FTGPS&OFSHZ$POWFSHFODF EVENT Bioenergy International No 80, 4-2015 41 demonstrations showcasing modern wood fuel production and forestry management, 50 stoves and fireplaces in operation on site, international business meetings, study tours in the local area and more than 50 interviews shot on site during the fours days of the event for BoisEnergie.tv. The Innovation competition again enabled the movers and shakers of 2015 to present their latest product and service releases. Summing it up, the jury remarked upon the trend that as the sector grows more mature, innovations no longer deal with a specific item of equipment but are instead combinations of different advanced technologies. Each detail undergoes in-depth study, culminating in the best of available wood energy innovations. A big first this year, enthusiastically welcomed by the jury, was the presence of new wood fuels among the candidates. Biogaz Europe The 5th edition of Biogaz Europe attracted 3 500 visitors from across the agricultural, agro-alimentary and waste management sectors, and 220 exhibitors and represented companies from across the entire biogas and biomethane spectrums… a significant increase from 130 in 2014! Plenary conferences and technical workshops have been a key highlight of the event programme as usual, attended by around 1200 participants. Conferences included the current state of biogas markets throughout Europe, and the medium/long term synergy opportunities with hydrogen & wood energy sectors, while technical workshops provided status updates and best practices on various topics (e.g. biomethane, dry anaerobic digestion, risk management, territorial development, digestates etc.), outlined interesting perspectives for the future and often opened fruitful debates on the ever growing biogas market in France. These conferences and workshops, together with the exhibition, were complemented by a study tour to AgriBiométhane, the first biomethane injection project in the West of France. Finally, 2015 saw in the first Biogaz Europe “Innovation Competition”, already a wellknown - and much anticipated - moment in the Salon Bois Energie. The Biogaz Europe Innovation Competition jury highlighted the quality and quantity of applications in a wide range of sub-sectors of the biogas market. Nevertheless, they encouraged even more applicants for the next editions as they know the innovative spirit of the sector is very strong. Hypac Expo The premier edition of Hypac Expo attracted 1 500 visitors with a particular interest in exploring the links between biogas / solid bioenergy and hydrogen and fuel cells and 22 sectorial exhibitors. The conferences highlighted the links with bioenergies - the specificity of this event - but also covered more classical yet interesting topics such as power to gas, applications for mobility and stationary uses, as well as a review of European hydrogen and fuel cell sectors. Thanks to the English-French simultaneous translation, these conferences attracted a widely international audience, and high quality speakers from across Europe. For such an innovative sector, the Hypac Expo Innovation Competition was a natural component of the event. A “Hypac d’Or” was therefore awarded to an innovative micro-generation project, utilising biomass-sourced syngas in a small-scale solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC ), paving the way for highly efficient decentralised power generation. This project illustrates once again the spirit of convergence between energies and technologies, which led to the joint organisation of Hypac Expo with the Salon Bois Energie and Biogaz Europe. Editor’s note: The full report detailing the results and the jury’s remarks on the innovation competitions can on www.boisenergie.com. Text & photos: Paul Stuart, BEES - Bioenergy Events and Services BI80/4889/JH
Bioenergy no 4 july 2015
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