CenBio - Norwegian Bioenergy Innovation Centre - is a large, 8-year, industry-driven research Centre bringing together actors with interest in Norwegian stationary bioenergy (heat/power), both from industry (e.g. energy producers and technology providers) and R&D. CenBio aims at enabling sustainable and cost-efficient bioenergy industry in Norway. Bioenergy is of increasing importance in Norway (including for security of supply), especially biomass-based residential heating appliances, and a growing district heating network, widely based on Waste-to-Energy plants. Norway also features a large amount of under-exploited woody biomass resources. These facts, combined with strategic governmental support, provide a strong basis for innovation and value creation.
CenBio has brought together the most qualified researchers across the country ("the bioenergy national team") combined with core industrial actors, working together within key areas across the bioenergy value chains, namely: biomass logistics and supply, conversion technologies, and sustainability analysis. After four years of operation, the Centre initiated a sub-project dedicated to value chain assessment of bioenergy, encompassing the most important value chains of the Norwegian stationary bioenergy, i.e. Waste-to-Energy, biomass-based residential heating appliances and biogas (anaerobic digestion). In total, about 240 scientific articles have been published, of which 200 are peer-reviewed journal publications. Nearly a third of all publications included international collaborations. In parallel, 40 PhD students / Post-Docs and 45 Master students have been educated through or affiliated with the Centre.
A key aspect in the Centre has been to develop innovations for implementation in industry. For example, CenBio researchers have been involved in the development and testing of Prediktor's Spektron Biomass instrument that uses light (NIR) to measure moisture in wood chips in a matter of seconds instead of hours. Spektron Biomass is now commercialised (and approved by the sawmills association in Sweden). Another example is the development of a new protocol for sample preparation and microbiological analysis of specimens collected right from anaerobic digesters. Another success story of CenBio is the collaboration with our partners Vattenfall AB, Energos AS, EGE Oslo, Hafslund Varme AS, Akershus Energi AS, and Statkraft Varme AS and their operational challenges within bioheat and WtE plants, both regarding emissions (e.g., NOx), sustainability, corrosion and ash deposition. Yet another example of success has been the development of a world-leading research team at NTNU within life cycle assessment (LCA) of biomass utilization, featuring among the authors of the latest UN IPCC reports. This team has published several scientific articles on the current situation and future challenges and opportunities of Norwegian bioenergy value chains by combining detailed LCA together with technical (in cooperation with SINTEF) and economic (in cooperation with NMBU) considerations. Industry partners have been actively involved, providing data and expertise.
The Bioenergy Innovation Centre also gained a large international attention by participating to the largest biomass conference in Europe: EUBCE 2016 (6-9 June 2016 in Amsterdam). After more than seven years of R&D, CenBio contributed to the conference with: over 20 presentations and posters, a workshop ("Sustainability of forest bioenergy"), a panel debate on bioenergy's future, the 2016 Bioenergy Innovation Award ceremony and a stand presenting CenBio and bioenergy in Norway.
CenBio also co-organised with EERA Bioenergy a strategic workshop and a brokerage event to develop Horizon 2020 proposals with renowned European research groups (April 2016, Brussels). This was a fruitful double event that increased the visibility of CenBio and its participants, further improving their networks and potential European partners.
Throughout the last eight years, the research centre CenBio has paved the way to multi-disciplinary and innovative research work within the Norwegian bioenergy sector, bringing a new vision on the developing Norwegian bioenergy market and especially highlighting its large potential for growth.
The overall objective of CenBio is to enable sustainable and cost-efficient bioenergy.
CenBio will constitute the national team for research and innovation addressing the use of bioenergy for stationary purposes in Norway over the next decade. CenBio wil l address and solve the key Research and Innovation challenges that will enable the nation to double its present use of bioenergy by the year 2020.
Sub-Project 1 Biomass supply and residue utilization. .
To determine how the present volum es of biomass harvested for energy purposes may be doubled by 2020, and what implications this has for energy fraction qualities.
Sub-Project 2 Conversion mechanisms .
To discover the feedstock requirements and technology implications for efficient use of new bioenergy fractions and mixtures.
Sub-Project 3 Conversion technologies and emissions .
To demonstrate that all the biomass conversion energy efficiencies listed in the CenB io Vision 2020 are practically and economically feasible, as well as environmentally benign.
Sub-Project 4 Sustainability analyses .
To provide bioenergy investors, regulating authorities and other stakeholders with sound and solid analyses of the overall environmental and economic implications of existing and proposed bioenergy value chains.
Sub-Project 5 Knowledge Transfer and Innovation .
To educate and train the current and next generatio n of bioenergy specialists in Norway.
