[en] At present 10 Danish centralized biogas plants are in operation with capacities ranging from 50 to 500 tonnes of biomass per day. The biomass consists of approx. 80 % manure co-digested with 20 % organic waste from abattoirs and various food industries. The paper presents the experiences from these plants (orig.)

[en] In this report the presentations given in the Bioenergy 93 Conference are published. The papers are grouped as follows: Opening addresses, biomass implementation strategies, nordic bioenergy research programs, production, handling and conversion of biofuels, combustion technology of biofuels and bioenergy visions

[en] In Denmark 64 straw-fired district heating plants and 6 decentral CHP plants have been built since 1980 which are completely or partly straw-fired. The annual straw consumption in the district heating plants is 275,000 tons and in the decentral plants about 200,000 tons. The size of the district heating plants amounts to 0.5 MW - 10 MW and that of the CHP plants to 7 MW - 67 MW heat flow rate. Either whole bales or cut/scarified straw is used for firing. Hesston bales of about 450 kg control the market. The Centre of Biomass Technology is an activity supported 100 % by the Danish Energy Agency with the purpose of increasing the use of straw and wood in the energy supply (orig.)

[en] This article gives a survey of the gasification techniques, power plant technology and boiler solutions for small power plants using biofuels. Also some experiences from commercial projects and targets of development work are presented. At present, fluidized bed combustion is by far the most important combustion technique for biomass fuels in small power plants. Compared with grate combustion, fluidized bed combustion is a distinctly more economical combustion method, and so the thermic dimensioning of a steam boiler is easier. Besides, a wider range of fuels can be used in fluidized bed combustion. Fluidized bed combustion is an excellent combustion technique for biofuels. Plenty of experience has been gained in the combustion of peat and industrial waste wood, as far as both bubbling fluidized bed combustion (BFBC) and circulating fluidized bed combustion (CFBC) are concerned. Both of the fluidized bed techniques are suitable for the combustion of biomasses

[en] Sustainable non-food cropping systems for arable land are being studied intensively both in Scandinavia and elsewhere in Europe to find alternatives, in which the need for economic subvention would be lower than the export subsidies for grain or other food products. The area of arable land available for non-food cultivation is about 1 million hectares in Finland and 20 - 30 million hectares in the European Communities. In addition to conventional crops and afforestatation, it is possible to grow energy plants (willow, poplar, miscanthus, etc.) and agrofibre plants in these areas. Cultivation of energy willows or other corresponding plants of less than 5 m in height is usually not considered afforestation, as a willow field can easily be retaken into agricultural use with certain reservations (e.g., covered drains can be clogged) This article gives a survey of the alternatives for the utilization of non-food cropping systems

[en] The increased growth of boreal natural forests will have a more important role as a renewable, also for energy. Bioenergy is also becoming an integrated part of ecoindustrial approach in which renewable resources form the raw material basis, industries use closed cycles, bioenergy plants transform the wastes into energy and ashes, and the ashes are used as forest fertilizer. Use of peat fuel as one of the boreal bioenergy resources is likely to increase. Peat is one of the important natural resources in the northern latitudes, and part of that resource will be needed for the economy and well-being of man. Sustainability in the peat land management and utilization of peat fuel in any particular area must, however, be carefully guaranteed. Part of cutaway peat bogs will be developed for bioenergy crops, like short rotation trees, hay, rape seed or barley. Importance of perennial, woody bioenergy crops, will be increasing in agriculture. With woody bioenergy crops the farms can spread their human work potential over the whole year. The bioenergy farming will thus become a combination of annual crops like rape seed for biodiesel, and perennial crops like Salix for fuel chips, in relation to their effective annual work need. Long-rotation trees will complement the farm bioenergy production. In the world of post fossil fuel era, biosocieties have best chances to survive. The economics of biosocieties are based on renewable resources, cycle of matter and amount of bioenergy stored and produced. Nordic countries with ample land, favorable growing season and abundant water will be developing into such wealthy biosocieties