The BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy Centre (BSBEC): Perennial Bioenergy Crops Programme

Completed

Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Applications for heat and electricity)
Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Production of transport biofuels (incl. Production from wastes))
Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Production of other biomass-derived fuels (incl. Production from wastes))

Basic and strategic applied research

BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Biological Sciences)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)

Not Cross-cutting

Dr A Karp
Agro-Ecology
Rothamsted Research

Research Grant

BBSRC

02 March 2009

01 October 2014

67 months

£5,259,854

Transport Systems and Vehicles

East of England

Bioenergy Initiative (BEN)

Dr A Karp, Agro-Ecology, Rothamsted Research

Dr J Clifton-Brown, IBERS, Aberystwyth University
Dr IS Donnison, IBERS, Aberystwyth University
Prof P Dupree, Biochemistry, University of Cambridge
Dr RJ Murphy, Biological Sciences, Imperial College London
Dr H Ougham, IBERS, Aberystwyth University
Prof C Rawlings, Computational and Systems Biology, Rothamsted Research
Prof P Shewry, Plant Biology and Crop Science, Rothamsted Research

Objectives not supplied

The need to reduce fossil fuel contributions to climate change is the most significant and pressing challenge of this century. The overall aim of the BBSRC Sustainable Bioenergy Centre (BSBEC): Perennial Bioenergy Crops Programme is to underpin the development of a sustainable biofuels sector by optimising feedstocks from perennial biomass (non-food) crops whilst maximising energy savings and minimising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This programme will capitalise on (i) more than two decades of energy crop development and energy crop resources in Miscanthus and willow, giving the UK an internationally leading position; (ii) active breeding programmes linked to our research, which will allow the delivery of improved energy crops and;(iii) the active engagement of Shell and Ceres. Our science programme on Miscanthus and willow addresses two main objectives: (1) Optimising biomass yield. Approached by genetics, QTLs and genomics. Hypotheses (H) investigated are: H1: Radiation interception for C fixation may be maximised by improving thermal sensitivity and cold tolerance for early canopy expansion; H2: Carbon fixation may be maximised by altering crop morphology/architecture and, H3: Sustainable yields can be achieved by selecting for an optimal allocation ratio of above- (harvested carbon) and below-ground biomass (reserve carbon); (2) Optimising biomass composition. Approached by analytical and gene discovery routes. Hypotheses investigated are: H4: The efficiency of processing for sugar release and biofuel production can be improved by identifying and selecting for natural (and modified) crop variants with improved biomass composition and; H5: Improved understanding of cell wall synthesis and assembly can be exploited to develop new tools for selection of genotypes with improved accessibility of carbon in biomass.

22/11/13