Bioenergy villages

Located in Covasna County, Ghelinta is a small village that produces and uses most of its energy demand from local biomass sources (agriculture, forestry and waste) using the “1 village 1 MW” concept. In order to promote this concept, Green Energy Innovative Biomass Cluster Romania developed a R&D project that aimed to transfer and adapt experiences gained in countries where bioenergy villages already existed (Germany and Austria). This project aimed to strengthening the role of locally produced biomass as a main contributor for energy supply on local level, considering opportunities of market uptake or expansion for local farmers, wood producers or SMEs.
Core activities of the project included the technological and economic assessment of the village, the involvement and active participation of stakeholders and citizens, the development of local bioenergy value chains and technologies, as well as capacity building about financing schemes and business models.
The local community involvement activities (specific info days for citizens regarding their opportunities to switch from old classical wood stoves to small or medium-scale biomass heating systems and the bioenergy concept, site visits, discussions with local authorities and politicians about incentives and support opportunities etc.) were important activities of the project.