New Interreg Alpine Space project – Alps4GreenC
The National Institute of Chemistry coordinates the transnational cooperation to create value chains based on biochar
A consortium of Slovenian, Austrian and Italian partners led by the NIC is implementing the transnational project Alps4GreenC. The project will develop the conditions for transnational utilization of biomass residues by investigating possibilities for biomass conversion in the Alpine region. The aim is to promote the transition to a circular economy. The project is co-financed by the European Union within the Interreg Alpine Space program. On October 20, 2022, the kick-off meeting of the project partners took place, organized by the NIC.
The Alps4GreenC partners (NIC, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Štajerska, BEST GmbH, BioBASE GmbH, Free University of Bolzano, AIEL – Italian Agroforestry Energy Association) are addressing the challenges facing the Alpine Space: negative impacts of energy dependence and high energy prices, loss of biodiversity and high sensitivity to climate change, while offering solutions for the use of the abundant biomass in the region. By proposing the necessary support measures through policy recommendations and practical testing and pilot production of green carbon to assess the potential of its use for the steel and agricultural industries, we will help create the conditions for energy supply and climate protection in the region and highlight the innovation and resource potential that already exists but is currently disconnected.
The benefits of this transnational collaboration will primarily accrue to those directly involved in the value chain (residue producers, technology providers, and end users, i.e. large companies and SMEs). However, other ecosystem actors, such as national/regional authorities, sectoral agencies, and academic and research institutions, will also benefit from the creation of a comprehensive framework. Our proposed framework includes stakeholder and resource mapping, conducting a crowdsourcing campaign to collect biomass residues and raise awareness, testing and piloting biochar, and conducting a context and gap analysis of opportunities to convert biomass into green carbon sources. Without a transnational approach to this issue, appropriate biomass conversion technologies will not be identified and improved, and the shift to green, post-carbon approaches may not be fully realised. This is the first time that trans-national collaboration has been envisioned to build a value chain for biochar production.
The project began in September 2022 and will run for 18 months. In December 2022 an event will be organized to present the project to interested professionals and the general public, and to present a crowdsourcing call for biomass residue collection that will be used as a basis for future green carbon production pilot trials. Workshops will also be organized to formulate policy recommendations for the sustainable production of biochar in the Alpine region.
Photo: Participants of the Alps4GreenC project
More information: https://www.alpine-space.eu/project/alps4greenc/
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