Alerte_SEE

2 July 2007: Four key industries join the Alliance for Rural Electrification!
The Alliance for Rural Electrification, international non-profit organisation founded by the most important European renewable energy industry associations, welcomed and presented four new members: SHARP, Isofoton, SMA and PowerPal.
Read the complete Press Release.

29 June 2007: Inspirational European energy conference in Cornwall highlights the importance of community ownership
Cornwall was the arena of a trans-national conference that saw speakers from iconic European sustainable energy projects show how they are achieving a sustainable energy future for their regions.Over 200 delegates from the UK and Europe were in attendance to debate the issues that seem to prevent these highly successful projects being replicable in other parts of Europe and, in particular, in the UK.
Read more - Press release - Conference photos.

28 June 2007: Finland, first Member State to submit National Energy Efficiency Action Plan
Finland was the first Member State to present its national strategy on how to achieve the 9% savings target set by the energy end-use efficiency and energy services directive.
To know more [IP/07/967].

22 June 2007: Energy efficiency requirements for light bulbs and other energy-using products on track for adoption
In Brussels the first meeting of the stakeholder Consultation Forum took place, a body that supports the Commission in establishing energy efficiency levels and other environmental requirements for energy-using products. Representatives of Member States, NGOs, industry and SME associations, standardisation bodies, and other stakeholders provided their input on the measures envisaged by the Commission under the Ecodesign directive to strengthen the energy efficiency of lighting equipment and other energy-using products.
To know more [IP/07/867].

19-20 June 2007: estec2007, Freiburg, Germany
The 3rd European Solar Thermal Conference, estec2007, took place from 19-20 June 2007 in Freiburg, Germany. The conference was being held prior to Intersolar 2007, Europe's largest trade fair for solar technology. The conference programme is available online at www.estec2007.org.
Press Release.

19 June 2007: European Solar Thermal Technology Platform
At estec2007, ESTTP presented the first findings of two focus groups on "Solar Thermal Systems for Buildings" and "Solar Thermal Systems for Industrial Processes and Refrigeration".
To know more.

15 June 2007: European Wind Energy Association
The wind sector demonstrated that wind power has strong public support as an unlimited, clean source of energy, which is stable, secure and independent from outside supply.
To know more.


MEDIA NEWSLETTER July-August 2007
	Reducing reliance on fossil fuels: Agropellets could become a basic renewable fuel commodity

	Agenda of upcoming Campaign Events and Energy Days

	Sustainable Energy News


	Reducing reliance on fossil fuels: Agropellets could become a basic renewable fuel commodity Members of the European Biomass Industry Association (EUBIA) find treasure in others’ waste. The Association is promoting an innovative bioenergy technology based on the production of agropellets which are processed directly from humid biomasses or biomass mixtures. Based on a new method for mechanically drying all types of humid biomasses or mixtures, the technology is attracting global interest.
	Benefits of the agropellet process: Stops the biological degradation of the feedstock and instead puts it to good use (moisture is decreased by 10 per cent) Increases the heating capability of the biomass with low energy consumption Increases the energy density of the feedstock, making handling, storage, transport, and use of solid biofuel much easier.
	More than 1.5 billion tons of humid biomass exists in Europe. In most cases, this biomass (low-value agricultural waste) goes unused; often it is simply burned. Using the new agropellet technology, all agro-forestry wastes can be converted into valuable “agro-pellets.” Once this or similar processes of mechanical drying and compacting reach high levels of acceptance and use, the majority of low-value humid agricultural waste could be converted into a first-rate economic value commodity, with large decrease in CO2 emissions. The decrease in emissions is a direct consequence of the biological degradation of the waste. The process consists of grinding humid biomasses such as wastes, peat and energy crops (crops grown solely for the purpose of energy generation). This grinding process is followed by a high-compression procedure which results in small, dry biomass cylinders (agropellets). “What is compelling about this procedure is the fact that humid biomass can now be stabilised using low amounts of energy. In alternative technologies, moisture is extracted with a great deal of heat (therefore, energy consumption) and then pellets are produced by a pressure process. In the new process, humid biomass is used from the start, and this is a real breakthrough,” said Giuliano Grassi, Secretary General of EUBIA.
	It is possible that within the next 5-10 years agropellets will be used competitively in large energy markets including: heat production (boilers) green power co-production (i.e. co-firing) bio-hydrogen production bio-methanol production with bioethanol production of charcoal pellets (for high quality steel) In the longer term, EUBIA estimates that the agropellets could successfully penetrate the European Union’s more sophisticated bioenergy markets such as Fischer-Tropsch diesel (FT) diesel or biohydrogen.
	Someday, agropellets might even power our vehicles. EUBIA is promoting and co-ordinating several new bioenergy complexes (biorefineries) based on sweet-sorghum plantations able to produce low-cost bioethanol from sugar-juice (in Brazil) and from grains (such as corn in the United States). Therefore in the not-too-distant future, small plantations of sweet-sorghum could supply high quality biofuels to remote refuelling stations. From the agropellet residues, other second generation biofuels could even be obtained.
	“The potential is huge. All EUBIA members are dedicated to the development and use of clean energies. This pellet technology is an excellent example of the progress being made in Europe in recent years,” said Grassi.
	Contact for further information: Mr Giuliano Grassi Secretary General EUBIA Rue d'Arlon 63-65 B-1040 Brussels Tel: +32 (0)2 400 10 20 Fax: +32 (0)2 400 10 21 Giuliano.Grassi@eubia.org www.eubia.org


