The project aims on developing new combustion technologies for bio-residues. Innovative combustion technologies like flameless oxidation (FLOX (R)) and continuous air staging (COSTAIR) will be enhanced by re-burning and co-firing in order to meet this goal. Two basic types of BIO-PRO burners will be developed to meet this goal: - A pilot burner for gas and liquid fuels; - A pilot burner for solid fuels applying a pre-gasification step for the solids without gas cooling. The technology to be developed shall be able to self adjust to different fuel qualities (fuel moisture 10-50 percent). For emissions of the investigated fuels the upper limit for CO will be 30 mg/m3 (currently 50 mg/m are typical) and NOx will be reduced by 50 percent (starting point for dry wood chips in available combustion systems = 210 mg/m ). The prototypes of the new burners will be brought to pre-commercialisation level (two pilot scale burners and operation guidelines). The accompanying socio-economic assessment will assess the economic viability of the new technology (live cycle assessment) on the one hand and will show promising markets for a subsequent dissemination of the technology on the other hand (dissemination strategy). A successful development and application of the technology is expected to have following impact: - Increased use of bio-residues, increasing the utilisation of biomass in Europe by up to 50 percent (basis 54.175 toe in 1998). This will reduce CO2 emissions by 46 Mio t/a (basis: energy consumption 1998); - Improved European competitiveness in the global market, accounting for up to 15,000 new jobs; - NOx emissions from biomass combustion systems will be reduced within 10 years by approx. 76,500 t/a (basis: biomass consumption 1998).