Conference Information

The European Biomass Conference & Exhibition has taken place from 2 to 6 June 2008 for the 16th edition. The Conference & Exhibition was supported by the European Commission, the Spanish Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce, the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE), UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Valencia Agency for Energy (AVEN), Regional Government of Valencia (Generalitat Valenciana), the World Council for Renewable Energy (WCRE), the European Biomass Industry Association (EUBIA), CORDIS and the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign 2005-2008 (SEE).

During these five days, scientists, industry, suppliers, funding bodies and decision-makers were invited to meet, discuss and promote the awareness of the biomass community. After the decision of the EU Council of Ministers in January 2007 to increase the share of renewable energies, biomass utilisation has to be seen in a new light: it is one of the few options which can provide a substantial part of this share in the near future. It is universal in its use, ranging from biofuel for mobile applications to heat and electricity in the stationary sector.

The international Programme Committee made up of representatives from research, industry and politics put together an excellent program of around 1.000 plenary, oral and visual presentations. Parallel to the Conference were the international biomass and bioenergy exhibition, an opportunity to make business contacts, inform about state-of-the-art technologies for new marketing strategies, cultivate business relations for innovative activities and prepare for the increasing growth of the biomass market.

The Linneborn Award

The Johannes Linneborn Prize was established in 1994 for outstanding contributions to the development of energy from biomass. Johannes Linneborn, who lived 1899-1991, was a pioneer in modern biomass utilization. In his professional life of almost 70 years, his interest covered a wide range of activities from agriculture, energy and transport to health and nutrition. His credo was the necessity to integrate all human activities in the natural cycle of life.

This year the prize went to Prof. Dr. José Roberto Moreira.

For the last 30 years, Dr. Roberto Moreira has had a very intensive, highly-professional life, predominantly in the energy sector of Brazil with a focus on bioenergy. He has been a key figure in the promotion and development of specific bioenergy markets, particularly of bio-electricity and biofuels in Brazil. He has contributed to the elaboration of strategy documents for the Brazilian Government and the United Nations. Dr. Moreira served as Under-Secretary of Energy for the Federal Ministry of Mines and Energy. He also served as Vice-President of the Companhia Energética of São Paulo. He was co-founder of Brazil’s National Electricity Conservation Programme (PROCEL) and of Brazil’s Petroleum Conservation Programme (CONPET) and founding Member of the National Institute for Energy Efficiency (INEE). He participates as an active speaker in the most important conferences worldwide on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. He is the author of more than 200 papers on the subjects of physics, energy and environment. Currently Dr. Moreira serves as a Senior Technical Expert to MGM International. He is also the Chairman of the Board for the Brazilian Biomass Reference Centre (CENBIO); Technical Director of Negawatt Ltd.; Professor of Energy at the Mauà Institute of Technology; and Professor of both Physics and Energy at the University of São Paulo. The conference is pleased to honour an eminent figure in biomass and bioenergy development that has provided leadership worldwide. Dr. Moreira joined the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UN-IPCC) as lead author and convening lead author since 1994 and was one of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize laureate by his scientific work.

Poster Awards

Considered as one of the main features of the Conference in which the most outstanding visual presentations were awarded. The award giving procedures were based on the quality of the contents reported and on the quality of the presentation.
The poster awards were announced and delivered during the Closing Session on Friday, 7 September to:

Topic “Biomass Resources”
M. van Eckert for his contribution “Potential of Sustainable Biomass Production in Developing Countries”.

Topic “Thermochemical conversion – Gasification/Pyrolysis”
M. Huber, F. Koidl, G. Kreutner, A. Giovannini, M. Kleinhappl, C. Roschitz, H. Hofbauer, F. Gruber, J. Krueger for their work on “Multi-staged Gasification Systems. A New Approach”.

Topic “Thermochemical conversion – Combustion”
T. Florea, S. Caillat, B. Baudoin, B. Taupin for their work “Numerical Modelling of Gas Phase Wood Combustion in a Traveling Grate Furnace”.

Topic “Biological conversion/Biorefineries”
G. Marcotullio, H.J. Heidweiller, W. De Jong for their work “Reaction Kinetic Assessment for Selective Production of Furfural from C-5 Sugars Contained in Biomass”.

Topic “Biofuels”
M. Schubert, J. W. Regler, M. Brandenberger, C. Ludwig, F. Vogel, for their work”Catalytic Hydrothermal Gasification of Wet Biomass and Organic Wastes to Synthetic Natural Gas – Salt Separation as a Crucial Step in a Continuously Operated Plant“.

Topic “Liquid biofuels”
M. A. González Salazar, E. Leal Tirado, for their work “Technical and Environmental Analysis of Co-production of Bio-diesel and Electricity from Coconut”.

Topic “Market”
C.R.P. Belchior, P.P. Pereira, for their work “The Use of Biodiesel in Railroad Locomotives”.

Topic “Policies”
H. J. Croezen, S. F. H. de Boer, for their work “Jatropha: a Sustainable and Affordable Bio-energy Source?”.

The EUBIA Award

The Board of Directors of EUBIA (European Biomass Industry Association) has presented for the fifth time the EUBIA Exhibitor Award for the advancement of Biomass Industry. The prize is aimed to award an industry representative who, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of the Biomass industry and its market. The winner has been announced during the Closing Ceremony on Friday the 6th of June.

This year the prize went to Global Green (EU).

Please find here the Laudatio.