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