For the fourth time this year, the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences hosted the Biomass Conference—for the first time under the new name “Biomass to Power and Heat.” With nearly 80 participants, there was great interest in the topic of this workshop-style event, which fostered a good working atmosphere and sparked engaging discussions.
After the colloquium was opened by the event chair, Prof. Tobias Zschunke, the diverse audience attended interesting presentations on the use of biomass tailored to electricity demand —this year’s conference theme—and engaged in lively discussions of the presented findings during the breaks. Participants engaged in particularly intensive discussions regarding the current legal framework, aspects of biomass supply, and opportunities for increasing plant flexibility.
The presenters had traveled from all over Germany, as well as from Switzerland, Italy, and Austria. They primarily represent privately and publicly funded research institutions, energy suppliers, and specialized federal and state agencies. In addition to the usual plenary session, six companies presented themselves this year as part of a separate business forum, offering conference participants—in addition to presentations on company-specific development and future plans—additional opportunities to ask detailed questions and offer suggestions.
The main focus of the event has always been the intensive exchange between science and practice —an added value appreciated both by the practice-oriented researchers at the University of Applied Sciences Zittau/Görlitz and by those companies and institutions that deal with the topic of energy from biomass on a daily basis in a practical context.
The “Biomass to Power and Heat” conference was first held in 2011 under the name “Electric Energy from Biomass.” It grew out of a session on biomass utilization held in 2008. While the conference was almost ahead of its time back then, it is now a key player in the current discussion about the future building blocks of our energy system. Over the past five years, the conference has therefore become a staple in the field of biomass energy utilization.
Following the symposium, a conference proceedings volume will be compiled in collaboration with the individual speakers and subsequently published. The organizers will hold further events on this topic at the Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences in the coming years.
Contact:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Tobias Zschunke
, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Phone: 03583 61-1396
Email: T.Zschunke@hszg.de