The German Renewable Energies Agency has the pleasure to invite you to the information tour « Biogas Across Borders » on 11/12 July in Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. The tour starts in Brussels and takes us to Luxembourg on 11 July. On the second day, the focus will be on the Rhineland-Palatinate region in Germany.
In the EU’s renewable energy mix, biogas is an important team player: Biogas plants can store energy and provide electricity when wind and solar power supplies are low. At the same time, they provide heat, and their energy can also be used in the transport sector. During our information tour “Biogas Across Borders”, we will explore the strengths and flexibilities of biogas plants in Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany.
Despite its might, the bioenergy sector, like other renewable industries in the EU grapples with obstacles. While global renewable energy in¬vestment increased to record levels in 2015, the development in Europe was a different one: Investment in renewable energies fell sizably in the EU, and the bioenergy sector was no exception. Low mineral oil prices and an often difficult political framework have left their marks. Despite this, bioenergy remains a reliable renewable energy source with great potential.
The tour “Biogas Across Borders” for journalists and staff from the European Parliament and other EU institutions will take place at a time when major EU policy decisions for the renewable energy sector loom large. The reform of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) is on the horizon and the Energy Union plans gain further momentum. At the same time, national promotion schemes such as the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) begin to cautiously open their doors for players from other EU member states.
Against this backdrop we will explore the virtues and perspectives of biogas. Luxembourg Agriculture Minister Fernand Etgen and, from the German side of the border, Ulrike Höfken, Minister for the Environment, Energy, Nutrition and Forests of Rhineland-Palatinate region will both be available at a press talk An expert from the European Commission and industry representatives will provide their knowledge on the tour. Public companies like Stadtwerke Trier and renowned private companies like L’ORÉAL will offer insights, farmers will open their farmgates.
The working language will be English. An interpreter (English/French/German) will be available.
Agenda:
11 July
10:00 Meeting point, Brussels
12:15 L’Oréal and EnviTec Biogas (Libramont-Chevigny)
Creating a Circular Economy with energy for industry and private households: From agro- & industrial residues to energy for cosmetics production and local citizens presentations by
• Etienne Genin, Directeur Usine, L‘ORÉAL Libramont
• Maurice Markerink, Project development manager, EnviTec Biogas AG
During transfers presentations by:
• Ruta Baltause, European Commission, DG Energy
• Ulrich Drochner, German Biogas Association
• Severin Boonen, President, Luxembourg Biogas Association
15:15 Biogas un der Atert (Redange)
Pooling green gas for power and swimming pools in Luxembourg’s Redingen region: The farmers’ cooperative “Biogas on the Attert”
• Emile Kieffer, farmer and co-founder of the Biogas Cooperative
• Claude Kemmer, Director Reidener Schwemm
17:15 arrival at Novotel, Luxembourg Centre
18:30 press talk at the Novotel Hotel, Luxembourg with the participation of:
• Fernand Etgen, Minister for Agriculture and Consumer Protection,
• Ulrike Höfken, Minister for the Environment, Energy, Nutrition and Forests, Rhineland-Palatinate
• Dr.Jan Štambaský, President of the European Biogas Association
20:00 dinner at the Novotel Hotel, Luxembourg with the participation of:
• press talk participants and
• Christoph Spurk, Ökobit
12 July
09:15 departure from Novotel, Luxembourg
10:30 Biogas Zemmer (Zemmer, Rhineland-Palatinate)
Flexible biogas for a reliable supply with renewables
• Hans-Josef Götten, farmer
• Christoph Spurk, Ökobit
12:45 Landwerke Eifel (Prüm, Rhineland-Palatinate) Digging deep for value added from biogas: Landwerke Eifel – A sustainable pipeline project in the heart of Europe presentation by
• Arndt Müller, Member of the Board, Stadtwerke Trier
• Helfried Welsch, Head of Division
14:30 departure
17:00 arrival in Brussels
The tour is carried out in cooperation with the German Biogas Association.
If you are interested in joining the tour, please contact us by 29 June by sending an email to a.knebel@unendlich-viel-energie.de Upon request it is possible to join the tour only on the first or only on the second day, but participation on both days is preferred.
The Renewable Energies Agency is supported by companies and associations from the renewable energy sectors. The Renewable Energies Agency works on a cross-party and cross-society basis. Several of her communication projects are funded by the Federal Ministries of the Economy and Agriculture.
Imprint:
Agentur für Erneuerbare Energien e.V. || Invalidenstr. 91 || 10115 Berlin || Tel: 030 200535.30 || Fax: 030 200535.51 || E-Mail: kontakt@unendlich-viel-energie.de
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