Green Energy Conference at South West College

“Clean and green technologies offer Northern Ireland firms the chance to secure growth, jobs and profits”, a panel of experts said at special conference held at the South West College in Omagh to help companies compete in the fast-growing bioenergy sector.

The event was designed to identify opportunities for local organisations to capitalise on biogas and biomass technologies and help build a platform for growth. These technologies are used to generate both electricity and heat from biological sources such as wood or farm waste and are already creating thousands of jobs across the globe. 

Organised by the InnoTech Centre and funded by the Department for Employment and Learning, speakers at the event included renewable energy expert Wolfgang Gabauer from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Austria, Tom Brennan from Londonderry-based Rural Generation Ltd., Christian Pointner from Bioenergy 2020+ in Austria, a European leader in biomass technology, Martin Sturm, from Camphill Community Clanabogan, and William Robinson, from B9 Organic Energy Ltd..

Aaron Black, Conference Chairperson and head of sustainable technologies at the InnoTech Centre, said if new technologies are applied, the bioenergy sector has the potential to generate a large percentage of our power requirements and support business growth.

“Renewable energy is a long term priority for the InnoTech Centre and for Northern Ireland. Many of Europe’s strongest economies are already tapping into the potential of bioenergy as an important economic driver and its uptake in the UK and Ireland is growing at a rapid pace. So much so, for example, that the National Grid estimates biogas could make up nearly 50% of domestic gas by 2020.

“Unsurprisingly, companies in Northern Ireland have been quick to respond to the new lucrative opportunities and locally-based firms such as B9 Organic Energy Ltd. and Rural Generation Ltd. have successfully clinched major contracts at home and abroad. By acting now companies here have the chance to gain a strong position in a fast-growing global sector.” 

Tom Brennan, Managing Director of Rural Generation Ltd., said government-led incentives for heat installations would provide a major boost to the renewable sector and beyond. 

“It’s an exciting time for firms operating in the bioenergy sector. Demand for renewable heat installations are continuing to increase and with government-backed reward schemes, such as the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) announced recently by Arlene Foster, provides new opportunities for local companies to make gains in important markets.

“While there are clear advantages to be had by firms working directly in the sector, bioenergy also has the potential to contribute towards fuel security, reduce carbon emissions and provide support for other industries – particularly agriculture in the case of wood biomass fuel.”

The InnoTech Centre is Northern Ireland’s first inter-disciplinary business and mentoring support centre and provides organisations and entrepreneurs with the technology and know-how to move innovative ideas closer to commercial gain.

The Opportunities in Bioenergy Conference took place on Tuesday 12^th October at the South West College in Omagh and was delivered in partnership with European biomass specialists from the Intelligent Energy Europe funded BioEnerGIS programme and the Department for Employment and Learning’s Connected & Innovation Fund programmes.

For further enquires on upcoming seminars and events please visit www.theinnotechcentre.com or telephone 028 8225 5223.