On 2 October Alkmaar was the stage for the first edition of the international conference Biomass Gasification Europe (BGE 2014). A conference on biomass gasification and the essential role biomass plays in the application of clean, reliable and innovative energy. Biomass gasification is a promising technology that produces high caloric green gas that can be used in existing infrastructures. During the conference InVesta was presented, an expert center for biomass gasification projects. InVesta resides at the Energy Innovation Park.

This first edition of the Biomass Gasification Europe conference has been organized in cooperation with the Energy Innovation Park. Besides an ideal location for housing your company, the Energy Innovation Park offers the Energy Innovation Center. An innovative center for, amongst others, development of a demonstration installation for biomass gasification. This installation emphasizes the Energy Park as a future testing and research location, which supports the intention to support the transition to sustainable energy management in the Netherlands.

As of the first quarter of 2015 it will be possible to tank LNG at the Energy Innovation Park at the first public LNG filling station in the province of North Holland. The company GP Groot, a trader in fuels and oil, will build the LNG filling station aligned with Energy Innovation Park.

The building of the LNG filling station fits the Parks line of thought by producing alternative fuels. The use of LNG (liquefied natural gas) is getting more popular in the transport sector.

LNG is a liquefied natural gas that forms when natural gas is cooled to minus 160 degrees Celsius. The consumable costs are lower than with diesel, and it is cleaner than diesel, reducing CO2 emmissions and partical pollution. Apart from that, trucks powered by LNG generate fifty percent less noise than diesel trucks. GP Groot’s ambition is to offer LBG (liquid bio gas) in the future.

The filling station is being equipped with an LNG-installation of a prominent supplier of industrial gases. Aside from LNG, diesel and AdBlue will also be available, and there will be a possibility to fill up on bio-CO2. Bio-CO2 is emerging as a sustainable alternative to diesel for cooling cargotrailers.

The choice for locating the filling station at the Energy Innovation Park is, according to GP Groot, an obvious one. It is located next to one of the main highways, there are multiple activities of transport-and energycompanies in the area and you can take into account all the synergy advantages of the presence of SMEs, as well as national and international players.

At the Biomass Gasification Europe conference, Investa, the institute for Valorization and Expertise of Thermochemics Alkmaar, was presented to the public. InVesta is founded by the municipality of Alkmaar, province North Holland, ECN, TAQA, Energy Valley and the Energy Board. And will be THE national knowledge and expertise center in the field of biomass gasification.

InVesta offers entrepreneurs, knowledge developers, universities and other educational institutes physical space and opportunities for research, testing and developing innovative techniques of the biomass gasification and future technologies. The gasification of biomass is a relatively new and sustainable technology.

The product of biomass gasification is called syngas (from synthesis gas or synthetic gas). This high caloric, sustainable gas is widely used. A well-known application is as a base to produce large quantities of green gas (gas of an identical quality as natural gas, but made of biomass) and fuel, but also as an intermediate of the chemical industry.

InVesta will settle at the Energy Enovatioin Park in Alkmaar. A first customer will join at the end of 2014. The company Torrgas from North Holland is building a demonstration plant at the location of InVesta. Paul Korting, board member of Energy Board North Holland and director of ECN: “The Netherlands is aiming for a higher rate of sustainable and clean energy from biomass, wind and sun. By launching InVesta the province of North Holland gives a great contribution to gain more knowledge and technology in the area of sustainable energy. InVesta encourages the application of biogas for the future.”

On Monday September 29, high-tech company Technobis has opened her new commercial premises at the Energy Innovation Park in Alkmaar. Henk Kamp, Minister of Economic Affairs and Managing Director of Technobis Pim Kat jointly presented the opening ceremony. The new plant in Alkmaar includes conditioned test labs, vibration controlled platforms, a downflow lab, offices, meeting rooms and a large ESD compliant assembly and stock area.

The theme of the afternoon was technological innovations and the development of a high-quality energy region. Kamp and Kat emphasized the vast possibilities that can originate from a cooperation of high-tech companies.

Henk Kamp: ”Companies like Technobis are invaluable. Innovative and ambitious in nature, they not only contribute to our economy, but act as an incentive to other companies. With Technobis at the forefront, the Energy Park Alkmaar entices ambitious entrepreneurs as a place to grow. As a result Alkmaar is getting stronger as an energy- and innovation region which benefits the Netherlands.

For an impression of the business activities of the Technobis Group: https://youtu.be/-dm0Hd0YBHA

We cordially invite you for the first edition of Biomass Gasification Europe (BGE). The conference is part of the biannual Conference of the European Biogas Association and focuses purely on gasification.

With speakers from Finland, Denmark, the United States and the Netherlands, BGE 2014 offers a challenging programme in which production and conversion of syngas are the primary themes. In addition, the Institute for Valorization and Expertise in Thermochemics Alkmaar (INVESTA) will be officially launched during BGE 2014. The full conference programme is available on ww.BGE2014.nl.

Prior to the conference, on October 1, there will be a networking dinner. We hope to welcome you there as well.

You can register for the conference online. If you register also for the first two conference days, you are entitled to an attractive rebate.

Technobis has recently moved into its new building at Energy Innovation Park. Eight months of hard work after the first pile was hammered into the ground in October 2013, the building was ready before the summer.

The first company Technobis Mechatronics from Uitgeest, announced its relocation to the Energy Innovation Park Alkmaar. Jaap Bond, Executive of Province Noord – Holland officially started the construction of the new research and office buildings by piling the “first pile” into the ground.

The first mover is an important milestone and a first step towards a cluster of innovative and energy-related companies at Energy Innovation Park Alkmaar. Part of the cooperation is the sale of 3300m2 land from TAQA to Technobis . The development has been done in close cooperation with the regional development board, Municipality and the builder / investor.