EFA and DBFZ invite to joint future workshop in Leipzig – Energy efficiency and emission reduction the two central challenges of the industry
The German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ) and the European Furnace Association (EFA) invited participants to a joint future workshop in Leipzig from 17 to 18 November 2022. In addition to members of the EFA, representatives of research from various universities and institutions, testing institutes, chimney sweeps, craft enterprises, associations and the Federal Environment Agency were represented. Over the course of two days, a concrete strategy was developed for the stove sector that firmly anchors products from industry and trade as a component of the energy transition.
The participants were prepared thematically in two professionally excellent scientific keynotes. Vinzent Egenolf from the University of Kassel provided information about the use of wood and its paths – on a national and especially on a global level. An important finding from the current research is that Germany is currently still far away from wood scarcity, but that a rational and in future significantly reduced use of wood in the material and energy sector is urgently needed. Also very interesting: forests are not automatically CO2 sinks. Under certain conditions, both unmanaged and managed forests can become undesirable sources of CO2. Sustainable and controlled economic use of wood for material and energy purposes is necessary from an ecological point of view.
In his lecture, Prof. Dr. Heinz Kohler from Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences informed the audience both about the necessity of reducing emissions and about the great effectiveness of sensor-based combustion air control systems. Extensive investigations in the laboratory and in the field showed that already existing and market-ready technologies are capable of significantly reducing air pollutants such as dust. He sees challenges in the effective combination and pricing. Here, however, the participants agreed that greater market penetration will simultaneously mean a massive reduction in the purchase price of the components.
Afterwards, it was time for group work. In five deliberately mixed groups, under the moderation of Prof. Dr. Hartmann, DBFZ, and Dr. Johannes R. Gerstner, stakeholder EFA, the topic of the future of kilns was further thought through according to the controlling method of the “Strategy House”. Building on the visions and goals of the three previous future workshops, concrete fields of action have now been identified. These fields include “energy efficiency”, “emission reduction”, “added kiln value” and “innovation”. The necessary players have also been identified. In addition to industry and trade as natural players, the administration, state and federal ministries as well as associations are to be further engaged in the future measures. Not to forget the people who use the stoves, whose influence will continue to play an essential role in efficiency and emissions in the future.
Dr Johannes Gerstner pointed out that only a clear signal from politics will lead to companies being able to invest. Only legal certainty would make companies happy to commit financially to new products. He called on the Federal Environment Agency to make a clearer commitment to wood as a component of the energy turnaround and to refrain from any disruptive fire. Constructive cooperation is the only way to a sustainable ecological future. The industry can and wants to do its part, but it needs the necessary framework conditions. Professor Dr. Hartmann confirmed to all visitors of the workshop that technologies are already available and ready for use. Now it is time to use them, he said. The industry representatives present promised support to achieve the goals. The extensive workshop results will now be further elaborated and documented. A report on the current status will be given at the next EFA meeting in Würzburg from 27 to 28 April 2023. The initiators of the workshop series Prof. Dr. Ingo Hartmann and Dr. Johannes R. Gerstner will be happy to answer questions from interested parties.
