Research, Development and Education in Bioenergy

Bioenergy is one of the key areas of expertise of the JAMK University of Applied Sciences. The Institute of Natural Resources, located in Saarijärvi ca. 60 km north-west from Jyväskylä, has focused on applied research and development as well as on education in bioenergy since its establishment at the end of the 1990s.

The education, training, research and development activities in bioenergy are carried out and led by the Bioenergy Development Centre. The opening of the brand new building of BDC and its facilities (e.g. a new heat plant for demonstration and training purposes) took place in January 2010.

Our main areas of competence are:

• wood energy and energy crops: harvesting and logistics
• bioenergy entrepreneurship
• quality of biofuels (solid, gaseous, liquid)
• biogas: combustion processes and equipment
• decentralized heat and power solutions

JAMK participates in several EU-funded projects both as administrator, partner and expert. We work in close cooperation with local and international enterprises, development and research organizations and other interest groups. We are also a member of the Benet Bioenergy Network, a network that offers a wide range of consulting, training and engineering services.

Development of the Bioenergy Sector

The province of Central Finland has set up ambitious targets in increasing bioenergy production and utilization (Clusters in Central Finland). All the major companies and other organizations are committed to developing activities in the bioenergy sector to increase the province’s current production of bioenergy (9 TWh) by 4 TWh by 2015.

The educational and R&D activities of the JAMK University of Applied Sciences are also contributing to the accomplishment of the regional and provincial goals, especially in increasing the know-how, innovativeness and competitiveness of small- and medium-sized entrepreneurship in bioenergy.