Energy and biomass utilization tips for local municipalities

In the frame of the project COACH BioEnergy the Hungarian partners compiled the most important issues to enhance the effectivity of the local energy management.

Every municipality should have an energy expert who can be involved in the planning of energy developments, and every city council should form an energy sub-committee to keep energy issues on the agenda.
It is advisable to keep track of the energy use of municipal public buildings on a simple spreadsheet.
Looking at best practices already functioning elsewhere and exchanging experiences can help to avoid a lot of mistakes and to make wise decisions.
The right scheduling of important developments, exemplary management by the municipality and good practices are of high importance.
Several biomass utilisation projects initiated at the same time should have a shared planning and consultation process in order to avoid that the different initiatives decrease each other's opportunities (e.g. competition for land to supply raw material demands).
If the nature of the project makes it viable, it is advisable to have trials on a small scale and to gather local experience before actually embarking on the actual developments (e.g. setting up energy plantations).
Cooperation with forestries is not only important from the raw material aspect, but it is also interesting for municipalities, because it can help to provide the necessary own contribution to development grant applications.
Sustainability criteria for the energetic utilization of biomass:
1. biomass based electricity production can only provide the acceptable efficiency if the heat produced is also utilised, and it is considered a wasteful utilisation on its own (can only reach 30% of efficiency)
2. the scale of utilisation should always be tailored to local heating needs
3. the raw material used should come from a certified source (the distance of transportation should also be certified with a delivery note)
4. the delivery distance of the raw material should be as short as possible, 50 km or less is ideal
5. when producing biogas a suitable amount of local raw material and storage capacity should be available, and the heat produced in the process should be utilized
General priority order of energy investments:
1. saving energy – reducing the wasteful use of energy
2. energy efficiency – using less energy to satisfy the same needs, e.g. by heat insulation
3. if possible, fossil fuels should be replaced with renewable energy sources
Providing more information to consumers about the operation of the district heating system and the individual measuring of heat consumption prevents wasting energy in households.
Appropriately demonstrating the results achieved by the municipality catalyzes initiatives made by the people.