Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage focus for government visit to EBRI

Supergen Bioenergy Hub and the Energy Bioproducts and Research Institute(EBRI) recently welcomed thirteen representatives of the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero to Aston University.

Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) was the focus of the visit, building on links between the research hub and the newly formed government department. Siobhan Sherry, Head of Policy for Power BECCS, Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, delivered a presentation to EBRI academic staff and students on the government’s current thinking on power BECCS with a focus on plans for deployment. This was followed by presentations from senior academic staff Mirjam Roeder, Paula Blanco Sanchez, and Patricia Thornley of Aston University, who shared highlights of their research on sustainable BECCS systems.

It was also a pleasure to welcome Ben Smith, Head of Power for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as part of the delegation. Ben is currently on secondment from the National Grid, and is an Aston University alumni having graduated from Aston Business School. The government delegation was given a tour of the on-site facilities at the EBRI building which houses state-of-the-art analytical and processing laboratories and biomass gasification plant which is the largest gasification plant for R&D in the UK.

Siobhan Sherry said:

“The visit to Aston University was very informative, especially finding out more how they have been applying their research to real-world problems such as the scaling up of low carbon energy processes.” 

Supergen Bioenergy Hub are delighted to be working together with the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero. We welcome the government’s announcements on UK Energy Security and Net Zero including the Power BECCS Business Model, and look forward to the upcoming publication of the new UK Biomass Strategy.