Archive for category: All around RRF

From November 17^th to 18^th the European Fireplace Association (EFA) and the “Deutsche Biomasseforschungszentrum” (DBFZ) invited to the future workshop in Leipzig. Their joint is to find solutions for the two central challenges, energy efficiency and emission reduction in the branch. Representing the RRF was Christian Droll as a Member of the EFA board. Not only members of the EFA participate at the workshop, research representatives of various universities and institutions, testing institutes, chimney sweeps, craft companies, associations and the German Federal Environment Agency participated as well. The aim was to develop a concrete strategy so that the stove industry with products from industry and trade is a fixed component in the energy transition.

The participants were be prepared in two scientific excellent keynotes. Vinzent Egenolf from the University of Kassel began with an informing about the wood usage and their paths nationally and globally. The most important recognition out of his contribution is, that Germany is very far away from a wood shortage. But in the future, it is necessary to reduce the usage of wood. He added that forests are not an automatically CO₂-sink. Depending on how the outer conditions and location are, both unmanaged and managed forest can become an unwished CO₂-source. For example, forests near the equator are more capable to absorb CO₂ at high temperatures while forests in higher latitudes are more likely to set CO₂ free at a higher temperature. Therefore, a sustainable and controlled economically usage of wood for material and energetic purposes are necessary from an ecological point of view.

Prof. Dr. Heinz Kohler from the Karlsruhe University of Applied science informed in his lecture about the necessity of emission reduction and the great effectiveness of sensor-based combustion air controls. Extensive investigation in laboratory and in the field showed that already existing and market ready technology are capable to reduce air pollution and dust significantly. It will be challenging to create an effective combination and pricing. It was agreed that a greater market penetration would mean a massive reduction in purchase price of the components.

In five groups moderated by Prof. Dr. Hartmann, DBFZ, Dr. Johannes R. Gerstner, EFA and Christian Droll as group leader they took the topic of the future of furnaces one step further by using the controlling method of the “Strategy House”. With the knowledge and results from the past three future workshops concrete fields of action would be identified. These fields are “energy efficiency”, “emission reduction”, “furnace added value” and “innovation”. The persons responsible for this have been identified. In the future administration, the state and federal ministry and associations should be made responsible next to industry and crafting.

Dr. Johannes Gerstner marked that only a clear signal of the politics will lead that companies will be able to invest. The legal certainty will make things interesting for companies to invest in new products. He called on the Federal Environment Agency to clearly commit to wood as an integral part of the energy transition and not to put any obstacles in their way. In this way, the necessary framework conditions for an ecological future can be created in a constructive cooperation, which is necessary so that the industry can make its willing contributions. Professor Dr. Hartmann confirmed again towards all workshop participants, that the technology to reach these goals are already existing and it is now the right time to use them. To reach these goals the support of every present branch representative was insured. The results of the workshops will be carefully prepared and documented.

The next EFA-meeting will take place in Würzburg from April 27^th to 28^th 2023 and will report on the current status.

From 13.10. to 14.10.2022 the autumn conference was held in Salzburg, Austria by the European Fireplaces Association (EFA).

The RRF was represented by Mr. Christian Droll. As a member of the board of the EFA he took part of the earlier board-meeting at 12^th of October.

At this symposium the current challenges were targeted. The EFA CEO Mr. Uwe Striegler opened the fully occupied conference. This time not only members participated, representatives of other associations, companies and research facilities.

Thomas Schnabel (HKI) began with the presentation of innovative heat combinations, within not only the HKI sees a sensible input to the energy shift in Germany. About the “draining condition” §19 der Bundesimmissionsschutzverordnung BImSchV informed Markus Schlichter from the ZIV. He showed us in his presentation that the impact is not as bad as expected. But there is still room to improve for some. He again said that only with the concentrated cooperation of the associations something much worse could be prevented. After that Dr. Volker Schmatloch form the company Spartherm informed everyone about the Eco-Design Regulation EN16510. He drew attention to the fact that politics and technical expertise must go hand in hand here so that the industries can prepare for this.

Prof. Dr. Ingo Hartmann from DBFZ told us about the project UVV. Research is being done here to sensors and clean combustion. He pointed out that only innovations will add an important input to the heating market. But also, it will take a supporting role. After that he invited everyone to the industry summit at 17^th of November till 18^th of November at the DBFZ in Leipzig. On this day a strategy offer is made from past workshops on the industry, politics and environmental organizations. The RRF will also attend at this appointment.

In closing a donation check over 5.500 € was handed to the association “Die Ofenmacher e.V.”. Their project is to support the building of new clay oven in Nepal and Africa so that the people who live there will be protected from the danger of cooking at an open fireplace. We from the RRF plan to donate to them in the future as well.

Friday, October 14^th the general meeting took place at which internal topics were discussed. The Association’s year was prepared and the most important topics of the year were pointed out.

We are on the way to make our company greener by renovations to the buildings, LED lighting, photovoltaic systems, and solar thermal systems in the past few years. Since the usage of biomass is an important part of our daily work, we would like to take responsibility for sustainable actions in this area as well. Our target is to reforest at least as much wood as is used in our company.

Since many forest areas were destroyed by the drought of recent years and the bark beetle infestation, we took this problem as an opportunity to get actively involved. Together with our families and friends, we have planted 100 seedlings, including protection against damage by game, in the woods at our laboratory in Drolshagen.

We would like to thank all employees, their families and our direct neighbour, D-Garage Drolshagen for their active help and a great autumn festival!

The annual technical discussion of the working group wood firing of the TFZ offers experts an opportunity to exchange information on current developments in our industry. This year, the RRF was again invited to the technical discussion on 09.06.2021 to get involved in the discussions.

As part of the working group, the TFZ offered space for interesting topics such as current standardization work, developments on the market of domestic wood firing or technical lectures on research and development.