European Research In Biomass Energy

The European Community Directorate for Research in Science and Technology has recently initiated a new four year framework programme which includes a substantial activity on non-nuclear energy known as JOULE - Joint Opportunities for Unconventional and Long term Energy in Europe. This programme includes a major activity in the area of Energy from Biomass with a financial allocation for the current two year programme of about US$12 million. The topics covered include biomass production, conversion to fuels by biochemical and thermochemical processes, utilisation of these fuels in an variety of applications and studies of integrated systems for implementation. This paper describes the current European Community Energy from Biomass programme, pattern of activities and their objectives, and future plans for development and expansion into related areas. These include pulp for paper, fertilisers and chemicals as well as liquid and gaseous fuels from bio-chemical and thermo-chemical conversion technologies.