Internal Trainings for Knowledge and Technology Transfer Service Providers
On 20 October 2021, as a side session of the Transnational Hybrid Conference, Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR) held an internal training aimed at knowledge and technology transfer service providers. During the training the demo version of the BalticBiomass4Value interactive online portal was presented. Participants had the opportunity to gain insights into the interactive online portal and discuss the relevance of e-tools for knowledge and technology transfer. All the different functions of the interactive online portal were outlined and participants shared their experiences, as well as providing feedback on how the e-tool could be improved.
Additional to the combined training hosted by FNR, the project partners will present the interactive online portal at their institutions. Thereby, the competences of existing knowledge and technology transfer service providers will be improved and circular bioeconomy innovations in the Baltic Sea Region will be promoted.
The event took place via Webex.
You can find the presentation here: Presentation
5# Newsletter BalticBiomass4Value
Dear Readers,
FNR, as Communication Manager of BalticBiomass4Value, is proud to announce the publication of the 5th BalticBiomass4Value project newsletter.
This newsletter presents the project’s activities and achievements, as well as bioeconomy-related events. Additionally, the final three of the 17 project partners are introduced in this issue.
To download the newsletter click here: BalticBiomass4Value Newsletter #5
You can subscribe to the newsletter here: Subscribe
We hope you enjoy reading it!
For questions regarding the newsletter contact: Lena Huck (l.huck@fnr.de)
Transnational Hybrid Conference on 20-21 October 2021
The University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, in the name of the BalticBiomass4Value project, warmly invites you to participated in our Transnational Hybrid Conference held on 20-21 October 2021.
During the two-day transnational event the outputs of the BalticBiomass4Value project will be presented.
The conference is divided into three sessions:
- Session 1: Identifying and assessing market opportunities, biomass potential, technologies and business models for circular bioeconomy development
- Session 2: Preparing guidelines for circular bioeconomy development support at local level and promoting them among public authorities
- Session 3: Improving circular bioeconomy innovation support services and initiating pilot business projects
Key information
Host: University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn
Physical location: ul. Słoneczna 54, 10-710 Olsztyn, Poland
Virtual location: Zoom
You can find the agenda here: Agenda Transnational Hybrid Conference 20-21.10.2021,
!! Note: Time is in CET!!
Participation is free of charge, however registration is required. Link
For any questions, please contact Anna Sadowska; Email: anna.sadowska@uwm.edu.pl
Experience Exchange and Networking Event: Perspectives and Challenges of Local Authorities and Municipal Waste Management Enterprises for Bio-Waste Management on 9-10 November 2021
A two-day experience exchange and networking event of the BalticBiomass4Value project is hosted by 3N Lower Saxony Network for Renewable Resources and Bioeconomy (Germany), Vidzeme Planning Region (Latvia) and Halmstad University (Sweden). The event is aimed at local authorities and municipal enterprises who have an interest in bio-based waste management.
Event Overview
Day 1:
The first day is aimed at municipal and state-owned companies relevant for the value chain selected (bio-waste management and utilisation), RTD and innovation institutions, business development and/or technology transfer services.
Day 2:
The second day is aimed at regional policy and decision makers: local authorities and administrations, regional development agencies, regional governments and ministries, other regional decision makers.
Agenda: BB4V_Agenda_EN_Nov_2021
PLEASE NOTE, TIME IS IN EET
You can register here
For any questions, please contact: Lena Huck (l.huck@fnr.de) or Irīna Kulitāne (irina.kulitane@konso.lv)
Polish Training for Public Authorities: Cross-border promotion of guidelines for the implementation of good practices in the development of a circular bioeconomy at the local level among public authorities
The University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (Poland) held their training for public authorities on 16 June 2021. The online event “Cross-border promotion of guidelines for the implementation of good practices in the development of a circular bioeconomy at the local level among public authorities” was aimed at business enterprises (biomass producers and processing companies, incl. bioenergy companies, as well as other value chain players, such as providers of specialised equipment, logistics, financing or consulting services) and state / municipality owned enterprises (waste management or other utility companies). 44 participates actively took part, exchanging ideas and learning more about the bioeconomy and the BalticBiomass4Value project.
During the first part of the workshop the general assumptions of the BalticBiomass4Value project were presented. Then, general assumptions about territorial cooperation in the areas of the Baltic Sea region and Central Europe for 2021-2027 were presented. In addition, national and EU legal aspects in the field of bioeconomy were presented. A discussion was then conducted on the legal aspects in the field of bioeconomy and future possibilities of cooperation in this area.In the second part of the workshop business models related to bioenergy in the Baltic Sea Region were presented. In addition, analysis of the use of local biomass sources for heating public buildings as well as analysis and modelling of the spread of pollutants from heating installations were presented. Then, a discussion panel was held, which indicated the possibilities of using the bioeconomy in the local public sector.
