In recent years Wieselburg established itself as a technology location for bioenergy, agricultural engineering and food technology. Highly qualified employees are working at the competence centre BIOENERGY 2020+ and at FJ-BLT on energy and environmental issues. The Francisco-Josephinum and the Austrian Marketing University of Applied Sciences are training young academics for these fields.

Biofuels – an area on which research is done in Wieselburg since decades – were the topic of an event at the University of Applied Sciences in Wieselburg with 150 participants. The series of events “Highlights der Bioenergieforschung” of the BMVIT was hosted there.

Critics claim that biofuels are not sustainable. Dr.Bach from the BMLUFW could invalidate this statement: a strict European directive guarantees that all biofuels reduce more than 35 % of greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels. This requirement can be reached easily by Austrian producers due to modern technology, according to a study from Joanneum Research.

To the discussion food vs. fuel Johann Marihart, CEO of AGRANA, said that the bioethanol plant in Pischelsdorf produces beside fuel also feed and therefore reduces imports of soya protein feed. The production of bioethanol does not compete with food production.

The evening event took place at the technology centre Wieselburg-Land in form of a fireside chat on the question „Heat, Electricity or Fuel from Biomass“.

The second day of the event was dedicated to transportation biofuels research in Austria. Advances in Austrian research activities on biofuels were presented, which will be published internationally.

The international publication of the transportation biofuels research in Austria will be done by IEA Bioenergy Task 39:
www.task39.org

   

2011-04-06