Aston University-Based Supergen Bioenergy Hub Enters Next Phase of Innovation and Sustainable Energy Advancements
Aston University-based Supergen Bioenergy Hub has officially launched its new impact-focused phase to increase sustainable biomass production and use in the UK
It aims to reenergise the biomass and bioenergy community and develop new partnerships.
In July 2023 UK Research and Innovation committed £5 million to fund the hub’s continued exploration of renewable energy over the next four years.
The successful funding bid was led by director Professor Patricia Thornley who is also the head of Aston University’s Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI).
She is now calling on organisations within the sector to get in touch to discuss potential collaborations.
Professor Thornley said:
“We’re hoping to reenergise the biomass and bioenergy community and develop connections and partnerships with new people.
“I’m excited and eager to begin the work of the new impact-focused Supergen Bioenergy Hub.
“We will be building on our existing strengths in technology development and stakeholder engagement while going further to deliver innovation and sustainable deployment.”
The hub will be focusing on new technology projects to lead innovation in key sectors such as aviation, hydrogen, heat and products. Meanwhile, cross-cutting projects will move research from development to deployment level, aiming to increase sustainable biomass production and use in the UK while minimising greenhouse gases.
More than 90 representatives from industry, academia and policy working in biomass, bioenergy, bioproducts and beyond attended the official launch held at Aston University on 14 November.
The three main aims of the hub’s new phase were set out. They are to develop new research ideas to identify commercial potential, share UK research to support deployment and to use UK research knowledge to provide support for sustainable bioenergy deployment.
Over the next four years Professor Thornley and her colleagues will be working with key industrial partners such as Rolls Royce, Uniper and the Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology (REA).
Government partners include the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
Professor Jason Hallett from Imperial College London and Professor Helen Sneddon from the University of York will support Professor Thornley.