Evaluating the future of UK biomass
Sustainably grown UK biomass is a renewable energy source that could provide up to 10% of the UK’s energy needs by 2050 and significantly contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. The ETI, a public private partnership, has announced three new projects exploring bio energy in the UK, as part of its programme to develop “mass scale” technologies that will help the UK meet its energy targets.
Imperial Consultants have put forward expertise in two of these projects, which look to analyse a wide range of biomass crops and energy conversion technologies to inform the development and deployment of effective bio energy solutions.
The first project explores key challenges in developing sustainable UK bio energy supply chains for heat, power and transport fuel production. Imperial Consultants and the consortium - led by E4tech and including AgraCEAS Consulting, Black & Veatch, EDF through EIFER, Forest Research, Rothamsted Research and The University of Southampton – will then consider the best use of UK biomass from an energy security, affordability and greenhouse gas reduction perspective.
The second project looks at the costs and technology required for biomass to power combined with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), and what opportunities the sector could generate.
“When combined with CCS, biomass may be the single most important element in creating a cost effective and sustainable UK energy system for 2050,” said Akira Kirton, Technology Strategy Manager for the ETI.
The project is being delivered through CMCL Innovations, in conjunction with Cambridge University, Doosan Babcock, Drax Power, EDF Energy, E4Tech, Imperial Consultants and Leeds University.
Referring directly to the ETI bio energy projects, Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: “Bio energy has the potential to play a key role in low carbon energy generation in the future, which is why we need groundbreaking innovation today.”
Imperial College is well placed to inform this innovation, with 5* rated Research Centres in Energy Policy and Technology, and Process Systems Engineering.
Further information
theEngineer technology and innovation publication looks at the potential of the biomass-CCS plant as planned in the second ETI project.