Webinar 34 – Bioenergy: Launching IrBEA’s Factsheet Series

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A recording of this webinar can be found HERE.

Topic Overview
Over the last few months, the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) has worked on developing a series of factsheets covering the main bioenergy sectors. The first six factsheets were presented on this webinar by the Executive team and can be viewed on the IrBEA website HERE.

The titles include:

  • Bioenergy – An Overview
  • Wood and Solid Biomass Fuels
  • Biogas
  • Biofuels
  • Biochar
  • Energy Crops

The aim of the factsheet series is to provide information to a wide range of stakeholders on the various forms and aspects of bioenergy. While other renewable energies are easier for the public to comprehend (e.g., wind or solar), bioenergy is made up of a wide range of technologies and fuels and can be utilised to provide heat, electricity, and transport fuels.

The IrBEA executive team present the factsheets and ongoing work of the association in each of the sectors covered. This is particularly relevant in the current crisis of high fossil energy prices, security of energy supply, urgent need for decarbonisation and climate action. The Irish bioenergy sector is unique in that it can provide an indigenous energy solution to all the current challenges. Bioenergy can produce continuous, storable, and dispatchable renewable energy delivered through local supply chains, offering employment opportunities and economic activity.

 

WEBINAR 33: Bioenergy – The Swedish experience to becoming the largest energy source

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The live recording of the webinar can be viewed HERE

This webinar gives valuable insights from Kjell Anderson from the Swedish Bioenergy Association. Bioenergy is the leading energy source in Sweden today. The Swedish energy system has gone through a major transformation. In the 1970s oil was totally dominating. Today, oil is almost entirely a transport fuel, whereas bioenergy has taken over in district heating, and plays a major role in industry and in electricity production. The use of bioenergy in Sweden has increased from 40 TWh/year in the 1970s to around 140 TWh today. In 2009, bioenergy surpassed oil as the leading energy source for the Swedish energy consumption. The same year, the total use of bioenergy was more than the use of electricity from hydropower and nuclear power together.

WEBINAR 32: The Agrobioheat Project and the role of agro biomass in renewable heat

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Live recording of the webinar can be viewed HERE

Topic Overview
AgroBioHeat aims to stimulate a mass deployment of improved and market ready agrobiomass heating solutions in Europe. Agrobiomass is a large, underexploited and indigenous resource, which can support the achievement of European Energy and Climate targets, while promoting rural development and circular economy. In this webinar, Manolis Karampinis as one of the partners in this project shares his expertise and knowledge of this area. In this webinar he outlines recommendations to policy makers at local, regional and national level to understand and set the instruments that will overcome the barriers for the advancement of the agrobiomass heating sector.

Webinar 31: Ireland’s Forest Resource and it’s Potential to 2040 and launch of IrBEA’s Wood Fuel Animation

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A live recording of this webinar can be found HERE

View the Irish Bioenergy Association new WFQA Animation HERE

Topic Overview

This webinar opened with the launch of IrBEA’s Wood Fuel Quality Assurance animation detailing the sustainable role of wood fuels in forest management. We were joined by Fergus Moore, from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) who discussed the five central pillars outlined in the Consultation ‘Working Towards Ireland’s Shared Vision for Forestry and a New Forest Strategy’. It included a discussion on the best use of this resource which provides 4 million tonnes per annum today, and is expected to reach 8 million tonnes of sustainable wood material for construction and energy. Our forest resource also provides a multitude of public benefits such as climate mitigation, biodiversity, public amenity and rural development which was also discussed as part of this webinar.

 

WEBINAR 30: MyGug Micro Scale Anaerobic Digester – A food waste solution providing renewable gas to small businesses & households

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A recording of this webinar can be found  HERE

Topic Overview
Kieran Coffey is a mechanical engineer and has been involved in the design of water and wastewater treatment plants for over 25 years. More recently, Kieran with his team have been involved in designing and installing a micro scale anaerobic digester solution. At this webinar, Kieran presented his innovative MyGug design. MyGug is a food waste treatment system that fully integrates into a households and small food business settings. It will provide a fossil fuel free solution to disposing of food waste. It turns food waste into renewable energy and the only by-product being a biofertilizer for use in your garden.

 

 

Webinar 29: Energy Supply Contracts delivering decarbonised biomass heating without the capex

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A live recording of this webinar can be found HERE

TOPIC OVERVIEW
Woodco an Irish manufacturer of biomass boilers has been deploying biomass heating systems under ESCO’s (Energy Supply Contracts) to clients in the healthcare, leisure and hospitality sectors. There are many models of ESCO contracts which exist. Woodco offers businesses the opportunity to decarbonise and lower their heating bills without any capital expenditure. This is a model whereby the heat user pays for the heat it uses over a contracted period of time. The ESCO guarantees to provide energy savings annually compared to the displaced fossil fuel alternative. View this webinar recording find out more.

