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Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number	EP/G039992/1
Title	RCUK-DST India Science Bridge. Bioenergy: Technology and Business Solutions for the UK and India
Status	Completed
Energy Categories	Renewable Energy Sources(Solar Energy) 25%; Other Power and Storage Technologies(Electric power conversion) 10%; Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Applications for heat and electricity) 15%; Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Production of other biomass-derived fuels (incl. Production from wastes)) 25%; Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Production of transport biofuels (incl. Production from wastes)) 25%;
Research Types	Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields	SOCIAL SCIENCES (Business and Management Studies) 25%; BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Biological Sciences) 25%; BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science) 10%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering) 5%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Chemical Engineering) 10%; ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering) 25%;
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation	Not Cross-cutting 25%; Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Environmental dimensions) 25%; Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Policy and regulation) 10%; Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Consumer attitudes and behaviour) 15%; Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Other sociological economical and environmental impact of energy) 25%;
Principal Investigator	Dr PA Davies No email address given Sch of Engineering and Applied Science Aston University
Award Type	Standard
Funding Source	EPSRC
Start Date	01 July 2009
End Date	31 December 2012
Duration	42 months
Total Grant Value	£1,453,353
Industrial Sectors	Energy; Environment
Region	West Midlands
Programme	Energy : Infrastructure
Investigators	Principal Investigator	Dr PA Davies , Sch of Engineering and Applied Science, Aston University (99.995%)
	Other Investigator	Dr J Elgy , Sch of Engineering and Applied Science, Aston University (0.001%) Dr A Apfelbacher , Sch of Engineering and Applied Science, Aston University (0.001%) Professor A Hornung , Sch of Engineering and Applied Science, Aston University (0.001%) Dr PK Dey , Business School, Aston University (0.001%) Dr P Budhwar , Business School, Aston University (0.001%)
	Industrial Collaborator	Project Contact , Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract	Aston University and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD) have strengths in the areas of renewable energy, bioenergy, thermal energy conversion, technology management, and rural development. These two high-profile institutions are currently collaborating in the EPSRC-funded project 'Enhanced biomass production and energy conversion for use in water-scarce areas of India', which is motivated by the need to alleviate energy-related poverty in India. Now it is proposed to buildon this research to address energy issues in the UK also. 'How to provide modern energy services with low greenhouse gas emissions?' and 'How to make energy services available to poor people?' are two related questions prompting the proposed work.We aim to implant in both countries bioenergy systems that are efficient and low-emission over the whole life cycle (not just at the point of use) and in such a way that economic incentives will sustain the proposed technologies in the long term.To achieve this, we will focus on the use of wasteland and wastewater to cultivate biomass, which will be used together with agricultural wastes for direct combustion (taking advantage of the experience in steam and solar-thermal systems developed by IITD and its industrial associates) or conversion to liquid and gaseous fuels (taking advantage of the unique pyrolysis technology developed at Aston). To maximise efficiency, cogeneration systems will be developed to provide electricity and thermal services in parallel. In the UK this will provide space heating; in India it will provide refrigeration and steam for cold storage and food processsing. Integrated with these engineering developments, we will develop a technology management plan (objective 5 above).This interdisciplinary project will be delivered in 4 workpackages (corresponding to objectives 1 to 4 above):1. Resource assessment, using the FAO agricultural economic zones approach and geographical information systems, to quantify the scope for the proposed solutions and their benefits and implications for energy, water treatment and food production. Case studies will be undertaken at sites selected in India where phytoremediation/fertigation schemes will be implemented and monitored.2. Design a pyrolyser/CHP plant and prove the concept at Aston University. This will involve the characterization of feedstocks from India and UK, setting up a lab-scale plant with on-line chemical analsyis, the design and commissioning of a larger unit taking 50 kg/hr of biomass, characterization of fuels and testing in compression-ignition engines, and integration with the engines to complete the CHP system. Pilot experiments will also be carried out in India.3. Develop a small-scale steam-powered tri-generation system for use in India and UK, including the implementation of a system to provide electricity, food processing equipment and cold storage which will be used by rural microenterprises in WestBengal.4. Develop a second steam-powered plant at the Solar Energy Centre, Delhi, using hybrid solar-biomass input. This will include the development of robust, low cost solar concentrators and a bespoke 20-30 kW steam turbine.The outcomes of this research will be proof-of-concept of these decentralised energy systems in UK and India, together with business and technical studies needed for the further implementation in both countries
Publications	(none)
Final Report	(none)
Added to Database	23/12/08