Workshop 7: Biorefining - economic & environmental opportunities?

Workshop, Aarhus University, Campus Foulum
Thursday September 15, 2016
Workshop leader: John Hermansen

Background

Production of biomass occupies the scarce resource land and is related with significant costs and environmental impacts. Presently, biomass production is often targeted to specific purposes that request as specific quality at the expense of the volume of biomass. A significant driver for bio-refinery concepts is the opportunities to grow higher yields of biomass and subsequently to ensure the best possible utilization of the different parts of the biomass. Separating biomass into high value proteins for feed, fibres for organic acids, feed or energy, and residues for biogas seems promising from an environmental as well as economic perspectives, but other solutions may as well be promising.

Collaboration subjects identified during the workshop

Grass protein

 
Incentives/caveats

• Agro-envi measures
• Green criteria – CAP 2020
• Min – minus protein self sufficiency
• Soil carbon payment
• EU SDG plan
• Farm level demonstration

Potential partners and/or competences 

• BR  NGO   (Dan Belusa, Karen Oxenbøll)
• Academia (Morten Gylling, BB Ghaley, Ranjan Parajuli, Heijji Lehtonen)
• DG Agri – DG Climate – DG Research
• Ministers of environment and food (Lasse Juul-Olsen)

Next step

• Clear gaps
• Benefits > dangers
• Work out incentives

Topic: Fine chemicals

Collaboration subjects identified during the workshop

• Bioplastics
• Biocolorants
• Prebiotics

Potential partners and/or competences

• Chemical engineering (catalytic and cuzimatic specialist, separation)
• Biologist
• Agronomist
• Food and feed ingredients company
• Farmers
• Paint industry

Collaboration subjects identified during the workshop

The economic and environmental performance of different supply chains for bioenergy products

Potential partners and/or competences 

• IEA bioenergy
• Utrecht University
• Chalmers University
• EC JRC
• Potsdam Institute for Climate Research
• E.ON or other energy companies

Next step

Further development of the concept

Check funding opportunities, e.g. ERA-Net bioenergy