Strengthening the energy use of biomass in Central and Eastern Europe by establishing a standardised transnational consulting net for regions

Coach BioEnergy is an European project funded by the Central Europe programme which aims at promoting the sustainable use of biomass in the Central European Region. 18 different organisations from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Germany and Austria – supported by two Ukrainian institutions – work together during the 36-month-project to develop and gather the most recent research results concerning the environmental, economic and social aspects of biomass utilisation.
The production of biomass, the technologies of energetic transformation, the logistics and transportation as well as waste utilisation will be assessed through life-cyle-analysises and the results will be processed and presented via a web-based 'virtual net'. In all participating countries regional consultancy bureaus will be responsible for disseminating the information and counsel local actors on how to make the best use of biomass sources.

Overall goals of the Coach BioEnergy project are to:

• foster innovative and sustainable activities in the fields of biomass utilisation
• strengthen transnational cooperation structures
• improve the wealth of the region through job creation related to biomass utilisation

Target group

The project's target groups are public bodies, local and regional decision makers, farmers and producers of biomass and persons and organisations active in civic information. These actors will use the information and the network structures provided by the project to get a sound orientation for starting business projects, developing policies and spreading knowledge.

Planned result of the project

The (expected) direct outcomes of the project are summarised below. For the latest news about Coach BioEnergy please look at our newsletter and for other public outcomes of our project, go to CBE Project.

Substantial information on the know-how of production, provision and conversion of biomass for energy purposes will be gathered, collected and assessed to their environmental, social and economic effects.
An easy handling transnational „virtual network” will be created in order to
1) facilitate the management and communication of gained knowledge and information
2) to back the efficient consultancy services.

Regional consultancy services will be built up which – focusing on the specific region's specific needs and with the help of knowledge provided by the virtual net – have to come up with the best fitting solutions for biomass projects.
A standardised framework for feasibility studies will be created to back the activities of the consultancy bureaus.
The results of the project will be disseminated at local, regional and EU-level through workshops, information days and conferences approaching special target groups backed by high quality printed dissemination material.

Project partners

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Germany [more]
Kurjawsko - Pomorski Agricultural Extension Centre in Minikowo, Poland [more]
EC Brec - Institute for Fuels and Renewable Energy, Poland [more]
Szent Istvan University, Hungary [more]
DBFZ - German Biomass Research Centre, Germany [more]
VSB - Technical University of Ostravan, Energy Research Center, Czech Republic [more]
IMBIGS - Institute of Mechanised Construction and Rock Mining, Poland [more]
University of Warmia and Mazury Olsztyn, Poland [more]
Technical University in Zvolen, Faculty of Environmental and Manufaturing Technology, Slovakia [more]
CHIC - Central Hungarian Innovation Centre, Hungary [more]
Energia Klub Environmental Association, Hungary [more]
EEE - Europäisches Zentrum für Erneuerbare Energien Güssing GmbH, Austria [more]
SEVEn Energy Ltd., Czech Republic [more]
C.A.R.M.E.N. e.V., Germany [more]
Lviv State Centre of Scientific, Technical and Economic Information, Ukraine [more]
Ukrainian National Forestry University, Ukraine
SODR - Silesian Agricultural Extension Centre in Czestochowa, Poland [more]
The Polish Chamber of Biomass, Poland [more]