Study tour on Bio-energy - Slovakia

Objective

The overall objective of the study tour is to contribute to improving the investment climate for sustainable energy in the PCs through bio-energy.

Specifically, participants were to improve their knowledge and skills to make better investment decisions in the field of bio-energy;  transfer of best practices on bio-energy was to be facilitated and participants would improve their capacity to develop and carry out effective and profitable bio-energy operations.  The study tour would also promote effective approaches and systems for bio-energy with demonstration of working examples.

The study tour was linked with a conference on sustainable use of natural energy resources, covering a range of topics including biomass production and its efficient use, bio-energy sources and facilities from the viewpoint of environmental protection, biofuels as an alternative for the municipal energy sector and success stories of bio-energy projects.

The sessions covered the importance of biomass in the energy mix, biomass production and its efficient use, energy sources and facilities from the viewpoint of environmental protection and biofuels as an alternative for the municipal energy sector. The study tour included visits to a district heating plant and  a biogas cogeneration plant.

The study tour contributed to enhancing the knowledge of participants on bio-energy issues. The participants learned more about best practice in the area of bio-energy, how to implement bio-energy projects, what to take into account when making investment decisions. The event also offered opportunities to visit two bio-energy installations and see their operation in practice. The study tour was also an excellent networking opportunity for peers from the PCs to meet and establish contact. Most participants highlighted this in their evaluations.

The knowledge acquired would be particularly useful for assessment and implementation of bio-energy projects, developing recommendations for legislation, sharing knowledge with colleagues at work, dealing with investors, successful implementation of existing bio-energy projects or ideas and organising similar bio-energy seminars.