The SUPERGEN Bioenergy Consortium has recently been awarded a
further EPSRC grant of £6.4m which will support a new work programme
for an additional 4 years. SUPERGEN Bioenergy will continue to carry
out excellent research into all steps in the bioenergy chain from
production of biomass to delivery of a useful and valuable energy
product, such as power, heat, and transport fuels.
Biomass is any plant material which can be used as a fuel, such as
energy crops, wood, agricultural waste and vegetable oils. Biomass can
be burned directly to generate power, or processed to create gas or
liquids to be used as fuel for production of power, transport fuels and
chemicals. Biomass currently accounts for just 0.43% of the UK's
energy, but it is seen as one route to meeting EU targets for reduction
of CO2 emissions and increased use of renewable energy.
The project is studying the production of different types of biomass
and investigating their behaviour in thermal conversion processes, with
particular emphasis on the interaction and interface between production
and conversion. Conversion processes are being investigated to improve
their performance. Finally the bioenergy products are being expanded to
include transport fuels and renewable chemicals within the context of a
biorefinery. A wide range of system studies are included to evaluate
the performance, cost, and socio-economic benefits of a wide range of
bioenergy chains.
BRF - Bioenergy Research Forum
SUPERGEN Bioenergy also runs the BRF (Bioenergy Research Forum)
which provides a forum for all involved and interested in production of
biomass, thermal conversion of biomass and waste, utilisation of
end-products and supporting studies to discuss, review and address
technical and non-technical issues that inhibit rapid and wide-spread
implementation of these technologies.
A series of themed BRF
events are run throughout the year, which provide a focus for a
particular topic within the bioenergy industry.
More information on the BRF and its events is available on the SUPERGEN Bioenergy web site at http://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/?_id=304
Sponsor
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, UK
Partners
Aston University
Cranfield University
Forest Research
Imperial College
Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS)
Policy Studies Institute
Rothamsted Research Institute
University of Leeds
University of Manchester
University of Sheffield
Industrial Partners
Alstom
Amec
Bical
Biffa
Biomass Engineering
BP
Coppice Resources
E.ON UK
Johnson Matthey
Rural Generation
RWE nPower
Associate Partners
Irish Seaweed Centre
Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS)
University of Oxford
University of Ulster
More information
www.supergen-bioenergy.net
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