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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/P030874/2
Title Rice straw to biogas (R2B) project
Status Completed
Energy Categories Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Production of other biomass-derived fuels (incl. Production from wastes)) 100%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields SOCIAL SCIENCES (Business and Management Studies) 25%;
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Development Studies) 50%;
BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Biological Sciences) 25%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 50%;
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Other sociological economical and environmental impact of energy) 50%;
Principal Investigator Prof P (Patricia ) Thornley
No email address given
Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
University of Manchester
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 01 September 2018
End Date 31 March 2020
Duration 19 months
Total Grant Value £109,732
Industrial Sectors Energy
Region North West
Programme Energy : Energy
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Prof P (Patricia ) Thornley , Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester (100.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract Unlike rice husks (that cover the grain), rice straw (stems and leaves) is left in the field after harvest and few major uses have been identified, so more than 300 million tonnes of it are simply burned each year as waste. To date, attempts to profitably collect and use this vast resource for clean energy have almost all failed. In this concept note, a consortium of leading experts outline their bold plan to be leaders in this emerging field and provide a route to clean, affordable, reliable energy for the world's 200 million small-scale rice farmers.Innovation: The novel approaches outlined here are designed systematically to overcome the four key barriers identified in the 3 year, UK-funded 'Rice Straw Energy project', which is now ending (September 2016). The barriers are: logistics of straw collection; rice straw fuel characteristics; lack of proven business models and policy support. The respective innovations to overcome them are: a simplified, village-scale supply chain that minimises collection costs and storage; a low-cost 'dry' anaerobic digestion technology appropriate for developing countries; packaged in an innovative business model with support from public funding to reduce the risks.
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 08/02/19