Events
Second Trans-national Expertise Group in Budapest
The 2nd Trans-national Expertise Group (TEG) of RuralE.Evolution was held in the venues of Aquaprofit in
The TEG represents the technical – scientific face of the project complementing the managerial meetings, giving the partners the chance to discuss the scientific results of the project and to exchange strategies to overcome the existing barriers faced when implementing the agroenergy districts.
In order to fulfill the last commitments with the European Commission, the partners drafted a working plan as well as the foreseen dates for the Final Conference that will take place in
1st Local Initiative in Portugal
The first Local Initiative, was held at Pousada Castelo de Alvito, in the village of Alvito, on April 20, 2010.
Representatives of major organizations of farmers and Agricultural Cooperative Banks in the region attended to the meeting, where Mr. Godinho described the RuralE·Evolution Project, its background, brief description, objectives, what has been done and the next steps of the project.
Then Mrs. Rosas made a presentation about the benefits of the project for several local players, pointed out that both the Municipality and UCASUL already acceded to it and asked the public who can be interest in being involved in the project and what could be its role in this.
About the different comments made by the audience, we highlight the following.
The Director-General of UCASUL, the Union of Cooperatives that holds the biomass that is being considered for this project, explained the problem in a strategic perspective for the region, identifying the benefits of the transformation of biomass into electricity and the constraints that predicts we may find in the process.
From the Agricultural Cooperative banks, were stressed the following aspects:
- Importance of the project, energy production from olive pomace treated, taking into account the existing biomass in increasing quantities because of the many new plantings of olive trees in the region, and that if no other destination can be found, we may face an environmental problem.
- Difficulty that the project may have to get a connection to the national grid. Is necessary an administrative and a political decision.
- Willingness to collaborate with the project and interest in following its development.
Other comments:
- The project must demonstrate to policymakers the importance of commitment in renewable energy from agricultural biomass, which could become a gain and avoid an environmental problem.
- It was requested information about further developments of the project.
2nd Local Initiative in Portugal
The 2nd Local Initiative was held at Pousada Castelo de Alvito, on June 25, 2010.
The meeting was opened by the Secretary-General of CONFAGRI, Mr. Francisco Silva, followed by Mrs. Maria Antónia Figueiredo, coordinator of RuralE.Evolution in CONFAGRI, with a short description of the project. Then, the Director of UCASUL, Mr. Carlos Martins, made a description of the process of the olive pomace and about the importance its use to produce electricity.
These presentations were followed by a debate among the representatives of farmers’ organizations of Alentejo and Agricultural Cooperative Banks of the region; representatives of Olive oil mills; some private companies interested in renewable energy; as well local members of the different political parties. About 60 persons attended the meeting.
To finalize the initiative, the Mayor of Alvito remarked the importance of this project for the local development and how the Municipality could collaborate to implement it. Then, the President of UCASUL, Mr. Luis Mira Corôa also reinforced the strategic importance of the project. Mr. Anibal Martins, member of the Board of directors of CONFAGRI, emphasized the importance of getting the connection to the grid and the clear definition of the tariff for this kind of biomass.
The Portuguese Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fishery closured of the meeting.
Second Local Initiative in Portugal
Confagri is organizing a Seminar on "Use of olive pomace to produce electric energy" on the 25 of June 2010 in Alvito. During the seminar the attendees will have the opportunity to know the last steps of RuralE·Evolution project, as well as visit the UCASUL installations. To see the program click hereLocal Initiative in Spain II
Local Initiative in
6 May 2010
In the framework of the IV Steering Committee of RuralE·Evolution, Intercoop together with the rest of the partners organised an open seminar to show the latest results of the project, and to exchange the conclusions with the attendant.
The role of the leader in the partnership, the importance of the legal framework in the promotion of the renewable energy and the restrictions due to some European regulations (Nitrates Directives) were some of the topics on the round table.
In order to know more about the discussed topics and conclusions click here
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