Stefan Louillat pointed out that the first renewable energy to exploit in the region Ile de France is actually geothermal energy – the potential is huge.  Therefore, the main objective of Ademe is to facilitate agreement and financial subsidiaries for local initiatives, linked to geothermal energy, instead of biomass energy, for example. This is consistent with the policy of Ademe who want to favour the use of local energy.

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Stefan Louillat, Ademe,

presenting and explaining the regional plan for region Ile de France.

Prof. Hornung explained that “new technologies can run”. The main issues however are related to how to convince people, as he used the example of a Birmingham-based project for the development of a new Hydrogen Bio-Economy at the European Bio-Energy Research Institute (EBRI). This stretches from the use of food waste, ground service material and wood residue through the process as: fermentation – AD Unit - intermediate pyrolysis – Gasification – CHP. In order to serve this purpose many options are at hand: fuel cell labs, natural gas grid, fuel cell cars and botanical gardens. This project believes that the integrative system is the best approach to the energy problem.

EBRI acts as a focus for pan-European activities on scientific and technological aspects of biomass production, conversion and utilisation of products used for renewable power, heat, transport fuels, hydrogen and chemicals. EBRI performs research and knowledge transfer in all aspects of bioenergy, by acting as a demonstrator of these technologies and by providing industrial research collaborators with the opportunity to run process trials, evaluate feed materials and study combinations of processes prior to investment.

For Birmingham, the project was to set up as a set of 15 units adapted to various needs. The project involves the farmers in the area of Birmingham. Prof. Horning points out that this is a very challenging project, but that this initiative is a real success. So, could we all produce the new Hydrogen Bio-Economy ?

Brigitte Bonfoux presented another initiative from the town of Les Mureaux, a Western suburb of Paris. The stakes in this area are very high, especially in relation to the transportation intensity in the area. The majors have signed an agreement which stipulates a decrease in energy consumption of 20%, and some actions have been taken in this sense. The project is about using wood/biomass heating equipment for the improvement of public buildings (schools, restaurants, and so on ) in terms of energy efficiency. Further action was taken in terms of improved public lighting: a decrease of flux (30%) and light switch off of about one third.

In 2009, the Office of Sustainability was created with the objective of sharing “eco behaviour”, set up as an energy efficient platform, training 500 students each year via this platform: www.eumayors.fr

John Audrain spoke on energy projects in the region of Ile de France, notably by listing initiatives in the process of methanisation, biogas production and co-generation processes which really contribute to a decrease in CO2 emissions.

Marie Gabrielle Méry, who is in charge of energy projects within Fondaterra, used the example of the CIRePaT project. This is an ambitious project based on energy efficiency in public and private buildings and patrimony. The stake is to define actions which are profitable for the owners.  Major actions are renovation in the existing buildings, to maintain a high level of motivation for the employees. The next step is to publish a guide for the public local authorities.

18 October 2012

10h45-12h15

Reporters : Maria Lucia Portocarrero & Hélène Luciani, Econoving students

Participants:

Stéfan Louillat - Ademe – email : stefan.louillat@ademe.fr

Andreas Hanung – Professor and Director of the European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI) - Aston University

Brigitte Bonfoux – Les Mureaux

Johann Audrain – Fondaterra

Marie Gabrielle Méry – Fondaterra

Fréderic Louradour – UVSQ

(1) SRCAE : Further information available on the website

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