(DLG). With its outstanding programme, the trade fair EnergyDecentral 2014 organized by DLG (Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft – German Agricultural Society) together with the industry association VDMA Power Systems was a unique marketplace for the energy sector. The some 370 specialist exhibitors from 13 countries and more than 220 exhibitors with product ranges addressing both the energy sector and animal husbandry presented solutions for the entire value chain of decentralized energy supply. The around 38,000 trade visitors who came to Hanover despite the current market situation in Germany represented an excellent result. Altogether 5,000 international trade visitors were registered. With these figures EnergyDecentral has impressively confirmed its position as leading international trade fair for decentralized energy supply.
It became clear at EnergyDecentral that decentralized energy supply represents an important element of economic strength in rural areas. Jobs, as well as efficient recyclable material and value chains at the place where raw materials originate are tangible signs of this. It also became evident that networking between the agricultural sector, municipal utilities and the food industry as well as other industries is advancing. From farmers and forest managers to municipal utilities, from the food industry and plant engineers to power providers and consumers, all involved found a platform at EnergyDecentral. They experienced impulses that will guide them to tomorrow's efficient energy partnerships, with resultant interesting investment projects. The development of BioEnergy Decentral to become this year's EnergyDecentral is a consistent evolution along these lines – a broad platform for bioenergy, but also additionally for other forms of decentralized energy supply, in particular to map the complete process chain.
The products and services displayed by the exhibitors were supplemented by an extensive technical programme that was designed and implemented by DLG in partnership with the publishing company Verlag Energie & Management and other partners. The focus here was on the topics “Smart Energy”, “Making pellets and briquettes from agricultural and forestry residue materials”, “Treating and using slurry and digester residues”, “Demand-driven power generation” and “Technical opportunities for efficient use of waste heat”.
At the sector's major forum for decentralized energy supply, the Energy Evening, around 400 representatives from the fields of industry, trade, science and research, politics, local government, public utilities and bioenergy regions, as well as many farmers and forest managers came together to discuss the further development of bioenergy and decentralized energy supply. Thoralf Lemke from Caterpillar Energy Solutions provided discussion material with his lecture. This event was also the setting for the presentation of Silver Medals awarded for trail-blazing developments in the energy sector. In addition Peter Bleser, Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture, paid tribute to the three winners of the national “Bioenergy Villages 2014” competition organized by the Federal Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR).
The next Energy Decentral will be held in Hanover on 15 to 18 November 2016.
