The BECoop Project – Researchers from the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences promote bioenergy

The project, titled "Introducing bioenergy-based heating technologies to the market by supporting local communities in the use of renewable energy sources (BECoop)," was carried out by the Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences in collaboration with the municipality of Oborniki Śląskie. There, the promotion of biomass pellets as an alternative to coal was emphasized. Scientists engaged with residents, discussing its properties, methods of transportation, storage, and utilization in home boilers. They also advocated for creating energy cooperatives involving local businesses and farmers.

– Even though we haven't managed to establish such a cooperative in the municipality yet, we have achieved a lot – assures Prof. Arkadiusz Dyjakon from the Department of Applied Bioeconomy at UPWr, the project leader. – It's important to remember that when the project started in 2020, knowledge about energy cooperatives in Poland was virtually nonexistent because there wasn't a single cooperative in the country. So, we started from scratch, and over these three years, we significantly increased awareness among the municipality's residents, who began to consider this possibility. Additionally, as pioneers in Poland, we addressed the concept of an energy cooperative based on biomass fuel. Thanks to this, there is now greater knowledge among local government representatives and rural residents, providing a solid foundation for further work in this area – explains the scientist.

Prof. Dyjakon emphasizes that one farmer near Wrocław is attempting to establish a cooperative, with UPWr scientists supporting him. The cooperative aims to include a containerized agricultural biogas plant (using cattle manure) and a batch biomass boiler powered by straw bales. All resources are intended to be sourced from their own reserves, exemplifying the positive outcomes of collaborative efforts.

Bioenergy is the future

When asked about the reasons for the university's participation in the BECoop project, Prof. Arkadiusz Dyjakon highlights the desire to reduce the use of coal in rural areas and an interest in increasing the share of biomass in generating heat for residential and public utility purposes through energy cooperatives. Due to regulations, it was crucial for cooperatives in the project to produce and consume energy (heat and/or electricity) for their own needs exclusively from renewable sources, such as biomass.

– Bioenergy, or energy generated from biomass, has significant local importance because Poland has substantial forest and agricultural biomass resources. Harnessing this potential should result in reduced heating costs, alleviation of energy poverty, increased energy security for the municipality, environmental improvement, and local development. These are tangible benefits for the local community, especially considering that according to the provisions in the Polish Energy Policy by 2040, biomass is expected to become a key fuel in heating, particularly in rural areas – explains the project leader. He adds that, given the requirement that an energy cooperative can only be established in rural or urban-rural areas, the municipality of Oborniki Śląskie was invited to participate in the project. The municipality has long grappled with the issue of excessive use of coal for heating purposes, especially in communal facilities and households.

– Taking into account the anti-smog resolution in the Lower Silesian region and the desire to reduce emissions into the environment, the BECoop project perfectly aligns with this strategy – summarizes Professor Dyjakon.

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