After a 33-months journey of the Digital global Biogas Cooperation project (DiBiCoo) GIZ as project coordinator organized a one-day Final International Conference on 21st June 2022 under the topic
“Biogas for Future: Energy security, a circular economy & climate change mitigation – What role can biogas play to achieve these goals in the future?”
With two key notes, an international panel discussion and deep dives into project results, the event marked the closing of the EU-funded Horizon 2020 project and shed light on achievements and remaining challenges in the biogas world.
In the Keynote Session Peter Zeniewski, Lead Gas Analysist at the International Energy Agency (IEA) talked about “What role is biogas playing within the sector worldwide now and in the future?”. He presented recent data and figures on the projected development and
pathways i.a. of the (natural) gas demand and gaseous fuels as well as the assessed costs and potential of biomethane globally. He highlighted that it is assessed that the global technical potential of biomethane grows by 60% to 2050. Harmen Dekker, Director of the
European Biogas Association (EBA), gave an overview of the biogas sector in Europe. His keynote speech focused mainly on recent developments within the biogas sector in Europe such as the REPowerEU plan and its implications for the sector. Harmen Dekker presented the objectives and instruments outlined in this ambitious REPowerEUplan and its focus especially on the deployment of biomethane within the EU.
During the expert panel on the role biogas plays towards energy security, a circular economy & climate change mitigation Sandra Esteves – Professor in Bioprocess Technology for Resource Recovery, Yaya Wahono – Founder and CEO of Clean Power Indonesia, Arthur Wellinger – Managing Director of Triple E&M, and Eugéne van Rensburg – Associate Professor on Process Engineering, discussed on the potential of biogas and its role to address said challenges providing reference to their countries. They shed light on:
How can biogas contribute to the aims of achieving energy security and of becoming independent from fossil energy?
o How can biogas production contribute to a circular economy?
o What role can biogas production play to substitute mineral fertilizers?
o How can biogas contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction?
o Sustainable transportation and compressed natural gas (CNG): biomethane as transport fuel
Afterwards, all partners of the DiBiCoo consortium presented project achievements, lessons learned, and a deep dive into policy and financing frameworks worldwide as part of the results from DiBiCoo. This session was clustered into 4 different topics, each presented by one of the partners who has been working on the corresponding activities.
- Matchmaking Platform: Identifying suitable business partners worldwide | LLU
- Knowledge exchange on biogas related topics | WIP
- Setting up new biogas projects in emerging markets | AEA
- Lessons learned and impact – 3 years of DiBiCoo and way forward | GIZ
Mieke Decorte from the European Biogas Association (EBA) and Elisabeth Rianawati from the Resilience Development Initiative Indonesia (RDI) presented deep dives into the European biogas sector and its synergies with developing markets and into policy and
financing mechanisms in emerging biogas markets.
The event was held online and served as the major platform for the presentation and discussion of the DiBiCoo results to the wider biogas community in Europe and the five target countries of the project. In line with the core aim of the DiBiCoo project, the Final
Conference aimed at fostering alliances between public and private sector stakeholders from biogas markets in Europe and emerging markets to facilitate the further roll-out of sustainable biogas technologies worldwide.
A total of 175 people registered upfront for the Final Conference from 46 different countries worldwide. The event was moderated by Sasha Twining, a professional TV host. Three language channels allowed the international audience to listen simultaneously in English, Bahasa Indonesia or Spanish.
The complete event was recorded and can be rewatched online on YouTube (see links below).
Session 1 @DiBiCoo Final Conference:
* Introduction of DiBiCoo
* Keynotes by Harmen Dekker and Peter Zeniewski on the role and potential of biogas globally
* Expert Panel on Biogas for Future with Sandra Esteves, Jaya Wahono, Arthur Wellinger and Eugene van Rensburg
Session 1 – YouTube stream English: https://youtu.be/K-4d8bVkt_0
Session 1 – YouTube stream Bahasa Indonesia: https://youtu.be/vfq2uYoeItI
Session 1 – YouTube stream Spanish: https://youtu.be/2KRJBV97xeM
Session 2 @DiBiCoo Final Conference:
* DiBiCoo presents results & lessons learned: Biogas and Gasification Matchmaking Platform (LLU), Knowledge exchange on biogas related topics (WIP), Setting up new biogas projects in emerging markets (AEA) and Lessons learned and impact–3 years of DiBiCoo and way forward (GIZ)
* Deep Dive 1: A picture of the European biogas sector and its synergies with developing markets by Mieke Decorte (EBA)
* Deep Dive 2: Policy and financing mechanisms for biogas projects in the target countries by Elisabeth Rianawati (RDI)
Session 2 – YouTube stream English: https://youtu.be/h6Voosn8BtA
Session 2 – YouTube stream Bahasa Indonesia: https://youtu.be/58HJUuu4XAw
Session 2 – YouTube stream Spanish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a_Hlt1by2g