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www.BioPAD.eu

Spring 2014

Introduction

The BioPAD project is promoting the wider use of bioenergy and

developing applications targeting the whole process from supplying

fuel to producing energy. By using bioenergy we can unlock the

potential of our local natural resources, provide jobs and stimulate

our local economies, make ourselves fuel secure and reduce CO2

emissions. The project will help the development of bioenergy and

improve our understanding of the links between supply and demand

by looking at supply chains for a variety of bioenergy fuels, and

different ways of converting these fuels into sustainable energy.

Understanding the way in which bioenergy moves from fuel sources

to energy provision will help to establish robust and efficient supply

services which can match local demand.

If you would like to learn more about any of the initiatives highlighted

in this edition, or if you would like further information on the BioPAD

project, please visit www.BioPAD.eu

Northern Periphery Programme Regions

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in Finland

Study tour of North Karelia

In February 2014 the BioPAD

partners visited the North Karelia

region of Finland. The visit and

learning event was coordinated by

project partners Metla (the Finnish Forest

Research Institute) and was jointly held

with REMOTE, another NPP project,

and PKBEV a project whose mission

is to facilitate the development of

bioenergy business in Pielinen Karelia

region. The visit included study tours of bioenergy sites in the

region, and associated meetings and discussions on the

development of bioenergy in the partner regions.

BioPAD project partners brought participants from their regions to

Finland, These participants have an interest in bioenergy

development to see the variety of bioenergy projects and

enterprise possibilities in North Karelia and to gain an

understanding of how the region of has developed a significant

bioenergy economy.

The first study sites were in the Pielinen Karelia region, with the

tour beginning with Kuittila Farm, which has been producing its

own electricity and heat since using a Combined Heat and Power

(CHP) unit since winter 2012. Following a visit to a woodfuel

harvesting site, the group proceeded to the Nurmes district heating

plant where participants learned about the development and

management of district heating and gained an understanding of

the benefits of this biomass fuelled system.

On the second day of the tour BioPAD visited the Tulikivi company

which produces high quality, high value soap-stone fireplaces for

the global market. Soapstone has considerable heat retention

properties making it a useful material for fireplaces and stoves.

The final visit of the tour was to the Fortum Pyrolysis oil plant, a

component of the Joensuu Fortum CHP district heating plant.

Large-scale pyrolysis oil production is the biggest technological

advancement in bioenergy for Finland in the last decade. The

factory is producing bio-oil from woody biomass to substitute fossil

oils in heat production.

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in Finland Conference and workshops

A key part of the Finland visit was two dissemination events, which

took the form of a conference and workshop on bioenergy

development socio economic benefits of bioenergy use in the

North Karelia, and an event focusing on the BioPAD project and

the ongoing Supply Chain analysis.

To start the dissemination event a workshop was held to inform

participants (many of whom were from Finland) about the BioPAD

project and the ongoing Supply Chain analysis. The BISCUIT

(BioPAD Supply Chain Unique Integrated Tool) was demonstrated.

The next day we started with a workshop on bioenergy

development in North Karelia and the socio economic benefits of

bioenergy use in this rural region. There was lively discussion of

the issues faced by partner countries in seeking to emulate the

bioenergy development which has taken place in Finland.

Presentations from the events are available to access here:

http://www.biopad.eu/presentations-finland-study-tour-learning-

event/

The BioPAD visit to Finland enabled participants to see practical

examples of bioenergy in action, have the opportunity to learn

about bioenergy policy in a successful bioenergy region, and

engage in discussions with other stakeholders in the bioenergy

network.

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Marine bioenergy in the Northern

Periphery region

Across Northern Europe some biomass types such as wood

products are more commonly used and have better developed

supply chains than biomass such as marine macroalgae

(seaweed), the use of which is still in its infancy. The newly

released BioPAD macroalgae report provides an overview of the

current status of the use of macroalgae as a renewable energy

source within the BioPAD partner regions of Scotland, Finland,

Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland, indicating the future

potential and key barriers to the development of this sector.

Although the BioPAD partner regions all have coastlines capable

of significant macroalgal biomass production, large scale

cultivation of macroalgae for use as a bioenergy fuel source is at

least a decade away, with other bioenergy fuels currently better

placed to fulfil short to medium term energy and heat demands.

Across Northern Europe, key issues surrounding environmental

impacts, financial viability, and cultivation feasibility need to be

addressed before macroalgae can significantly contribute to the

mix of bioenergy fuels. The issues are summarized in the report

which also highlights differences between regions. For instance, in

Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland, concerns

remain regarding the removal of beachcast macroalgae, and the

potential nutrient depletion and detrimental effects on biodiversity.

However in Finland macroalgae removal is welcomed as a way of

removing nutrients from the Baltic Sea, which has become

eutrophic from human activities.

The BioPAD Marine bioenergy overview: the use of

macroalgae (seaweed) can be accessed here:

http://www.biopad.eu/wp-content/uploads/BioPAD-Marine-

Biomass-Report-March-2014.pdf

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