Supergen Bioenergy Hub and Department for Transport fund innovative research into bioenergy carbon capture, storage and utilisation in the transport sector

The Supergen Bioenergy Hub has announced the results of its first flexible funding call of £200,000, awarded jointly with the Department for Transport. Following an anonymised screening process designed to ensure impartiality and encourage diversity in the applications, two awards have been made to researchers from Loughborough University and Herriott Watt.

Applicants were invited to submit research proposals investigating the potential for the integration of carbon capture and storage or utilisation with biofuel production in the transport sector.

The awards have been made to Dr Jin Xuan, Dr Tanja Radu and Dr Jonathan Wagner, all from Loughborough University.

Dr Xuan’s project will look at the role of e-biofuel in reducing emissions and increasing the sustainability of the road transport sector, while enhancing renewable energy security. The research will examine the feasibility of a novel electrochemical process to produce biofuels while reusing the captured carbon dioxide.

Dr Radu and Dr Wagner will lead research into algae-based biomethane fuel purification and carbon sequestration. The project aims to develop and assess an innovative process for the simultaneous production of high-purity biomethane as a potential natural gas vehicle fuel, together with the sequestration of remaining biomass and biogas carbon into algal co-product and biochar.

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, or BECCS, is recognised as an essential part of the UK’s future energy system if it is to meet carbon reduction targets. Director of the Supergen Bioenergy Hub, Professor Patricia Thornley, comments: “We’re delighted to make these awards to two such exciting and innovative projects. Carbon capture, storage and utilisation in bioenergy is a vital area of research if we are to find solutions that address the energy trilemma of security, affordability and sustainability.”

Transport and Environment Minister Jesse Norman said: “The Government is working to make all modes of transport cleaner and greener, and using new technologies to make the UK’s transition to a low-carbon energy future.

“We are delighted to join Supergen Bioenergy Hub in supporting these projects, and we look forward to seeing the outcomes of the research.”