Areas of Interest:

The application of chemical engineering science and technology to the provision of energy, fuels and chemicals from sustainable biomass sources. This includes biomass-derived fuels for use in fuel cells.

Activity and Expertise:

The development of novel thermal processes whereby agricultural wastes and fast growing wood and annual crops can be thermally converted into oils and gases, which can be used to produce electricity, fuels and chemicals. The Bioenergy Research Group’s (BERG) principal current area of expertise is fast pyrolysis, and it has a number of laboratory and pilot scale reactors and associated analytical equipment. BERG also has capabilities in gasification and combustion experimentation. It has considerable experience in modelling, both reactor modelling (CFD) and also process and techno-economic modelling of entire systems. The latter has included biomass/fuel cell systems.

Credentials:

BERG currently has over 20 researchers. It has attracted funding of over £11 million from a variety of national and international organisations, including the EU and the EPSRC. It currently leads the EPSRC-funded Supergen consortium on biomass and bioenergy.

Fuel cell and/or Hydrogen courses and modules offered:

Currently developing distance learning modules on hydrogen production from biomass gasification and pyrolysis as part of an international MSc in bioenergy.

Contact: Prof. A. V. Bridgwater

Email: a.v.bridgwater@aston.ac.uk

Tel: +44 (0)121 359 3611 ext. 4647

Address: Bio-Energy Research Group,

Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry,

Aston University,

Birmingham B4 7ET UK

Website: www.aston-berg.co.uk