THEME 1:

Low carbon energy generation, storage and distribution

Research priority 4 - Bioenergy
Energy that is generated from plant, animal or microbe matter (biomass) is called bioenergy. This includes energy crops, agricultural crop residues, slurries and food waste. Biomass can be "thermally converted" (burnt) to provide heat and electricity or "biologically converted" (fermented) to make ethanol, methane or hydrogen. Biomass can be used in a biorefinery to provide heat, electricity, gas, liquid transport fuels and chemicals that would otherwise be produced directly or indirectly by fossil fuels which release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Wales has a significant land resource but much of this is either wooded or used for grazing animals and is not suitable for arable agriculture. Energy crops such as Miscanthus and short rotation coppice willow grow on this marginal land. Therefore there is opportunity for farmers to diversify and also for offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, such as from livestock.

Research is being conducted by members of the LCRI that covers diverse and important aspects of bioenergy solutions for a low carbon future, which will be deployed not only in Wales but worldwide. Research at Aberystwyth includes the UK Miscanthus breeding programme and the fermentation of grasses; Glamorgan conducts research on biohydrogen; Cardiff undertakes research on the combustion of biomass; and Bangor hosts the Centre of Alternative Renewable Materials (CARM).

These research platforms represent an excellent opportunity for interdisciplinary research spanning the biorenewable spectrum from crops to electricity production, replacement fuels and biomaterials and thereby provide Wales with a unique opportunity to bring their scientists together to generate low carbon solutions for the future.

Case study 1 –  Researchers at the BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy Centre (BSBEC) at Aberystwyth, are working on ways to increase the amount of biomass yield produced from a given area of land in the energy crop Miscanthus.

Case study 2 - Aberystwyth University are working with colleagues at Swansea University and Glamorgan University on the fermentation of grass juice from high sugar grasses to make ethanol for transport fuels and hydrogen.

Case study 3 – The Research Councils Supergen project, which Aberystwyth University and Cardiff University are partners are investigating the optimisation of biomass crop chemistry for combustion. This research will lead to the production of biomass crop varieties targeted for heat, electricity and transport fuel production.

Case study 4 - The University of Glamorgan is carrying out research on Microbial Fuel Cells for energy production, reducing energy use or pollution reduction. SERC is leading the Microbial Fuel Cell Theme within the EPSRC SUPERGEN Biological Fuel Cells Consortium project.

Case study 5 - The Wales Centre of Excellence for Anaerobic Digestion at the University of Glamorgan has been established to:
1. To ensure that sufficient, appropriate and technically accurate information regarding anaerobic digestion is available to all stakeholders with an interest in the technology,
2. To provide specific technical assistance to those who are considering anaerobic digestion as a waste treatment option, or are in the process of developing, constructing or operating an anaerobic digestion plant.
By undertaking these roles, the Anaerobic Digestion Centre will assist rapid deployment of anaerobic digestion across Wales and help to ensure that plants operating within Wales are technically robust and efficiently operated providing maximum benefits to operators.

Case study 6 - Researchers at SERC at the University of Glamorgan are partners in the Research Council funded TSEC-BIOSYS consortium. The aim of this consortium is to explore the potential of bioenergy in the UK and to influence its successful development.

Key contact: Professor Iain Donnison, Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University.

http://www.aber.ac.uk/en/ibers/staff/staff-list/isd/