Its steadily growing membership already provides a well-established network and communication platform for exchanging information and expertise. Thereby, the countries whose growth curve is beginning to show an upward trend can take advantage of the experience gathered by the advanced biogas countries. EBA unites a large number of the most experienced biogas experts in Europe and has highly experienced and skilled staff providing policy advice, know-how and information to promote beneficial legislation and framework conditions in the field of biogas.

The association's founding members include organisations from Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Spain and Switzerland. Additional members, such as the biogas associations from Sweden, France, the UK and Luxumburg, have joined EBA the last months. EBA is member of the European Renewable Energy Federation (EREF) and the European Biowaste Alliance.

Arthur Wellinger, managing director of Biogas Forum Switzerland, was elected president; vice presidents are Harm Grobrügge (Fachverband Biogas) and Franz Kirchmeyr (ARGE Kompost & Biogas, Austria). Other members of the Executive Committee are Jan Shtambaský of the Czech Biogas Association and Pietro Gattoni of the Italian Biogas Association.

Arthur Wellinger said "One of the aims of the new Association is to press for the interests of the national biogas associations and represent them on the European level. The Association intends to be involved in the forthcoming legislative processes in Brussels to further the Association's aims".

The formation of the European forum is well-timed. The number of biogas production systems is growing substantially throughout Europe. In addition to Germany with about 4,000 and Austria with over 300 systems, the boom is also beginning in the East European countries. For example, totally 40 new systems were built in the Czech Republic last year alone. This makes biogas a labour market of the future in which many local and regional jobs will be created. The industry is convinced that it can survive the economic crisis.

Anaerobic fermentation is the only technology which produces renewable electricity and fuel as well as renewable heat. At the same time, the substrate from which biogas is produced is turned into valuable fertiliser, contributes to carbon sinks and decreases the emission of NOx, mainly in farming.

More information is available from Sebastian Stolpp, EBA Secretary General
+49(0)8161-984677
stolpp@biogas.org
www.european-biogas.eu