Reform of the European sugar industry based on polygeneration with the use of energy crops

Objective

The recent reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and the sugar regime have created concerns for the future of the European sugar industry. In parallel, the increase in fossil fuels prices, the EU policy and strategy including the recent Biomass Action Plan and the promotion of biofuels in the transport sector create an opportunity for the sustainable reform of the EU sugar industry.

The project aim is to contribute to the reform of the European sugar industry assigning them the role of supplier of low-cost heat and electricity via cogeneration and bioethanol for the transport sector as well as of other valuable materials, using polygeneration technology. Innovative polygeneration systems based on sugar beet, sweet sorghum or other energy crops are under development world widely.

Fields of science

• engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringpower engineeringelectric power generationcombined heat and power
• agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculture
• engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels
• engineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologybiomaterialsbiofuels
• agricultural sciencesagricultural biotechnologybiomass

Programme(s)

• FP6-SUSTDEV - Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems: thematic priority 6 under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006.

Topic(s)

• SUSTDEV-1 - Sustainable energy systems
• SUSTDEV-1.1.8 - Thematic Promotion and Dissemination

Call for proposal

FP6-2005-TREN-4
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

Coordinator

Participants (4)