The main aim was to enlarge the use of biomass for energy production in the North Sea countries, thus contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gases emission (Kyoto targets) and strengthening the sustainable spatial development of rural areas as well. Therefore the project brought together and expanded knowledge on the use of biomass for energy and distributed this information to relevant market parties and organisations who may use it to set up and optimise bio energy installations. Achievements: The project conducted activities investigating the incorporation of alternative and sustainable energy production strategies in order to increase the use of biomass for energy production. Among these activities was the set-up of pilot plants on biomass and wood burning as well as trials to test and demonstrate innovative technologies, processes and the use of different biomass types for the production of bio energy.The project improved the quality of life in the North Sea Region by contributing to different field trials on how to use biomass and biogas as future energy resources, which allowed farmers to diversify their activities and, in the long run, also supported the economic development of rural areas. Another field of activities focused on the creation of an extensive, centralised knowledge platform, on informing and educating relevant parties to increase awareness of the bio energy market and on setting up regional networks or branch offices to support the further development of the bio energy market.The Province of Fryslân, the Netherlands, the biogas co-digestion plant (manure) was running and findings fed into project. The pilot demonstrated that local bottom-up initiatives are necessary to raise awareness at higher political levels (regional and national), e.g. to initiate regulatory measures introducing general feed-in tariffs for renewable energy.