The 7th International Bioenergy Congress, held together with Expobioenergía, will become Conecta Bionenergía in 2012

It will be a meeting point for large-scale energy consumers and bioenergy professionals. In the current economic climate, with fossil fuel prices rising all the time, it has become vitally important to reduce energy bills and have stable, reliable supplies available. Aware of this situation, the organisers of Conecta Bioenergía and Expobioenergía are inviting four large-scale energy consuming industries – food and agriculture, tourist accommodation, education centres, and housing blocks – to come to the year's biggest bioenergy event. From 23rd to 25th October, 2012, these large-scale consumers will be able to study the real possibilities offered by bioenergy for improving efficiency and making savings in their processes. They will discover that it is possible to do so by dispensing with fossil based energies and reducing their CO2 emissions.

Innovation for customers
According to Javier Diaz, Manager of the first Conecta Bioenergía and President of Avebiom and Expobioenergía, “with this new concept we are aiming to achieve innovative solutions that are totally focused on the needs of large-scale energy consumers.”

The most innovative bioenergy technologies will be presented and studied as solutions that can be applied for achieving savings and energy efficiency in the industries that have been invited. That is why “Conecta Bionenergía cuts across the energy needs of large-scale energy buyers/users; business models that generate win-win situations for both sides; and innovative technologies applied to each industry”, pointed out Diaz.

Large-scale energy consumers
The 30,261 food and agriculture industries in Spain show a wide range of energy consumption profiles for each ton of product obtained. For example, the dairy industry can need up to 884 kWh/t for its processes; and abattoirs, which can need up to 220 kWh/t, are another example.

There are 22,547 tourist accommodation providers (hotels, country facilities and camp-sites), with average consumption per room of 1,913 kWh/year.  Energy costs are broken down into 29% for air conditioning, 12% for heating and 11% for hot water.

Average installed power in the 17,943 private schools in the country is 497 kW/school. 82% of thermal energy goes on heating and 8% on hot water.

For housing blocks, the average consumption per household is almost 8,000 kWh each year.

How is Conecta Bionergia organised?
Conecta Bioenergia is organised in two parts: talks and debate (in the morning) and pre-arranged bilateral meetings between enterprises (during the afternoon). Large-scale consumers will also have the opportunity to see all the technology on site at the simultaneous Expobioenergia fair.

Talks will include a presentation of industry data about energy consumption, success stories with bioenergy among large-scale consumers, adapted financing models, efficient technologies and systems undergoing growth such as tri-generation, biogas or micro-cogeneration, etc.

Javier Diaz explains the change in the Congress' concept: “some months ago we analysed the change with a group of European experts who considered it to be more interesting. Conecta Bioenergia is being very well received among people from enterprises in the large-scale consumer industries and those in bioenergy both in Spain and South America. This year both the fair and the congress will have a clear objective to be the event where all these consumers can connect with bioenergy”.

Give talks and participate
The proposal period for talks is now open. A selection will be made of the most innovative technological solutions, and the success stories that are most representative, and that show the greatest possibility for being implemented in the four industries (food and agriculture, tourist accommodation, private schools, and housing blocks).

Anyone interested can present their innovations and examples of their experiences through the www.congresobioenergia.com website until 15th of June, 2012.

Más información: www.congresobioenergia.org