The message about bioenergy’s opportunities is now being spread around the world.
In the lead-up to the World Bioenergy 2012 conference and trade fair that will be held in Jönköping, Sweden at the end of May, the organisers Svebio and Elmia held a “Tea View” event to present the upcoming event to ambassadors and foreign trade offices. No fewer than 86 diplomats from 45 countries, including 11 ambassadors, came to find out more about bioenergy.
“The large attendance reflects the great interest in bioenergy around the world,” comments Tomas Kåberger, chairman of Japan Renewable Energy Foundation and chairman of World Bioenergy 2012. “There is a lot of interest in finding out everything that is happening in the bioenergy sector in Sweden since bioenergy is Sweden’s largest energy source with over 30 % of the energy supply. The aim of World Bioenergy is to combine the latest research with demonstrations of functioning bioenergy solutions, and also to provide a meeting place for business deals.”
World Bioenergy is a tradition for Advantage Austria – no fewer than 12 companies will share its stand
“We’ve participated every time since the beginning in 2004,” comments the embassy’s trade attaché, Dietmar Schwank. “This year we have a large stand of 130 square metres, and are thereby the largest exhibiting embassy at the fair.”
“We’re bringing twelve bioenergy companies from Austria to World Bioenergy. The companies cover a broad range within the bioenergy sector, from biofuel preparation and biogas for diesel, to boilers. Some of them already have distributors in Sweden whilst others are new to the market and want to find representatives. They all have expert knowledge of their field. Like Sweden, Austria is a leading bioenergy nation. Several other companies from Austria will also have their own stands at World Bioenergy, such as Andritz and Strabag Energy & Environment.”
The following companies from Austria will exhibit at the Advantage Austria stand:
Bachmann electronic GmbH, BDI – BioEnergy International AG, Hargassner GmbH, KCO Cogeneration und Bioenergie GmbH, KWB – Kraft und Wärme aus Biomasse GmbH, Komptech GmbH, MAG-Motoren GmbH, R.M.G. FF-Auskleidungen GmbH, Schaumann BioEnergy GmbH & Co. KG, Scheuch GmbH, Solarfocus GmbH and Windhager Zentralheizung GmbH.
German ambassador stresses market oriented development of renewable energy
German ambassador Harald Kindermann stressed that the development of renewable energy must be market oriented if it is to have the right driving forces. Due to the phasing out of the German nuclear power, the German people are increasingly aware that they must change their lifestyle to achieve a sustainable society, not least in terms of energy consumption. This awareness increases the possibilities of developing sustainable energy alternatives. Kindermann also emphasized the importance of improving energy efficiency, and wants to work for a unified energy market in Europe.
Sustainability day
The global debate about bioenergy is currently focused mainly on how bioenergy production can be done in a sustainable way. World Bioenergy 2012 will therefore feature a special Sustainability Day in collaboration with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), which is now implementing a major project on the standardisation of sustainability criteria for bioenergy. Sweden is playing an important role in the project.
Bioenergy meets 32 percent of Sweden’s energy needs
The managing director of the Swedish Bioenergy Association Svebio, Gustav Melin, reminded the assembled diplomats that bioenergy currently supplies 32 percent of Sweden’s energy needs, and has overtaken oil as the nation’s largest energy source. He also presented data showing that bioenergy is by far the largest renewable energy source in the EU and will increase the most relative to other sources from now until 2020.
Jakob Hirsmark of Elmia explained that a number of countries are planning to have their own stands and events at World Bioenergy 2012 and the collaboration with EEN on arranging the largest B2B matchmaking event continues. The World Bioenergy event attracts participants from around the world.
