US-EU Energy Technology CEO Forum
19 March 2007

The EU-US Energy Technology CEO Forum took place at the US Department of State in Washington DC on Monday 19 March. The forum aimed at stimulating a discussion among governments and the private sector from both sides of the Atlantic to accelerate the innovation and adoption of new energy technology.

During the forum, the participants discussed joint initiatives aiming at bringing European and American research and technology programmes closer together for the development of renewable energies, increased energy efficiency, biofuels, clean coal, fuel-cell and hydrogen technologies. The idea is to radically reduce the time needed to research and develop new processes and technologies and to jointly assume global technological leadership in this field. This includes biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel that are already on the market produced by first generation technology, and show high growth rates in particular in the USA. It was said that there seems to be consensus across the Atlantic that research projects to speed up the development of second generation biofuel technologies should be given very high priority. In the case of second generation bioethanol, advanced enzyme systems that can break down cellulosic material are key for the success of the technology.

More information:

• From the US viewpoint
• From the European angle
• From BIS (Biobased Information System)
• From Novozymes