PRESS RELEASE: IrBEA launches National Biochar and Carbon Products conference

For immediate release

The Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) is delighted to launch its upcoming National Biochar and Carbon Products conference, which will take place on Wednesday 3rd of May in the Landmark Hotel , Carrick-On-Shannon, Co Leitrim. IrBEA, as the national representative body for the biochar and carbon products sector, seeks to raise the profile of these sectors here in Ireland. Biochar is a stable form of charcoal, produced from a wide variety of biomass streams using pyrolysis (heating without oxygen) technology. It is increasingly recognised for the important role it can play in environmental or agricultural applications.

IrBEA project executive Stephen McCormack, said: “ we look forward to welcoming delegates to this conference and we are delighted that Leitrim County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr. Ita Reynolds Flynn could  join us for the launch photograph. This event will bring together farmers,  foresters, biochar producers, users and practitioners from around Ireland and Europe to discuss the potential of biochar and the development of carbon products and their role in a modern world.”

Speakers at the conference will be covering the topics of carbon farming and the potential for biochar, use of biochar within construction materials, biochar’s role within water quality ,its role within our farming community and the benefit it can have a soil or slurry amendment,  and also its role as a growing media within the horticultural sector. The event  will be sponsored by Arigna Fuels and Celignis Analytical , two key players within the sector in Ireland.

Brendan Layden, Managing Director of Arigna Fuels said: “Arigna Fuels produce both high quality biochar and Harvest Flame, a 100% renewable biomass product aimed at the home heating market. We are delighted to sponsor this National Biochar and Carbon products conference, here in the North West- as early innovators in the sector , it is great to see the interest around this grow and we look forward to welcoming attendees on the day.”

Danial Hayes , of Celignis Analytical  said “We here at Celignis have seen the emergence of this sector grow over the past few years, leading to us developing a suite of testing packages capable of serving the needs of Irish companies. By providing access to quality data and analysis as well as research, we hope to support the sector as it develops further.

Biochar and renewable carbon based products have seen a surge in growth globally in the last decade. But many people are still unaware of exactly what it is, the role it can play in carbon sequestration, how it is being used for environmental or agricultural applications or even its role in adding value to residual biomass or for the provision of bioenergy. IrBEA have been involved in a series of Interreg NWE funded projects (THREE C- Creating the circular carbon economy) exploring these topics and it is through this work we hope to continue to raise awareness and shine a light on the many potential benefits this emerging sector can offer.

Seán Finan, CEO of IrBEA concluded” We look forward to welcoming our European colleagues to Ireland , who we have worked closely with over a number of years through our involvement in the EU funded Interreg NWE programme. The conference delegates will hear from a European political perspective, with  Midlands North West Colm Markey MEP providing an insight into the current policy discussions in the European Parliament on carbon farming and the potential opportunity for Irish farmers and business.”

Further information regarding the conference please visit  www.irbea.org

Ends

2020 IrBEA National Bioenergy Conference – View Presentations 26/02/20

01 Tom Egan – Powergen

02 Noel Gavigan – IrBEA Executive

03 John MacNamara – Bord na Mona

04 James Cogan – Ethanol Europe

05 Brian Ó Gallachóir – MaREI Centre

06 John Bingham – Hawkins Wright

07 Ray Langton – Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland

08 Eugene Hendrick – Wood Fuel Quality Assurance Scheme

09 Tom Marren – Turboden SpA

10 Garrett Monaghan – Pinsent Masons

11 Ken McCauley – McCauley Wood Fuels

 

2019 National Bioenergy Conference – View Presentations 13/02/19

01 Ray Langton – Sustainable Energy Association of Ireland

02 Des O’Toole – Coillte

03 Maurice Ryan Green Belt

04 Edwina Curry – Department of Agriculture, Food & Marine

05 Tom Sheehy – Clearpower

06 Geraldine O’Sullivan – Irish Farmers Association

07 James Russell – Biocore

08 Chris Wheeler – DWF Legal

09 Denis Neary – SEAI

10 Jerry Murphy – MaREI Centre

11 James Cogan – Ethanol Europe

12 Peter Moran – Abbvie

13 Jason Sutton – CPL Industries

2018 IrBEA Bioenergy Conference – View Live Presentations 21/02/2018

Sean Kelly – MEP (Keynote Speaker)

