PROGRASS - Securing the conservation of NATURA grassland habitats with a
distributed bioenergy production
Objectives:
The University
of Kassel developed a
technological and process orientated approach (PROGRASS) to produce bio-energy
(electricity and solid fuel) also from mature grasslands (protected NATURA
habitats).
Due to the adapted technology the PROGRASS approach is especially
feasible for extensive grasslands – a substrate which causes problems in
conventional biogas or combustion systems.
In the framework of the LIFE+ project PROGRASS will be demonstrated in
extensive grasslands in European NATURA habitats of Germany, UK and Estonia –
not only to prove the feasibility but also to evidence that the approach may
become a cornerstone in the protection of these grasslands biotopes in Europe
by developing a sustainable solution consisting of nature protection and
socio-economic development of disadvantaged, marginal rural regions.
Thus PROGRASS follows the overall objectives:
- Protection of NATURA reserves
- Securing livelihood for small
farmers in retreated areas
- Saving/Compensating costs for
the conservation of grassland biotopes
- Increasing the acceptance for
the compulsory and sustainable management and maintenance of these
biotopes
- European wide creation of
awareness and transfer of the approach for the sake of European NATURA
habitats
On the operative level the project is consisting of 4 work packages:
- DEMONSTRATION of the approach
of electricity and solid fuel production on typical extensive European grasslands
- Verifying the FEASIBILITY of
the approach
- Investigating and evidencing
the SUSTAINABILITY of the approach
- VALORISATION of the approach on
different typical sites in the German state of Hesse
and different European regions
further information (pdf)
Homepage: www.prograss.eu
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