International Day of Forests

APREN - Portuguese Association of Renewable Energies marked the International Day of Forests with a round table dedicated to the "Importance of Biomass in the National Energy Mix". The event took place on March 24, at the Auditorium of the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Coimbra (FCTUC).

 

The panel of speakers included António Sá da Costa (APREN); Luís Neves, Miguel Almeida, Xavier Viegas, Luís Fonseca and Isabel Abrantes (University of Coimbra); Sónia Figo (Center of Biomass for Energy) and Frederico Pisco (The Navigator Company).

 

To see more (in portuguese), click here.

 

Forests and Biomass

 

Forest byproducts, when burned, are a source of energy that can be used in thermal power plants to produce electricity, also having an important role in the production of heat. Using forest residues for this purpose reduces the risk of fire if forest clearing is combined with forest management.

 

APREN and the Universities

 

APREN has been promoting a series of round tables, to be held in different institutions of higher education in Portugal, to celebrate the thematic days related to renewable energy sources. The aim is to consolidate the association's relationship with universities, through an active role in the dissemination of information on renewable energies, in a pedagogic and engaging way.