Hermann Hofbauer: Linneborn Prize 2012

This accomplishment is being awarded on the occasion of the 20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition - Setting the course of a biobased economy, Milan, Italy, 18 - 22 June 2012. The 2012 Prize Winner is Hermann Hofbauer from the Vienna University of Technology. The prize is awarded to him for his outstanding contribution and leadership for over 30 years in developing and in market introduction of several important technologies for energy carrier production and sustainable energy generation from biomass by thermochemical methods. Especially his work on producing syngas from biomass by dual zone circulating fluid bed gasification attracted worldwide attention and admiration. Its implementation for combined cycle energy generation in Güssing was an important step in reaching a share of almost 100% renewable energy in this South East Austrian town, provided hundreds of new jobs, flourishing businesses attracted scientists and business people from all over the world and even enhanced tourism. Professor Hofbauer has been and still is active in many international networks and advisory committees, chairman of scientific boards, in the different IEA-groups as member or Austrian delegate and in the executive committee. He is also key-researcher at the competence center 'Bioenergy 2020' Gasification.