"Energy", the bioenergy Show
The 2022 edition of the EIMA exhibition dedicated to biomass and the bio-economy concern the many topics that converge from the agro-forestry and agro-industrial sector into the vast sphere of ecological transition. A calendar full of initiatives punctuate the days of the Bologna event
This year's will be the ninth edition of EIMA Energy, the exhibition dedicated to biomass and the bio-economy that will emerge with a profile increasingly in line with the ongoing debate on the many issues converging in the agricultural sector and strongly linked to the protection of the environment and people's wellbeing. In the intentions of the European Commission, last year should have marked the 'transition from strategy to action' to achieve the ambitious goal of a climate-neutral Europe by 2050, one of the pillars supporting the future energy and environmental policy of the 'Green Deal'. Something has certainly moved, but much effort is still needed to decarbonise Europe's (industrial and energy) production system in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic and in the hope of a rapid ceasefire in Ukraine. In this framework, the circular bio-economy, based on a proper exploitation of biomass, will be essential to tackle climate change and also geopolitical and health crises. In particular, as far as energy aspects are concerned, the most reliable forecasting models for the achievement of European zero-emission targets show the need to increase the current share of bioenergy, forecasting an increasing use by 2030, which will double by 2050.
Never before have the innovative impulses been so strong and converging towards a drastic strategic change in favour of sustainability. Suffice it to say that more than 30% of the NRRP's economic resources are markedly 'green-tinged'.
For all these reasons, it is clear that in order to achieve the expected 'energy revolution', a 'cultural revolution' must first be carried out. Therefore, it is essential to spread - with all the tools at our disposal - the full and correct perception of the intrinsic benefits linked to the exploitation of biomass and the supply chains connected to it.
With this in mind and for the entire duration of EIMA International, Federunacoma has agreed with ITABIA Italian Biomass Association on a full programme of initiatives with an informative/disclosure, technical/scientific, strategic/political slant, regarding the complex biomass/bioeconomy system. On the basis of the experience gained in previous editions, ITABIA will have an infopoint in Hall 29 (stand E1) and another in Area 45, where dynamic tests of the operating machines used for handling forestry and agricultural biomass will take place. Here, for the entire duration of the event and as usual in close cooperation with the CNR IBE team of experts, the technical and innovative aspects developed to optimise the yields, consumption reduction and accident risks of the models on display will be illustrated. The animation of this area, which is attracting growing interest, will take place daily during the five days of the show for a total number of 20 episodes lasting approximately 1 hour (see box). In addition, ITABIA will coordinate sustainability and rural development experts for thematic seminars on best practices in the bio-economy (H2020 Project "BRANCHES"), renewables in agriculture (ENEA Task Force on Agrivoltaics) stakeholder networks in the forestry sector (MiPAAF's GESTA project), technologies available to exploit agroforestry biomass (biochar and syngas), minor islands as laboratories of circular economy (Capraia Smart Island) and other topics such as the role of modern mechanisation in the implementation of the PNRR. The detailed seminar programme is available on the EIMA website (https://www.eimaenergy.it/it/programma.php). Lastly, as part of the information and dissemination activities of the EIMA Energy exhibition, a half-day will be dedicated by ITABIA to taking a delegation of journalists, from national and foreign newspapers, to two biomass energy production plants in the agricultural (Azienda Leona) and agro-industrial (Villa Pana of the Randi Group) sectors. Renewable energy sources, and bioenergy in particular, is a sector of great importance for the targets envisaged by the recent strategies for decarbonising the economy and combating climate change. With this in mind, it is very important to involve the media in activities that allow them to experience first-hand the effectiveness of the technological solutions that are widely available today. The dual option will serve to showcase two different technological systems used for the conversion of specific types of renewable raw materials from the agricultural and forestry sectors of the territory. The appointment with EIMA Energy is at the Bologna exhibition centre from 9 to 13 November.
Calendar of dynamic tests
Throughout the duration of the Exhibition, the EIMA Energy programme includes 20 events of animation in the demo area that held at the following times.
• Wednesday 9 - Two performances: 15:00; 16:00
• Thursday 10 - Four performances: 10:00; 11:00; 15:00; 16:00
• Friday 11- Four performances: 10:00; 11:00; 15:00; 16:00
• Saturday 12- Four performances: 10:00; 11:00; 15:00; 16:00
• Sunday 13- Two performances: 10:00; 11:00