	Agenda of upcoming Campaign Events and Energy Days See the full list of press material on upcoming events Energy Day 15-30 July 2007: “El Papel de la Energía en el Cambio Climático"- The role of Energy in climate change, Tenerife, Spain Agencia Insular de Energía de Tenerife, Fundación Canaria Contact: Immaculada Carballo, mailto:agenergia@agenergia.org Energy Day 17 July 2007:Low Carbon Social Housing Reducing Emissions from Existing and New Buildings, London, United Kingdom Capita Conferences Contact: www.capitaconferences.co.uk Campaign Event 3-6 September 2007: International Bioenergy 2007 Conference, Jyväskylä, Finland FINBIO - The Bioenergy Association of Finland Contact: Mai Savolainen, bioenergy2007@finbio.fi Energy Day 10-22 September 2007: Bougez Autrement, la meilleure énergie c'est la vôtre, Haute Normandie, France MAVD Contact: William Paesen, william.paesen@tiscali.fr Campaign Event 24-25 September 2007: Clean Buses - study days, Lille, France ADEME Contact: Gabriel Plassat, gabriel.plassat@ademe.fr
	Sustainable Energy News See the full list of press material. 2 July 2007: Four key industries join the Alliance for Rural Electrification! The Alliance for Rural Electrification, international non-profit organisation founded by the most important European renewable energy industry associations, welcomed and presented four new members: SHARP, Isofoton, SMA and PowerPal. Read the complete Press Release. 29 June 2007: Inspirational European energy conference in Cornwall highlights the importance of community ownership Cornwall was the arena of a trans-national conference that saw speakers from iconic European sustainable energy projects show how they are achieving a sustainable energy future for their regions.Over 200 delegates from the UK and Europe were in attendance to debate the issues that seem to prevent these highly successful projects being replicable in other parts of Europe and, in particular, in the UK. Read more - Press release - Conference photos. 28 June 2007: Finland, first Member State to submit National Energy Efficiency Action Plan Finland was the first Member State to present its national strategy on how to achieve the 9% savings target set by the energy end-use efficiency and energy services directive. To know more [IP/07/967]. 22 June 2007: Energy efficiency requirements for light bulbs and other energy-using products on track for adoption In Brussels the first meeting of the stakeholder Consultation Forum took place, a body that supports the Commission in establishing energy efficiency levels and other environmental requirements for energy-using products. Representatives of Member States, NGOs, industry and SME associations, standardisation bodies, and other stakeholders provided their input on the measures envisaged by the Commission under the Ecodesign directive to strengthen the energy efficiency of lighting equipment and other energy-using products. To know more [IP/07/867]. 19-20 June 2007: estec2007, Freiburg, Germany The 3rd European Solar Thermal Conference, estec2007, took place from 19-20 June 2007 in Freiburg, Germany. The conference was being held prior to Intersolar 2007, Europe's largest trade fair for solar technology. The conference programme is available online at www.estec2007.org. Press Release. 19 June 2007: European Solar Thermal Technology Platform At estec2007, ESTTP presented the first findings of two focus groups on "Solar Thermal Systems for Buildings" and "Solar Thermal Systems for Industrial Processes and Refrigeration". To know more. 15 June 2007: European Wind Energy Association The wind sector demonstrated that wind power has strong public support as an unlimited, clean source of energy, which is stable, secure and independent from outside supply. To know more.
For more information and media assistance please contact the Media Desk of the Sustainable Energy Europe campaign: call +32.2537.4400 or email mr@sustenergy.org.