The use of solid biofuels for heating application has reached an important stage of development in Nordic countries and some others countries in Europe (Finland, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, France and Germany). However, in south Europe, although there is an important potential in some regions, the use of solid biofuels is very scarce and there is not a well established biofuel market (Spain, Italy,...).

In order to take advantage of this potential, it is necessary to transfer technologies, methodologies and experiences from countries where the heating biofuel market is more developed to the southern regions and get them adapted to the local market conditions. The selected consortium and the project management strategy will assure this information, knowledge and experiences transfer.

At present, the biofuel market in the regions under study is not large enough to develop by itself and to reach a steady growth. Therefore, socio-political measures are needed in these regions in order to encourage the development of biofuel heating and cooling applications. These measures will be identified and proposed to the local governments which have already shown their interest in the project.

The proposed project intend to carry out a techno-economical assessment of the whole biofuel utilization cycle, from collection to heat production, in two pilot regions of southern Europe with an important potential for solid biofuels (Navarra in Spain and Tuscany in Italy), in order to identify the barriers for bio-heat development and to propose efficient measures to overcome them by using and adapting the experiences of countries where biofuels have reached a significant market share.

This project pretends to have an underlined European dimension based in four actions:

1. By using knowledge and previous experiences generated in northern European countries, by means of the participation of "expert" partners from these countries, trying to get them adapted to southern Europe conditions.
2. By extending the results obtained analysing two selected pilot regions to all southern regions through a potential market estimation in Southern Europe.
3. By including in the consortium partners from new Accession Countries to carry out dissemination activities of the project results in its country.
4. By including EUBIA (European Biomass Industry Association) in the consortium to carry out dissemination activities of the project results at European level.
The aim the project is to encourage the development of biofuel heating and cooling market in southern Europe. If the bio-heat utilisation in southern Europe increases, there will be an important reduction of fossil fuel consumption, mainly natural gas and oil. In addition, other effects have to be taken into consideration:

• The development of rural depressed areas will be promoted with the creation of employment and the growth of population.
• The emission of CO2 and other contaminants will be reduced.
• The use of biofuels could be a way to help to fund the forestry maintenance. The cleaning activities in the forest will reduce the risk of fires.

The project results will be disseminated nationally, in Spain and Italy, and internationally at EU level and in Accession Countries between the goverment representatives, market key actors, citizens, technicians, scientist ...