SPEAKER

Ger Crosse
Woodco Commercial Director

WEBINAR 28: Celignis Analytical – The Role of Analytics in maximizing bioenergy feedstock potential

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A recording of this webinar can be found HERE.

TOPIC OVERVIEW
In this webinar we heard from Dan Hayes who is CEO and Founder of Celignis Analytical, an Irish company at the forefront of biomass analytics. Ireland has an abundance of sustainable bioenergy feedstocks for the generation of solid, liquid and gaseous renewable fuels. These different feedstocks have varying potential, depending on use and composition.
This webinar is a useful to anyone developing a business in the biomass, biogas, biofuel or biochar sector, as well as in the emerging bioeconomy space. Participants will extend their knowledge and understanding of the important role that analytics and accurate data can play in the development of sources of bioenergy and new products and services.

SPEAKER
Dan Hayes

Dan Hayes has extensive experience in the analysis of biomass and in the evaluation and development of biomass conversion technologies (particularly those for the production of advanced biofuels).
He received his PhD from the University of Limerick in 2012 and played an important role in the development of the Carbolea Biomass Research Group of the university. Daniel Hayes has been successful in securing project funding for the group from industrial, national, and European sources.

 

WEBINAR 27: Balcas Energy – Delivering decarbonised heat, hot water and process steam through wood pellet biomass.

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A live recording of the webinar can be found HERE

TOPIC OVERVIEW
This webinar showcased the contribution of Balcas Energy to the decarbonisation of heat and process steam.  Wood pellets offer substantial opportunity to decarbonise the heating of commercial operations and domestic homes. Balcas Energy manufactures wood pellets utilising heat and electricity generated from their own onsite biomass CHP unit. At this webinar, we were joined by representatives of Balcas Energy who showcased their business and contribution to the sector.

SPEAKER
Colm Hatton
Balcas, Business Development Manager

Paula Keelagher
Balcas, Marketing Development Manager

Seán Finan
IrBEA CEO, MC/Chair

 

WEBINAR 26 Transport in Ireland: A Pathway to Halving Emissions

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A live recording of the webinar can be found HERE

TOPIC OVERVIEW
In Dec 2021, the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) published “Transport in Ireland: A Pathway to Halving Emissions – Meeting ambitious emissions reduction in Ireland’s Transport sector and the role of Sustainable Bioenergy”. This report was developed by UCC MaREI on behalf of IrBEA.  At this webinar, the author Dr Paul Deane of UCC MaREI, presented the main findings. This report clearly shows that Ireland has a pathway to halve emissions from Transport through the introduction of a combination of policy interventions and measures including electrification, increased biofuels blending (ethanol and biodiesel), biomethane and driver efficiency measures.
This report was funded through sponsorship contributions from IrBEA, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Ethanol Europe, Green Biofuels Ireland, Green Generation and 3 Counties Energy Agency.

SPEAKER
Dr Paul Deane – UCC MaREI
PANELLISTS
Paddy Phelan – IrBEA President and 3CEA
James Cogan – Ethanol Europe
Tony Hennebry – Green Biofuels Ireland
Teresa Patton / Billy Costello – Green Generation
Seán Finan, IrBEA CEO, MC/Chair

 

Webinar 25: Outlining the Proposed Renewable Heat Obligation Scheme – The role of Bioenergy

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TOPIC OVERVIEW

The Department of Environment Climate and Communications have published a consultation on the proposed Renewable Heat Obligation Scheme (RHOS) to support the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. This webinar outlined the main proposals within the proposed scheme and the role of bioenergy in meeting the obligation. The RHOS will mandate heating fuel suppliers to include a portion of renewable fuels in the fuel mix, starting at 0.5% and moving to 3% by 2030. Renewable fuel suppliers will be able to sell fuel or certificates to the fossil fuel suppliers – thus incentivising renewable heating. We anticipate that the RHOS will operate in a similar way to the Biofuel Obligation Scheme which has been operating for over 10 years. Noel Gavigan outlined the proposed framework detailed in the current public consultation and how it will impact the market and consumers.

LIVE RECORDING HERE

SPEAKERS

Noel Gavigan IrBEA Technical Director

Seán Finan IrBEA CEO (Chair)