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 biotechnologybioremediationbioreactors
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringpower engineeringelectric power generation
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsfossil energynatural gas
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagricultureindustrial cropsfodder
- natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryaliphatic compounds
Call for proposal
FP6-2002-ENERGY-1
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Funding Scheme
STREP - Specific Targeted Research ProjectCoordinator
SOUTHAMPTON
United Kingdom