The
purpose of the Symposium was to discuss the
potential for renewable energy in the Amberg-Sulzbach
region, including visits to renewable energy
demonstration sites.Friday
5 October 2001
Climate Change - Impact on Bavaria
Wolfgang Seiler, Fraunhofer Institute for Umwelt
Forschung
The
presentation set out current research on climate
change, including climate change models that
project the likely impact of global warming
on Bavaria. These suggest that there will be
an increase of summer temperatures of up to
5° C, with winter temperature increases
of less than 1° C. Rainfall will decrease
in summer, but increase in winter. There may
be an increase in storm activity. Current action
to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases will
not counter these trends - the damage has already
been done. Current action can however affect
the scale of future increases in temperatures.
Saturday
6 October 2001
Potential Renewable Energy in Amberg-Sulzbach
Franz BischofPresented
the results of research into the potential renewable
energy that is available from agricultural and
other sources, including woodlands, arable crops,
oil crops and animal waste. Included data to
show the different scenarios the theoretical
potential and the realistic potential. The study
demonstrated that it is possible to meet a significant
proportion of energy demand in the region from
a diverse range of renewable sources within
the region - reducing dependence on imported
oil.
Biogas
Stephan Prechtl, ATZ-EVUSATZ-EVUS
is an Engineering Institute and consultancy
based in the region. The presentation looked
at the potential for developing biogas resources
in the region. Biogas can be generated on anaerobic
fermentation process. A biogas to energy system
can be installed at small scale locations (for
example on a farm) or in larger sites such as
a brewery or creamery. The Institute has addressed
technical problems such as how sulphur can be
scrubbed from biogas to make it cleaner and
safer for use. This technology can reduce liquid
waste going into sewage by up to 90% as well
as generating electricity.
Vegetable Oil
Markus Brautsch There
are a variety of sources of vegetable oil available
locally from farms - rapeseed oil is one of
the most common. Biofuels have number of advantages:·
Relatively easy to produce, store and use. Farmers
grow rapeseed alongside other crops; and it
can be processed without difficulty. It does
not require a large scale refinery just a local
oil press.
· It can be used to fuel diesel vehicles
with minimal modification or to power small
scale heating systems.
· It can be produced and used locally,
without major transport issues.
Biomass and wood
Stefan Beer Wood
is a traditional fuel, but with new technology
and processes can be used for energy generation
in a number of ways. Wood chip fired power stations
are widely used in Scandinavia, and new furnace
technology is available to maximise electricity
output and minimise smoke or other pollutants.A
new form of wood fuel is wood pellets, made
from sawdust, which offer a cleaner and more
manageable fuel for small furnaces. This is
more expensive than woodchip but more suitable
for use in mechanically fed furnaces.Demonstration
SitesThere
was an opportunity to visit a range of sites
where these technologies are in use around Amberg-Sulzbach.
These include:·
Woodchip powered furnaces in a sports centre
and on a farm
· Wood pellet furnaces installed in new
build housing
· Solar panels in many public buildings,
businesses and houses
· Electricity generator powered by biogas
on a farm. The biogas is generated by fermenting
maize and from cattle slurry.
· Vegetable oil powered minibuses.
· Solar powered recharging site for electric
vehicles.
Political
Discussion There
was an open debate with a panel of political
representatives from the Federal Parliament
(Bundestag) and the Bavarian Assembly (Landtag).
Discussion included.·
Changes in Federal/Bavarian government subsides
that affect the viability of projects.
· Support for research and development
from Federal/Bavarian Government.
· Need to reduce dependence on imported
fuel and to use energy generated locally where
possible.
· Using renewable energy to create employment
and economic development in the region.
· Promoting schemes that reduce dependence
on large energy companies.
· Targeting subsidies at project that
create local employment and reduce energy imports.
Response from Argyll and Bute
A
paper summarising renewable energy issues in
Argyll and Bute was circulated. The renewable
energy resources in Argyll and Bute are different
from those in Amberg-Sulzbach, with less opportunities
of energy from crops but greater opportunities
for wind, wave and wood powered systems. The
development of renewable energy in Argyll and
Bute is probably at a less advanced stage, but
the opportunities are at least as great. The
resources of the research and development institutes
in Amberg-Sulzbach do not exist within Argyll
and Bute -we are dependent for help outside
the area.It
was agreed that it would be sensible to explore
the possibility of co-operation between the
two regions to help promote renewable energy.
Taking
the initiative forwardThere
is a common interest in developing renewable
energy. The resources and opportunities of both
regions are different but in both cases substantial
opportunities exist.The
technological expertise in Amberg-Sulzbach could
be helpful to Argyll and Bute; the experience
in Argyll and Bute in windpower development
could be useful to Amberg-Sulzbach.Argyll
and Bute Council, and Argyll and Bute Community
Planning Partnership support the development
of renewable energy. It will be appropriate
to do this in partnership with other European
regions where there are resources that could
be helpful.It
is suggested that joint working is explored
further - possibly a project with European funding.
For example a seminar or conference in Argyll
and Bute to which delegates from Amberg-Sulzbach
and possibly other European regions could be
invited, or possibly a focus on developing the
potential of renewable energy from wood in which
area there is a common interest.
