BBSRC Centre For Sustainable Bioenergy (BSBEC): Programme 4: Lignocellulosic Conversion To Bioethanol (LACE)

Completed

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

Basic and strategic applied research

SOCIAL SCIENCES (Sociology)
BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Biological Sciences)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Environmental dimensions)
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Other sociological economical and environmental impact of energy)

Prof G Tucker
Biosciences
University of Nottingham

Research Grant

BBSRC

01 May 2009

30 November 2014

67 months

£5,349,451

Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology

East Midlands

Bioenergy Initiative (BEN)

Prof G Tucker, Biosciences, University of Nottingham

Dr J Andresen, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University
Prof D Archer, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham
Prof I Connerton, Biosciences, University of Nottingham
Dr D Cook, Biosciences, University of Nottingham
Professor R Dingwall, School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University
Dr T Foster, Biosciences, University of Nottingham
Prof P Garnsworthy, Biosciences, University of Nottingham
Professor GP Hammond, Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath
Prof S Hill, Biosciences, University of Nottingham
Professor S Kingman, Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham
Dr R Linforth, Biosciences, University of Nottingham
Prof E Louis, Department of Genetics, University of Leicester
Dr S May, Biosciences, University of Nottingham
Dr MC McManus, Mechanical Engineering, University of Bath
Dr K Millar, Biosciences, University of Nottingham
Dr S Raman, Sociology and Social Policy, University of Nottingham
Dr S.J. Ramsden, Biosciences, University of Nottingham
Prof K Smart, SABMiller plc
Dr P Wilson, Biosciences, University of Nottingham

Objectives not supplied

The conversion of plant materials to fuels such as ethanol, butanol and biodiesels is a multi-step process sometimes referred to as a biorefinery. The key steps in the biorefinery are collection of the crop (which may be specifically grown as an energy crop, or be agricultural waste material), pre-treatment to make the lignocellulose more accessible, conversion of the sugars to a fuel molecule, and extraction of the fuel. There are several key challenges which need to be addressed to achieve sustainable conversion of lignocellulosic materials to fuels including: the accessibility and extraction of sugars using enzyme toolkits that can be applied to multiple plant biomass streams; the generation of fermentation substrates that are 'fit for purpose' for fermentation with low inhibitors and appropriate viscosity but are sustainable; the development of strains that can utilise the sugars liberated and efficiently convert them to fuels (in this case ethanol); the optimisation of fermentation to achieve a sustainable conversion. We will use a multi-disciplinary approach to address each of these key challenges. It is now widely recognised that biomass resources can be converted to produce so-called 'biofuels', 'bioheat' and 'bioelectricity' that have potential environmental benefits and greenhouse gas (GHG) savings. However, they also have possible side-effects in terms of emissions due to indirect land-use changes, loss of biodiversity, and competition with food production. Sustainability assessments are consequently required in order to ensure that net benefits flow from the utilisation of bioenergy resources. We will therefore also evaluate the sustainability of various bioenergy routes we propose to develop by applying the 'Three Pillars' of sustainable development: balancing of economic and social development with environmental protection.

30/09/13