During the event, business consultations also took place, where opportunities for business development were discussed.
The following conclusions can be drawn from the discussions:
- The legal regulations in Poland in the field of bioeconomy are incomplete and inconsistent
- Some of the presented business models already exist in Poland
- The analysis of the use of local biomass sources for heating public buildings as well as analysis and modelling of the spread of pollutants from heating installations could be an inspiration to undertake such activities, especially in local communities
- There is a necessity to organise study trips and meetings for local authorities, which should create new directions of development in specific companies presenting good practices in the field of renewable energy sources and bioeconomy
- There is a need to raise awareness of the importance of bioenergy amongst the local community
Event Summary of 2-Day Transnational Event held in Russia from 8-9 July 2021
The Municipal Enterprise of the City of Pskov “Gorvodokanal”, a project partner of the BalticBiomass4Value project, held a 2-day transnational event on the 8-9 July 2021.
Representatives of regional public authorities and local municipalities participated in the hybrid-format 2-day transnational event hosted by the Municipal Enterprise of the City of Pskov “Gorvodokanal”, northwestern Russia. The aim of the event was to facilitate experience exchange and networking, and to spread prepared guidelines for circular bioeconomy development support at the local level. On the first day, K. Bolotin, Director of the Municipal Enterprise of the City of Pskov “Gorvodokanal”, gave the opening remarks, highlighting the importance of transnational cooperation and climate change mitigation.
Virginija Kargyte (Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania), the BalticBiomass4Value Project Coordinator, gave an overview to the BalticBiomass4Value project and teased the upcoming release of the electronic tool on the BalticBiomass4Value website. The electronic tool is a database displaying different business cases and business case models, which are an important outcome of the project. Arnis Lenerts from the Latvian University of Life Science and Technologies, a project partner in BalticBiomass4Value, presented the findings of the report on mapping the biomass value chains in the Baltic Sea Region (Link) and the report on good practice business models (Link) and gave an extensive overview of the concept of the circular bioeconomy. He provided examples of the state of the bioeconomy in the Baltic Sea Region and discussed the unique case of Russia, which has a large amount of fossil-based resources. Hence, it is difficult to convince people to push for the creation of a circular bioeconomy, despite its potential and long-term benefits. Following, Andrey Alyabev, responsible BalticBiomass4Value partner at the Municipal Enterprise of the City of Pskov “Gorvodokanal”, provided European examples of the use of biomass of various origins for energy extraction and sub-production and discussed the use of biomass in the Pskov region. In the afternoon, two industry-leading company representatives from the Pskov region, JSC “Neva-Energy” and LLC “Plemproductor Nazia” gave their insights
On the second day of the transnational event, the participants visited the Vodokanal water and waste treatment facility.
2-day transnational event in Russia for public authorities
The Municipal Enterprise of the City of Pskov “Gorvodokanal” invites representatives of regional public authorities, local municipalities, international experts and Coordinating Manager of the BalticBiomass4Value Project from Lithuania to participate in a virtial conference held on 8-9 July 2021.
Date: 8-9 July
Organizer: Municipal Enterprise of the City of Pskov “Gorvodokanal”
Place: Hotel “Pokrovsky” Kuznetskaya st., 2, Pskov, 180000 and virtually.
Participants:
- Committee on Building and Utility Services of the Pskov Region;
- Committee on Economic Development and Investment Policy of the Pskov Region;
- Committee on tariffs and energy of the Pskov Region;
- Administration of Pskov;
- Municipal Enterprise of the City of Pskov “Gorvodokanal”;
- Coordinating Manager of the BalticBiomass4Value Project (Lithuania);
- International experts in the field of biocircular energy/bioeconomy and the use of biomass of various origins;
- Representatives of the administrations of the districts of the Pskov region that are responsible for communal services in the territory of the respective districts;
- Representatives of business enterprises and concessionaires in the field of energy (gas / heat / electricity / water / wastewater) in the Pskov region.
Language: Russian and English simultatious tranlation will be provided
Please confirm participation by phone:
Alyabyev Andrey Anatolyevich - 79-20-04;
Kovalevskaya Ksenia Anatolyevna - 79-20-33, +7 953 232 97 98.
You can find the agenda here: Agenda_2 day_workshop_2021_Pskov
Roadshow of Industrial Symbiosis and Bio-based Business Models
On 26 May 2021, two Interreg Baltic Sea Region projects, the “BIS - Baltic Industrial Symbiosis” project and the “BalticBiomass4Value” project, in collaboration with the Nordic Council of Ministers Offices in the Baltic States, held a virtual roadshow of industrial symbiosis and bio-based business models.
The Nordic expert in industrial engineering and management from Norrum Oy Jukka Teräs (Finland) opened the event with his insights on the development of industrial symbiosis and the importance of transnational cooperation in this area.