Des O’Toole – Coillte

Tim Minitt – CPL

Carlo Giallombardo – Bioenergy

Dave Fitzgerald – Dairygold

Garrett Monaghan- DWF

Ger Devlin – IrBEA

Ian Kilgallon – Gas Networks Ireland

John Durkan – ABP Foods

Kevin Brady- Department of Communications Climate Action & Environment

Patrick Madigan – Bord Na Mona

Simon Shannon – Diageos

Q&A Session

Panel Debate Part 1 – Donal Murphy, Finbarr O’Sullivan, John Durkan & Michael Doran

Panel Debate Part 2 – Owen Power, Eamon Ryan TD, Joe O’Carroll & James Cogan

2018 IrBEA Bioenergy Conference – View Presentations 21/02/2018

Tim Minitt – CPL

Carlo Giallombardo – AEBIOM

Dave Fitzgerald – Dairygold

Garrett Monaghan- DWF

Ger Devlin – IrBEA

Ian Kilgallon – Gas Networks Ireland

John Durkan – ABP Foods

Kevin Brady- Department of Communications Climate Action & Environment

Patrick Madigan – Bord Na Mona

Simon Shannon – Diageos

Steve Luker – Wood Heat Association

 

2017 IrBEA Bioenergy Conference – View live video 09/02/17

Padraic O’Neill – IrBEA Secretary

Matthew Clancy – Sustainable Energy Association Ireland

David Connolly – Irish Wind Energy Association

Tom Bruton – BioXL

Derek Milton – Fehily Timoney

Garrett Monaghan – Arthur Cox

Russell Smyth – KPMG

Francesco Panzeri – Demetra

Frank Donnelly – Keenaghan Mushrooms

2016 IrBEA Bioenergy Conference – View live videos 3/02/16

In response to requests, IrBEA is now providing a click-and-view of the presentations from the National Bioenergy Conference held on 3rd February. Each of the nine speaker presentations are available in full (sound and vision), and this new service for IrBEA members and other interested parties provides more enduring value from our quality speaker line-up.

1. Energy Minister Alex White Speech (Delivered by Eamonn Confrey, DCENR Principal Officer Decarbonisation Policy Division)

2. Eamon McGrath, Gaelectric Chief Commercial Officer (Conference Sponsor) – Turning Policy Into Projects

3. Frank Groome, DCENR Decarbonisation Policy Division – Renewable Support Schemes for Heating and Electricity

4. Dr Cara Augustenborg, Friends of the Earth Ireland – New Climate Change Agenda

5. Prof. Alan Matthews, Trinity College Dublin – Energy Union, Agriculture and Irish Farming

6. Prof. Patricia Thornley, Manchester University/SuperGen Bioenergy Hub – Bioenergy Policy Challenges and Misconceptions

7. Kjell Andersson, Swedish Bioenergy Association (SVEBIO) – How Bioenergy Became The Largest Energy Source in Sweden

8. Finn Mortensen, State of Green – Denmark’s Best Practice Delivering Renewables for Social Benefit

9. David McKee, B9 Energy Group – Anaerobic Digestion in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland

2016 National Bioenergy Conference – View Presentations 03/02/2016

01 Minister White (delivered by PO Eamonn Confrey)

02 Eamonn McGrath Gaelectric

03 Frank Groome DCENR

04 Cara Augustenborg FoE Ireland

05 Alan Matthews TCD

06 Patricia Thornley Manch Uni

07 Kjell Andersson Svebio

08 Finn Mortensen State of Green DK

09 DMcKee B9 Anaerobic Digestion NI & R.Ireland

 10 David McKee-S.Doherty B9 Energy

2015 IrBEA Bioenergy Conference – View Presentations 3/02/20

1. J.Balian_Ofgem & RHI final

2. M.Foley Coillte RHI perspective final

3. Ivan Codd ESB Networks REFIT & grid final

4. C.O’Carroll Poyry Biomass markets drivers final

5. J.O’Connor PWC Investor perspective final

6. T.O’Leary IFA_Bioenergy Plan & action final

7. G.Rogstrand Swedish experience final

8. C.Zammit WIS farm AD final