The bioenergy prize was presented at the 18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, in Lyon, France.

Maniatis has managed the bioenergy demonstration part of the European Commission Framework Programmes and has been responsible for all technical issues related to 1st and 2nd generation biofuels at DG Energy over the last 20 years.

Maniatis is also responsible for the DG Energy demonstration component of the sectors of biofuels and polygeneration in the Commission's 7th Framework Programme.

During his career, he also initiated the CEN standardisation work for solid biomass fuels, solid recovered fuels, bioethanol, biodiesel and biomethane. He led the EU team to the tripartite work on International Compatible Biofuels Standards with the USA and Brazil that issued the White Paper on this subject in 2008.

He has represented the European Commission in the Executive Committee of the International Energy Agency (IEA) - Bioenergy Implementing Agreement for the last 15 years and served as an ExCo Chairman in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

“I am very honoured for the Linneborn Prize nomination and I wish to take the opportunity to express my sincere thanks to the bioenergy community for the nomination and to extend my warm greetings to the participants of the 18th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition.

"Being the nominee of the Linneborn Award is a great challenge for me personally because of the essential moral requirement to continue contributing to our common bioenergy goals as all previous nominees of the prestigious Linneborn Award have done, and have excelled in”, says Maniatis.

The Johannes Linneborn Prize

The Johannes Linneborn Prize was established in 1994 for outstanding contributions to the development of energy from biomass.