Biowaste Gasification Powers New ERBI Research Facility at Aston University, UK

The European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI), which is based at Aston University in the UK’s Midlands, has opened a £16.5 million new research facility complete with a biowaste gasification combined cooling, heat and power (CCHP) plant. The new development has been funded jointly by the University and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), comes complete with research suites, laboratories and technology demonstration facilities. EBRI explained that the facility houses the only Pyroformer™/Gasifier bioenergy power plant currently up-and-running in the UK, which will provide power, heat and cooling to the building as well as other parts of the University. Pyroformer, which is a gasification based biowaste to energy solution developed by EBRI, is said to have no negative environmental or food security impacts as it utilises a variety of waste sources as feedstock. Furthermore, the institute said that one of its by-products, biochar, can even be used as a fertiliser to increase crop yields. Official opening The Lord Mayor of Birmingham officially opened EBRI’s new ‘home’ at Aston University and spoke at the opening event, alongside Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Julia King and EBRI Director, Professor Andreas Hornung. “In the UK we have a legally binding commitment to cut emissions by at least 80% from 1990 levels by 2050,” explained Dame King. “However, we are aware that the UK will not meet its targets – and at an affordable cost - without new technologies and that is why we have established our European Bioenergy Research Institute,” “We believe that we can take waste such as sludge, industrial cast offs, grass clippings from our parks and gardens, and even autumnal leaf fall, and turn it into a power source that by 2050 will have created a thermal ring of mini power plants around Birmingham,” she continued. Opportunity for businesses Professor Andreas Hornung, Director of the European Bioenergy Research Institute, meanwhile noted that the new development will significantly increase the capacity of ERBI’s dedicated teams to produce research and knowledge transfer in all aspects of bioenergy and technology development. “We can also now provide even more collaboration opportunities for businesses to run trials and tests, evaluate waste sources and consider combinations of bioenergy processes prior to investment,” he said. EBRI at Aston University was established in 2007 and bioenergy research has been taking place at the University since 1978. EBRI works with regional, national and international businesses and organisations to help them realise opportunities from the high growth bioenergy sector. EBRI has ERDF funding to provide free support, advice and consultancy to West Midlands businesses. Read More ERBI Requests Commercial Biowaste for Waste to Energy Research Businesses in the UK’s West Midlands have been invited to send their waste for testing in a new bioenergy technology developed by researchers at the European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI) based at Aston University in Birmingham. Revisions to Norfolk’s Cory Wheelabrator Waste to Energy Contract Approved The Cory Wheelabrator Consortium’s proposed revisions to the project plan for its energy from waste contract with the County Council has been approved by the council’s cabinet. 50,000 tpa Food Waste to Biogas AD Facility Opens in County Durham, UK Emerald Biogas has opened its new 50,000 tonne per year anaerobic digestion facility that will recycle food waste into fertiliser and biogas for energy production in County Durham, UK.