During the first part of the event, representative of the Trøndelag County Council Per Erik Sørås (Norway) introduced tools prepared within the BIS project to help new actors in developing industrial symbiosis. Then representative of the Paper Province Magnus Persson (Sweden) shared his experience in organising living labs which are co-creative activities performed in the BIS project to demonstrate and test the resource stream with the material and stakeholders engaged in real life context. These introductions were followed by presentation of Lisbeth Randers on the activities of the Kalundborg Symbiosis (Denmark) and by presentations of Gdansk University of Technology experts Beata Szatkowska and Jan Hupka (Poland) about managing biodegradable plastics and marine pollution.
The second part of the event was dedicated to good practice bio-based business models which were introduced and presented by Halmstad University expert Henrik Barth (Sweden). These are models developed within the “BalticBiomass4Value” project to help businesses and entrepreneurs engaged in bio-based economy to evaluate their activities against good practice and accordingly improve them. Presented good practice bio-based business models were illustrated by several examples, i.e. German case of nutrients recovery from digestate presented by Sascha Hermus from the 3N Competence Centre and Latvian case of Aloja Starkelsen developing organic functional ingredients and applying sustainable production practices presented by Jānis Garančs.
Participants were also introduced to the two Interreg projects by their coordinators Susanne Boesen and Virginija Kargytė. These presentations contained information on the achievements of these projects, produced results, and upcoming activities.
Presented materials:
Industrial symbiosis and transnational cooperation, Jukka Teräs
Introduction to the “BIS - Baltic Industrial Symbiosis” project, Susanne Boesen
Tools for new actors in industrial symbiosis, Per Erik Sørås
Kalundborg Symbiosis, Denmark, Lisbeth Randers
Paper Province, Sweden, Magnus Persson
Gdańsk Tech case on biodegradable plastics, Poland, Beata Szatkowska
Gdańsk Tech case on marine pollution, Poland, Jan Hupka
The BIS project assistance for Baltic actors, Per Erik Sørås
Introduction to the “BalticBiomass4Value” project, Virginija Kargytė
Good practice bio-based business models, Henrik Barth
Nutrients recovery from digestate, Germany, Sascha Hermus
Organic functional ingredients and sustainability, Latvia, Jānis Garančs
BB4V Survey on Mapping the Interests of Agricultural and Food Producers in Estonia
What are farmers interested in when it comes to the utilisation of bio-based resources? The survey was conducted as part of the Interreg Baltic Sea Region funded project BalticBiomass4Value, of which FNR is a project partner. The interests of Estonian farmers in the utilisation of bio-based resources were investigated and mapped. The Estonian Chamber of Agriculture and Commerce together with the Estonian University of Life Sciences and the Ministry of Rural Affairs carried out the survey.
The survey was open from February to March 2021; in total 271 producers answered the survey. With regard to type of producers, the majority of the respondents were farmers of whom 102 (~37%) are engaged in crop production and 90 (~33%) in livestock farming. Others included producers from food industry and forestry as well as service providers. Most participants are operating small size companies with 0-10 employees.
As a result of the study, in these companies the main bio-based resource produced as by-product is manure (~32%), followed by straw (~20%) and biomass from grasslands (~19%). The companies also indicated their high interest in utilization and adding value of these bio-based resource types, while 17% of respondents answered that they currently do not utilise bio-based resources generated in production. According to the survey, today the manure is mainly used as an organic fertilizer and in some cases as a raw material for biogas production. Straw is used for animal bedding and occasionally farmers crush the straw and incorporate it into the soil as an amendment. Biomass from grasslands is mostly used for animal feed.
In addition, there were many different topics of interest when it comes to processing of bio-based resources. In case of companies, the most relevant questions are related to the subsidies (~25%) and investment financing opportunities (~22%). There was also a great interest regarding development of new products and services as well as in finding new business ideas for processing of bio-based resources. In addition, 70 producers (~25%) expressed their interest in exchanging knowledge and experience with companies operating in the same field in other EU countries.
In the survey, we also asked whether producers see any legal restrictions in Estonia that prevent introduction of new technologies and processes for utilizing and adding value to bioresources. There were several problems identified among with the use of animal by-products (i.e. slaughterhouse waste) as a raw material for biogas production and the lack of subsidies.
The separate set of questions was presented to the livestock farmers to find out their thoughts on the biogas production. There were all together 30 companies who expressed their interest in this filed. As among the participants majority were representing small companies, then a small number of livestock (not enough manure) was the main reason of no interest in the biogas production. Also, a lack of stable policy was indicated as one of the great challenges, as current regulation does not provide enough stability for long-term investments. It was also proposed to set up a large biogas plant at regional or national level, which could utilize the manure from small livestock farmers.
