European Bioenergy Research Institute: Opportunities and Investment for Cities
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Transcript of European Bioenergy Research Institute: Opportunities and Investment for Cities
European Bioenergy Research Institute:
Opportunities and Investment for Cities
Tim MillerOperations Director
Research Technology ProjectsIndustry
Collaborations
EBRI is a business-facing research Institute at Aston University
We specialise in conversion of waste and residues to energy and products
We take emerging technologies from the ‘lab’ to commercial application through all key stages of development and support:
Bioenergy Markets
Biochar Analysis
‘Green’ Hydrogen
Feedstock Analysis
Biofuel Analysis
CHP Engine Testing
EBRI’s Research Interests:
Algae Cultivation
Intermediate Pyrolysis
Gasification
New Waste and Power TechnologyExample
The Pyroformer
Biomass (any feedstockwith a heating value)
Solid biocharIncludes minerals of the plant
Liquids for engines
Gases for enginesPyroformer
The Pyroformer uses thermo-chemical reactions to converts
biomass to gas, liquids and charcoal.
Heated reactor(Pyroformer)500 C no air
Solid biocharIncludes minerals of the plant
Liquids for engines
Gases for engines
Heat & Electricity from engines
Soil enhancer - CO2 capture
Pyroformer and CHP
New Institute building powered by Bio-energy
Possible Application of Pyroformer Technology in Birmingham
A vision of low carbon Birmingham 2026
•A City powered by waste
•Currently Birmingham imports 16,000 GWh of energy.
•A leakage of over £ 1bn from the city economy (excludes transport fuel)
•The City Council consumes 580 GWh energy - £ 25m
A vision of low carbon Birmingham 2026
•Use of 300,000 t/pa of biogenic waste and residue material created within Birmingham.
•Would deliver 580 GWh (CHP) with 15 installations required to make the council green i.e. all power from biowaste.
•Offers supply to a hydrogen grid with up to 60 tonnes per day and creates biochar for soil conditioning.
•It also offers an engine of business growth and development.
Biogas productionBiomass productionThermal lines
Picture of the stations around BirminghamHeat
and
Power
SNGH2
EBRI
Greenfinch Ltd ( Ludlow ) 6,000 tpa Demonstrator Rennie & sons(Bedford) 12,000
tpa
Severn Trent Water
- Biogas- Biomass- Biochar
- Biogas- Biomass- Biochar
ProductionProductionDistributionDistribution
- Canals- Streets- Thermal lines
- Canals- Streets- Thermal lines
ApplicationApplicationStorageStorage
- Heating- Power- SNG as substitute to natural gas- Hydrogen powered cars
- Heating- Power- SNG as substitute to natural gas- Hydrogen powered cars
- Heat & Power- Fertiliser- SNG- H2
- Heat & Power- Fertiliser- SNG- H2
- Existing gas storage units- Existing gas storage units
ProductionProductionDistributionDistributionApplicationApplicationStorageStorage
Bioenergy and Business Growth Opportunities in the West Midlands
The role of biomass in UK renewables
Equates to £12,000,000,000+ investment in the bioenergy sector in next decade
To achieve this level of bioenergy contribution by 2020 using conventional technologies will be expensive and challenging:
Therefore, we need to develop innovative and efficient bioenergy technologies
1.2 kilometres2
Annual Woodchip Requirement
4 x ‘Big Ben’
Types of business working with EBRI
Examples of EBRI’s industrial engagement:
Defence Advanced Engineering
Sewage Treatment
Plastics Food Manufacturing
Agriculture Utilities ICT
Improving Investment opportunitiesLearning from other regions
EBRI support for the commercial development of the bioenergy sector:
Overcome barriers to commercialisation of new bioenergy technologies
Development of new bioenergy plant requires significant upfront capital investment (technology, infrastructure, operating costs)
Investors seek to minimise risk and favour established, proven technologies
€
• Proven technology• Predictable operating costs• Long-term feedstock contract• Secure logistics and supply
chain• Long-term offtake contract• Secure subsidies
Emerging technology
Knowledge transfer and business partnerships projects – can ‘de-risk’ investment into innovative technologies25 Studies across Europe with the BioenNW Interreg project
€
• Proven technology• Predictable operating costs• Long-term feedstock contract• Secure logistics and supply
chain• Long-term offtake contract• Secure subsidies
• Technology demonstration• Operations training & maintenance• Feedstock testing & analysis• Diversifying available feedstock• Build local supply chains• Collaborate with industry and partners• Inform policy and legislation
www.ebri.org.uk
Thank You