Themed the „Challenge Biofuels“ more than 70 experts of industry, research and other organisations met on 9 and 10 April 2008 in Straubing to discuss the state of the art regarding the development of biofuels, application related problems as well as possible solution strategies.
The speakers of this workshop, organized by the Research Association for Diesel Emission Control Technologies (FAD e.V.) were:
Mr. Prof. Dr. G. Zikoridse (FAD e.V./ University of Applied Sciences Dresden)
Mr. MR Dr. R. Schäfer (State Ministry of Agriculture and Forest)
Mr. Dr. E. Remmele (Technologie- u. Förderzentrum Straubing)
Mr. D. Bockey (UFOP e.V.)
Mr. A. Mayer (TTM)
Mr. Prof. Dr. J. Krahl (University of Applied Sciences Coburg)
Mr. Dr. T. Garbe (Volkswagen AG)
Mr. Dr. A Pfeifer (VDO Automotive AG) and
Mr. R. Lämmermann (MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG).
Due to the different experts a comprehensive view of the topic was guaranteed. The single contributions pointed out that the demand in biofuels and the necessary application are increasing. But this also poses a huge engineering challenge regarding engine hardware and exhaust aftertreatment for industry and research. Furthermore it is also a challenge to bring biofuels of the second generation to the readiness for marketing and to enable production in relevant quantities.
Prof. Zikoridse, the executive director of the FAD e.V. and the head of the Vehicle Research Institute summarized in his closing remarks: if climate change, the finiteness of raw material reserves and rising commodity prices are taken into consideration, mobility will be only ensured by an increasing usage of biofuels. The aims of the workshop: the objectification of the sometimes very controversial discussion as well as providing information e. g. about mutagenicity and the oxidation resistance of biofuels to mention only some of them were achieved. From his point of view this workshop is the beginning of a multidisciplinary collaboration in order to face the “Challenge Biofuels”.
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