Objectives of the Hub

The hub will:

• Act as a focal point for sharing and dissemination of scientific knowledge and engineering understanding to facilitate near-term deployment of technologies
• Investigate and develop new approaches for dealing with the very significant engineering challenges associated with deployment of more novel technologies
• Improve scientific understanding of the fundamental aspects of different forms of biomass and its conversion
• Take a whole-systems perspective to comprehensively evaluate the potential of future technology options
• Adopt an interdisciplinary approach to look beyond the engineering and technical aspects of bioenergy and ensure adequate consideration of the impacts on ecosystems, social responses to technology deployment and the economic context of policy development 

Patricia Thornley of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of Manchester is the hub’s Director. Patricia explained the background to the hub in this short presentation at the 2012 Tyndall Assembly