Climate Targets of the Federal Government were the Topic at the DGMK Conference on Coal and Biomass Processing

Under the conference topic "Thermochemische Konversion – Schlüsselbaustein für zukünftige Energie- und Rohstoffversorgung" (Thermochemical Conversion - Key Building Block for Future Energy and Raw Material Supply), the Coal and Biomass Refining Division of the DGMK, in cooperation with Fördergesellschaft Erneuerbare Energien (FEE), Berlin, held its thirteenth meeting in Dresden on 24 and 25 May 2019 (formerly "Conversion of Biomass and Coal").

In 8 keynotes and 17 technical presentations as well as on 17 posters, innovative processes or procedures and plants for the use of primary and secondary energy raw materials, in particular through thermochemical conversion techniques and the use of the products obtained in energetic and material follow-up processes, were presented. For the first time, the topics of closed carbon cycles and the provision of hydrogen from regeneratively generated electricity were also addressed.

This year's Carl-Zerbe-Prize of the DGMK for outstanding achievements of young scientists was awarded to Dr. Alba Diéguez Alonso from the Technical University of Berlin during the conference. She received the prize for her work on the topic "New Insights into the Mechanism of Wood Pyrolysis".

Marie-Theres Scharl received the Poster Award for her presentation on "Numerical and Experimental Studies of Laminar Counterflow Diffusion Flames Using Biomass-based Gaseous Fuels".

A highlight of the conference was the panel discussion, which was held for the first time at this conference. Under the direction of Prof. Dr.-Ing. Elsen, MP. a. D. S. Tillich, Prof. G. Deerberg, Dr. A. Richter, Dr. A. Diéguez Alonso and Dr. G. Schmiedel discussed the following topics:

• How can we achieve the German government's ambitious climate targets without having to give up carbon?
• What about the availability of technologies, the competitiveness of products, and is the necessary acceptance given?

In the discussion it was emphasised that the German model is a touchstone for European policy whether the change will succeed. Technologies are available, but there is a problem of implementation. Research funding must be reformed and the right incentives must be provided. The regulations are too complicated. One goal must be that technology development continues to take place in Germany. For this to succeed, science and industry must try to communicate their messages to society in order to increase the acceptance of new technologies.
Through these measures, can the carbon cycle economy make a valuable contribution to structural change and technologies from Germany continue to play a role?