Objective The overall aim of the research is to produce from biomass a sustainable fuel source that can be integrated into the existing energy infrastructure in the medium term, and in the longer term will also provide a safe and economical means of supplying the developing hydrogen fuel economy. A series of closely integrated sub-objectives aim to deliver a breakthrough in costs that will firmly establish biogas technology as an economically attractive energy production process for both on and off-site use. The work will identify energy crops and agro-wastes best fitted to energy production in an integrated farming environment, consider energy losses in production and processing, and use these to set net energy production targets as a technological goal. The role of storage and pre-treatments will be considered. Co-digestion will be evaluated as a means of improving energy yields from materials which were uneconomic for biogas production. Some agricultural residues will also be investigated as potential high-yielding substrates. Innovative bioreactor designs and operation modes will be tested. A European database of bio-kinetics for use in design and operation will be established. True life cycle costs of biogas production will be determined in large-scale trials. These will allow verification of laboratory data and predictive models, including advanced decision support systems to optimise energy production. The work will consider the need to achieve continuity of energy supply in an integrated farming environment. Issues of sustainability, environmental impact and socio-economic factors will also be addressed. The results will add to EU databases on bio-energy crops; give engineers the necessary tools to develop the technology; and provide the farming community with evidence of profitable energy production without subsidy and within the EU's target cost for renewable energy. Fields of science engineering and technologyenvironmental biotechnologybioremediationbioreactorsengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringpower engineeringelectric power generationengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfossil energynatural gasagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagricultureindustrial cropsfoddernatural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryaliphatic compounds Keywords Methane anaerobic digestion carbon neutral renewable energy Programme(s) FP6-SUSTDEV - Sustainable Development, Global Change and Ecosystems: thematic priority 6 under the Focusing and Integrating Community Research programme 2002-2006. Topic(s) SUSTDEV-1.2.5 - New and advanced concepts in renewable energy technologies - Biomass Call for proposal FP6-2002-ENERGY-1 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme STREP - Specific Targeted Research Project Coordinator UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON Address University road, highfield Southampton United Kingdom See on map EU contribution No data Participants (9) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CONSEJO SUPERIOR DE INVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS Spain EU contribution € 0,00 Address Calle serrano 117 Madrid See on map Other funding No data GREENFINCH LTD United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Barrett's mill - woofferton Ludlow See on map Other funding No data JYVAESKYLAEN YLIOPISTO Finland EU contribution € 0,00 Address Seminaarinkatu 15 Jyvaeskylae See on map Other funding No data METENER LTD Finland EU contribution € 0,00 Address Ylistonmaentie 26 Jyvaskyla See on map Other funding No data ORGANIC POWER LIMITED United Kingdom EU contribution € 0,00 Address Gould's house Horsington See on map Other funding No data UNIVERSITA CA' FOSCARI DI VENEZIA Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Dorsoduro 3246 Venezia See on map Other funding No data UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI VERONA Italy EU contribution € 0,00 Address Via dell'artigliere 8 Verona See on map Other funding No data UNIVERSITAET FUER BODENKULTUR Austria EU contribution € 0,00 Address Gregor mendelstr. 33 Vienna See on map Other funding No data WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITEIT Netherlands EU contribution € 0,00 Address Costerweg 50 Wageningen See on map Other funding No data
