European Bio-Energy Projects

BIOCOGEN
Objectives
The main goal of the BioCogen network is:
• To provide technical and economic data
and deal with key issues for
implementation of biomass CHP in
Europe, with the aim of facilitating
26Mtoe biomass CHP installations by
2010.
This goal will be reached through:
• A market analysis of biomass CHP in
the European Union (EU) and selected
Eastern European countries;
• Provision of information on the current
situation on biomass CHP in the EU
and selected Eastern European countries;
• Identification of differences between
countries or regions within the same
country as regards cost efficiencies
and environmental performance in
comparison with the targets set by
the EU;
• Determination of the factors which foster
or hinder biomass CHP;
• Dissemination of the results through
educational/training activities as well as
through the development of a website on
biomass CHP.
Biomass cogeneration
network
Challenges
Despite the wide-ranging and important benefits
that biomass CHP offers, its penetration into the
energy sector has been very limited in most
European countries. This Accompanying Measure
intends to provide technical and economic
data and deal with the key issues in the
implementation of biomass CHP in Europe, with
the aim of facilitating:
• The achievement of the White Paper target of
6 Mtoe of biomass fuels being used in co-firing
plants by 2010;
• Identification of the best options in terms of
resource and technology to reach the cost
targets of 1500 Euro/ kWe and 0.05 Euro/kWh
investment and electricity production cost;
• The achievement of the strategic priority
of 26 Mtoe in CHP installations by 2010.
Project structure
The project brings together partners from five
countries of the European Union, four countries
of Eastern Europe and a European technical
institute. The know-how and experience of all
partners cover every aspect of production and
use of biofuels, and of biomass cogeneration.
BioCogen comprises six work packages: WP1
details the network management, providing the
basic infrastructure needed to operate it. WP2
reviews national and international activities on
biomass CHP. In WP3, a market analysis is
performed on biomass CHP in the EU and
selected Eastern European countries. Having
ascertained the current situation and the
peculiarities of biomass CHP at a European and
national level, WP4 deals with the drawing up
of a detailed survey of biomass CHP plants.
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Surveying is based on uniform questionnaires
which focus primarily on the existing biomass
CHP plants and then on the other target groups
involved in biomass CHP deployment (ministries,
utilities, industry, RTD institutes, and consumers).
In WP5, factors that hinder or foster biomass
CHP are identified, thereby facilitating the
determination of existing or future flagship
projects. Finally, WP6 focuses on the
dissemination of the results of the network
through educational and training activities as
well as through the development of an interactive
website on biomass CHP.
Expected impact and exploitation
The aim of the project is to facilitate the
penetration of biomass, in particular biomass
cogeneration, in the EU energy market by
analysing all key aspects and suggesting
measures for its future development. BioCogen
provides up-to-date knowledge on:
• biomass cogeneration and the respective
policy framework;
• existing biomass cogeneration plants (including
technical data); and
• analysis of the market for biomass
cogeneration.
BioCogen will improve our understanding of the
benefits that biomass CHP presents and how
these may be achieved. Biomass CHP offers
important benefits across several sectors in
Europe, as shown below:
Industry and other investors
• energy solutions
• solutions for waste streams
• financial returns commensurate with risk