COACH BioEnergy Consultancy Manual
– Comprehensive Version –
28th July 2011
Introduction
Comprehensive version of the COACH Consultancy Manual - as of 25th July 2011
The Consultancy Manual serves as a guideline for practically participating in the COACH BioEnergy (CBE) network. The following document only contains introductory parts of the Manual to give a brief overview on the COACH background and the main services offered.
The full version of the Guideline is available for the user of the internal COACH portal.
In case of any difficulties in using the Manual or if some questions remain unanswered you may contact the CBE network by e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Sincerely, your CBE team!
1 COACH objectives and content framework
1.1 Overview
1.A What does the network COACH BioEnergy stand for? Which are the network’s goals?
COACH BioEnergy is a network which was initially funded by the European Regional Development Fund. It aims at promoting the sustainable use of biomass in the Central European Region. 16 different organisations from the Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Germany and Austria – supported by two Ukrainian institutions – have established this network between 2009 and 2011 to gather and provide the most recent research results concerning the environmental, economic and social aspects of biomass utilisation.
Topics like production of biomass, technologies of energetic transformation, logistics and transportation as well as waste utilisation form the content framework of the CBE network. Proven, up-to-date information and services concerning these topics are presented via the so-called web-based 'Virtual Net'. Publicly available content can be found on the CBE website.
The overall goals of the COACH BioEnergy network mainly are to:
- bundle and provide relevant knowledge on biomass utilisation for energetic purposes
- foster innovative and sustainable activities in the fields of biomass utilisation
- support locally and regionally acting consultancy organisations in their daily work
- improve the wealth of the region through job creation related to biomass utilisation
- enhance investments in these fields
- support transnational cooperation
1.B How to reach the CBE website?
The website is available in English, Polish, German, Hungarian, Czech language. There is a publicly available website and an internal platform for the network’s members´ use only (Virtual Net).
Links:
- COACH BioEnergy website:
- Internal Virtual Net (restricted access, password required):
https://biocoach.umsicht.fraunhofer.de/
1.2 COACH network structure
1.C How does the network’s structure look like?
The geographical scope of the CBE network momentarily is focussed on selected regions in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. It is planned to widen the network’s activity to other European regions. The overall structure of the network aims at a division of work between content providers and content users. The content providers (mainly academic institutions) produce, select and adapt topic-relevant content which is necessary for keeping up the knowledge based network cooperation. The content users integrate the information and knowledge provided into their consultancy work. The means for information storage and delivery is a web-based content management system, the so-called Virtual Net (VN).
For a detailed description of the network structure and its bodies see the additional documents and links provided below.
Links:
- Network Partners:
http://www.coach-bioenergy.eu/index.php/en/cbe-network/project-partners.html
1.D What kind of partners are involved in the COACH network?
There are three different network bodies mainly constituting the network structure: the Competence Access Centres (CAC), the Supporting Knowledge Providers (SKP) and the Regional Consulting Bureaus (RCB). SKP and CAC are scientific organisations, mainly university departments specialised on bioenergy research. The RCB are practice-oriented, private and public entities which provide consultancy services in their regions.
Whereas the SKP and CAC are responsible for collecting and adapting relevant bioenergy information and knowledge the RCB use the content for their consultancy work. The RCB also give feedback on the usefulness of content and services provided.
2. COACH services
2.A What to expect from the network? General aspects
The CBE network is designed to facilitate practice and demand-oriented information and know-how transfer regarding bioenergy issues. The network enhances planning processes, decision making, investment preparation and further aspects in that field. Main goal of CBE is to support consultancy work by the network’s services and tools. The CBE services are the major outputs of the network whereas the so-called calculation tools are small auxiliary instruments. Both services and tools are briefly described in the tables below. The services´ handling and the practical meaning for the consultancy work are described in the supporting documents. Most of the services are publicly available, others or parts of them are only accessible via the Virtual Net.
2.B Which are the main CBE services (partly accessible via The COACH website, partly only via internal Virtual Net)?
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Technology Selection / Description |
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The service “Technology Selection” offers information on specific technologies for the production, provision or conversion of biomass. The relevant information is bundled in easy to handle technology descriptions including valuable summaries. |
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Best Practice Network |
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One major task of the CBE network is the collection of Best Practice Examples in the field of bioenergy in Europe. The abstracts are available for free on the CBE website; more information can be obtained by the network partners. Therefore, contact you may contact the RCB in your region. |
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Request-Answer Collection |
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For specific questions regarding the production, provision or conversion of biomass one can have a look at the Request and Answer Collection. If no fitting answer is available in the list of FAQ, you should use the service to send the question to network partners via the contact form. |
Go to website Service
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RESP (Renewable Energy Strategy Planning) |
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An Energy Strategy Planning for renewable energy sources aims at finding the most appropriate technology mix for renewable energy production under the given circumstances of a specific site or region. It is an integrated approach, where besides economic issues, also social, environmental and energy efficiency questions are considered and weighed. CBE supports you in these processes and provides the tools and knowledge to provide such plans. |
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Policy Assistance (for policy makers) |
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Analysis of national biomass policies, policy assessment, planning policy scenarios and policy advice |
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Market Development (for enterprises) |
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Analysis of national biomass markets and potentials, market assessment, market advice |
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2.C Available CBE easy Calculation Tools (accessible via the COACH website, except VBA and CBA)
Overview also available here: https://biocoach.umsicht.fraunhofer.de/display/transfer/Tools|
Technical potential |
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Small calculation tool for the comparison of different combinations of technologies and raw materials |
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Biomass potential for firing |
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Small calculation tool for the estimation of the biomass potential of firing processes with different products and byproducts |
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Biomass potential for biofuel |
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Small calculation tool for the estimation of the biomass potential for the production of bioethanol and biodiesel |
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Biomass potential for biogas |
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Small calculation tool for the estimation of the biomass potential for the production of biogas. The tool calculates the Biogas yield of a mix of products and byproduct |
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Heating value calculator |
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Tool for mutual conversion of lower and higher heating value based on water content. |
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Measurement calculator |
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The tool converts differentdifferent energy units into each other. |
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Value Benefit Analysis (VBA) |
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The VBA tool can be used as a help for first planning steps. |
Only accessible via Virtual Net |
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Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) |
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The CBA tool supports the calculation of operating expenses. |
Only accessible via Virtual Net |
