New website launched

The European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI), based at Aston University, has launched its new and improved website – www.bioenergy-midlands.org – meaning that it is now even easier for West Midlands businesses who wish to move into the rapidly expanding bioenergy market to access the free advice and support that EBRI provides to Business, Industry and Local Authorities.

The bioenergy market is forecast to generate in excess of £12 billion of new business in the next decade and EBRI is working with a number of West Midlands organisations with a view to helping them benefit from this. The new website includes an events page, making it easier for companies to sign up for free advice and support, a programme of workshops on a range of key issues such as finance and technology, and access to demonstrator facilities.

EBRI will be running its next half-day workshop for West Midlands businesses on 27 September 2013 from 9.45am – 3pm, titled ‘Building the business case for your bioenergy solution’. The event explores how to build a robust business case for bioenergy and includes talks on bioenergy finance and how to claim tax credits for research and development. Companies interested in attending can do so through the new events page.

The new website includes case studies of West Midlands based companies EBRI has previously collaborated with. These include Dytecna, an engineering, technology systems and support services company, who contacted EBRI for support when they started to diversify from defence into renewables. After initially exploring whether or not EBRI’s own technology could be installed on board ships, Dytecna introduced EBRI to another company developing a complementary technology, to find out if the two could be combined to generate energy. They are now developing the next stage of a prototype, which will hopefully lead to a new product being available in the near future.

In addition, visitors to the website can also access a wealth of facts about bioenergy and the opportunities this technology presents, as well as information about EBRI’s own revolutionary technology – a Pyroformer™ – which generates cost-effective heat and power from its use of multiple waste sources.

The technology has been trialled in the UK, Germany and India and could benefit businesses serving a wide range of sectors, including: construction, consultancy, engineering, financial services, investment and business development, land and property management, utilities and waste management.

A Pyroformer™ demonstrator plant was operational throughout 2012 at Harper Adams University in Shropshire and an industrial size demonstrator is being constructed on the Aston University campus and will be operational from autumn 2013.

The support free support EBRI offers to businesses in the West Midlands is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

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To arrange an interview or for more information, please contact Rebecca Griffiths on 01727733885 or email [email protected]

Notes to Editors

The European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI)

EBRI based at Aston University delivers world-class research into all aspects of bioenergy. EBRI has been established since 2007 and bioenergy research has been taking place at the University from as early as 1978. EBRI was recently awarded £8.2 million from the European Regional Development Fund to build a new world-class facility for West Midlands businesses working in bioenergy technologies and component supply chain manufacturers to try out, test and get ready for market new products and processes within this field. www.bioenergy-midlands.org

The European Regional Development Fund Programme

The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme which runs from 2007 to 2013. This is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development. The West Midlands ERDF Programme has been allocated €400 million to invest in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. Priority areas and themes for the West Midlands are: Innovation and Research & Development, Enterprise Development, Sustainable Urban Development, and Inter-Regional Activity. www.communities.gov.uk/erdf