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Make It Be: Field Study Trip to Gussing

Make It Be: Field Study Trip to Gussing. DECISION MAKING AND IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS FOR DELIVERY OF LOCAL & REGIONAL BIO-ENERGY CHAINS (MAKE-IT-BE) Contract number: IEE/07/722/S12.499570. Scottish match funding:. Make It Be.

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Make It Be: Field Study Trip to Gussing

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  1. Make It Be: Field Study Trip to Gussing

  2. DECISION MAKING AND IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS FOR DELIVERY OF LOCAL & REGIONAL BIO-ENERGY CHAINS (MAKE-IT-BE) Contract number: IEE/07/722/S12.499570

  3. Scottish match funding: Make It Be An Intelligent Energy Europe funded project involving partners from Germany, Italy, Austria and Slovenia Focus on addressing non economic barriers to bioenergy through integrated approaches to market development • Main Outputs: • Improved supply/demand mapping • Regional Biomass Partnership • Local Biomass Action Plan • Facilitation of key projects

  4. Establishing The Regional Biomass Partnership • The idea is not new, in many ways it is a continuation of the Highlands & Islands Wood Fuel Group • Approximately 50 key stakeholders were interviewed to inform the composition and work of the partnership • A core membership has been identified • Additional expertise will be drawn from the wider stakeholder group to assist with specific issue • Stakeholders from 5 key sectors were invited to visit Gussing in Austria to see an example of integrated bioenergy planning • Their report will be the basis for initial discussions

  5. Gussing • Recent history and geography: • The “capital” of Burgenland in Austria • Population 27,000; area 500 km • Iron curtain made it peripheral • Late 20th century a story of depopulation and a narrowing economic base (70% weekly commuters) • 30% woodland cover, mostly small holdings • Very little timber utilisation, even traditional firewood markets displaced by fossil fuels • Spikes in oil and gas prices exacerbated economic difficulties By 1990 it was the poorest , least developed region in Austria

  6. Gussing today • The first energy self sufficient community in the EU (Domestic & Public buildings) • Energy turnover now over €14 million/yr • 1100 jobs created since 1992 • Many of these jobs in energy using industries attracted in by stable energy prices • ECRE established in 1996 to promote the Gussing model • 30,000 energy tourists annually

  7. The Gussing Model • AIM: • to develop decentralised local energy production using existing renewable resources to ensure independence from fossil fuels and enhance local added value. • Outcome: • Now supplies 100% of domestic energy demand and • 56% of total regional energy demand

  8. The Gussing Model • Key steps: • 1990-1992 energy saving measures introduced to halve electricity use • 1992-6 small district heating schemes; oilseed rape fuelled biodiesel plant • 1996 First large district heating scheme • 2000 CHP Gassification plant (6.5MW) • 2000 – present, further diversification into solar and biogas – now 27 renewable energy plants • District heating schemes produce 51 Gwh/yr • Small “private boilers” produce 6.5 Gwh/yr • Three CHP plants produce almost 20 Gwh/yr

  9. Site visit: Gussing gassification plant • Plant capacity 2 MWh electrical and 4.5MWh heat • 2009 run time 7,000 hours • Annual timber requirement 17,000 m3 (mainly oak) • 9 full time jobs • Together with the Gussing District Heating plant it supplies 100% of local domestic heat • Plant acts as backup for the Gussing District Heating plant

  10. Site visit: Ubersdorf District Heating • 600 kw boiler and accumulator tanks • 320 m2 thermal solar panels to preheat water in winter and replace boiler in summer • Constructed and operated by local farmer co-operative • Woodchip from local forest 1km from village • Now one of three combined solar thermal/biomass heating plants in Austria

  11. Forest Resource • 130,000 ha of forest • 60% of holdings below 200ha, average 0.5 ha • Main species: Scots Pine (35%), Oak (19%), Norway Spruce (15%) and Beech (9%) • 20% managed as coppice, mainly for wood fuel • 80% high forest with large woodfuel/pulp content • MAI 8-10 m3, annual increment 740,000 m3, annual utilisation 260,000 m3

  12. Forestry/Woodfuel supply chain • The local Forest Owners Association, has a virtual monopoly on chip supply • Harvesting by harvester and forwarder • Most material from cleanings, thinnings and restructuring fellings • Operational costs similar to Scotland and financed by €450/ha grant which has incentivised ATC • Hardwoods are a significant component of the supply • Moisture content below 35% • Woodlands PEFC certified

  13. Pricing and value distribution • Woodchip supply is a virtual monopoly led by the owners association which closely resembles Scottish forest management companies • Growers are happy to get something over and above the grant for what they see as a very low value resource • There is no linkage between energy price rises and wood chip prices • The cost gap between energy and biomass is far wider in Gussing

  14. What can we learn from Gussing? 1) Renewable energy • Energy saving is a vital component • Strong local leadership is essential • Renewable energy schemes focused on local socioeconomic needs are more likely to gain local support and succeed • Use of locally abundant resources improves viability • Decentralised production delivers greater local economic benefit • Using a mix of technologies can bring efficiency gains and promote stable markets

  15. What can we learn from Gussing? 2) Forestry • Energy is not just about wood fuel • A co-ordinated approach to wood fuel supply is important for fuel security • Wood fuel can provide opportunities for restructuring and species diversification • Wood fuel could be an opportunity to break the disconnect between grower and processor by developing pricing mechanisms which give the grower a share in the final product (heat)

  16. What can we learn from Gussing? 3) Philosophy Bottom Up approach with communities contributing to Regional plan In Burgenland it was effective to work from community level rather than the Regional level Local energy managers played a vital role “A concept is only on paper. Implementation is vital.” (JoachimHacker, Director)

  17. Thank you WWW.MAKEITBE.EU Highland Birchwoods Littleburn Road Munlochy IV8 8NN Cliff Beck CEO/ Chris Perkins Project Manager (01463) 811611 Cliff@highlandbirchwoods.co.uk Chris.perkins@highlandbirchwoods.co.uk Decision making and implementation tools for delivery of local & regional bio-energy chains (MAKE-IT-BE) has been endorsed by the European Commission's Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign as an Official Partner.'

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