Biomass Energy

Collection, like transport and storage, is one of the basic technical and economic components of the processes of converting Biomass into energy. In recent years much progress has been made in R&D and industrial appli­ cations for the collection of all types of Biomass resources/feedstock, which ranges from orchard prunings to tree-felling waste, from straw to seaweed, from specific energy crops to arable-farming residues of any kind. Though interesting results have certainly been achieved, many problems still remain, and their solution will largely influence the final use of these Biomass sources and residues. There are the problems of bringing out timber waste from inaccessible oak forests, and making the collection of algae and aquatic plants financially worthwhile j should ma­ chines be specially designed for this work j and what about the economic and social costs for a proper forest management policy such as forest fires, soil degradation and so on. The need to assess what positives advances have already been made in the Community's member countries, so that Community action in this sector can be directed most efficiently, prompted the Directorate-General for Energy of the Commission of the European Communities to organize this workshop in collaboration with the other departments active in this field.