for the increase of bioenergy usage is even more ambitious.

The bioenergy sector in Europe has traditionally been operating mostly on local or regional level. Today, the challenging target set for the increase of bioenergy use makes the promotion and mobilization of best available practices and technologies necessary at European level. This requires international networking and close co-operation between private companies and public authorities.

Current research and development in bioenergy has resulted in reliable technologies. However, these new technologies are not implemented widely enough and efficient end-user services are missing. Only few strategic measures have been developed to promote sustainable use of the bioenergy potential through spatial planning processes. The Bioenergy Technology Transfer Network –Project (BTN) was established in 2002 to create exemplary models for these challenges.

Applying the newest know-how to practical problems

Led by the Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences, Bioenergy Development Centre in Finland, the BTN assembled six other partners from five countries: the Jyväskylä Science Park (Finland), ZAB (Zukunfts Agentur Brandenburg GmbH, Germany), CEBra (Centre for Energy Technology Brandenburg GmbH, Germany), Luua Metsanduskool (the Luua College of Forestry, Estonia), Energidalen i Sollefteå AB (Energy Valley in Sollefteå Ltd., Sweden) and Energigården (Energy Farm, Norway).

The BTN project worked with applied R&D in the fields of biofuel production, refining and combustion. Another important part of the project was the training of operators, including entrepreneurs, new biofuel users, decision makers and advisers.

The main outputs of the project include regional bioenergy strategies and development plans, international bioenergy training programme packages, and a network of regional Bioenergy Development Centres (BDC-Network).

International seminars have been organised.

The resources, production and use of bioenergy in partner regions have been analysed and bottlenecks in the chain of bioenergy utilization have been identified. The results are documented in the publication “Bioenergy Environment and Development, Äänismaa, P. & Nummi, M. (Eds.). 2005.”.

As a result of a close collaboration between Jyväskylä Polytechnic (Finland) and Energy Farm (Norway) a one-year training programme on wood energy (WFE) started in September 2004 with students from three European countries.

Learning material created by the BTN partners has been exchanged in order to improve local and national bioenergy training. A training and information package - “Bioenergy Route – Leading Know-How in Central Finland” - has been prepared and published.

Results

Bioenergy markets have grown and the preparation of the regional bioenergy strategies has increased the understanding of the spatial planning procedures in the partner regions.

Pilot and development actions have resulted in more efficient fuel and heat production methods and technology (for example, the technology transfer of forest chip boiler from Germany to Norway, and the transfer of chipping technology from Finland to Norway).

An innovative multiple-use mobile dryer for wood and agro fuels has been developed.

The Finnish Regional Bioenergy Development Centre (BDC) was opened in May 2003. Since then, it has integrated R&D components.

CEBra GmbH established the BDC Brandenburg ("Wood Energy Centre Eberswalde") in August 2005. The BDC is located on the premises of the Brandenburg Forestry Authority at the wood campus of the University of Applied Sciences Eberswalde.

In Norway, the Energy Farm as a national Bioenergy Demonstration Centre has been improved with more demonstration activities and further theoretical training programmes. The Bioenergy Technology Transfer Network has led to the three-year BioReg Hadeland project, which aims at developing the region Hadeland into an outstanding (national) bioenergy region focusing on bioenergy in practice.