Call for West Midlands businesses to provide waste to fuel revolutionary new bioenergy technology

Pyroformer

The European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI), based at Aston University in Birmingham, is asking West Midlands businesses and manufacturers to send their waste for testing in a new bioenergy technology developed by its researchers.

Bioenergy is energy derived from organic matter – the bioenergy market is forecast to generate in excess of £12 billion of new business in the next decade and EBRI is already working with a number of West Midlands firms with a view to helping them benefit from this rapidly expanding market.

EBRI researchers have developed a new 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.

To continue the development of this technology, EBRI wants to hear from West Midlands businesses which have waste sources such as food and agricultural waste, sewage sludge, manure and biomass (woody and non-woody materials), as well as tall oil from the pulp industry. Additionally, EBRI would welcome approaches from companies which might have these types of waste in a pellet form such as anaerobic digestion, municipal waste, water treatment plants and food processing industries. EBRI researchers are also looking to collaborate with companies with facilities including pellet mills, milling plants, drying facilities and logistics companies.

Tim Miller, Director of Operations at EBRI, explained: “You don’t have to chop down trees or grow energy crops to generate energy and meet renewable energy targets. Instead energy can be derived from domestic, agricultural and industrial waste and will mean the amount of material sent to landfill will also be significantly reduced. The city of Birmingham, for instance, has the potential to power itself using the waste it produces. It is crucial that EBRI is able to source waste products to run and develop our technology without having to transport it long distances and we are keen to source these waste streams from within the West Midlands.”

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.

Businesses interested in finding out whether their waste products might be suitable for testing can contact EBRI on 0121 204 4961 or email [email protected]. EBRI experts are world leaders in the field of bioenergy and can offer free support to businesses.

-Ends-

To arrange an interview with Tim Miller please contact Phil Smith on 01727 733888 or email [email protected]

Notes to Editors

The European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI): The European Bioenergy Research Institute at Aston University has been established since 2007 and bioenergy research has been taking place at the University from as early as 1978. EBRI staff conduct world-class research into all aspects of bioenergy, ranging from fundamental research through development, to deployment of innovative technologies, in collaboration with industry. EBRI works with regional, national and international businesses and organisations to help them realise opportunities from this new high growth sector.