University of Birmingham and Fraunhofer joint research platform launch

Title:               University of Birmingham and Fraunhofer joint research platform launch

Duration:        3.57 mins

Begins

[University of Birmingham Energy Institute Logo]

[Fraunhofer logo]

[MUSIC PLAYING]

[David Horsfall, Webster and Horsfall] Birmingham's Energy Institute in the University of Birmingham is working in close partnership with the Fraunhofer in Germany to deliver the new thermo catalytic reforming technology to market.

[Charles Greenhalf, Fraunhofer UMSICHT, University of Birmingham, Joint Research Platform] This technology converts all types of residual biomass and plastic waste arising from household agriculture and industry into easily storable and transportable biofuel for vehicles and combined heat and power applications.

[Voice over] Renewable energy technologies are becoming increasingly important in these times of climate change and the Fraunhofer Institute has developed a new process based on the efficient use of biogenic residues. TCR or thermo catalytic reforming benefits from high feedstock flexibility and can take a range of problematic organic wastes including animal manure, agricultural residues, straw and husk, food waste, organic waste, sewage sludge, municiple solid waste and biogas digestate.

The TCR technology site is at Tyseley in Birmingham. Various biomasses and biomass residues can be transported into the site by lorry or barge they are unloaded and used as feed stock for the TCR technology. The TCR converts the biomass residues into gas phase, liquid phase and char all of which are of unique quality. The char can be used for co-firing in power plants and also in agriculture as fertilizer. After refinery the fuel we produce can be used in cars both petrol and diesel engines and even as jet fuel for the aviation industry. Finally in the gas phase the hydrogen can be used to create electricity in combined heat and power plants as well as being used in hydrogen fuel cells and as fuel for cars and trains.

[Miloud Ouadi, Fraunhofer UMSICHT, University of Birmingham Joint Research Platform] Today's a significant day as it marks the delivery of our first demonstrator to the city of Birmingham at Tyseley Energy Park.

[David Horsfall] The energy park will combine all types of new and existing renewable energy technology to produce green fuels for the city of Birmingham.

[Miloud Ouadi] The energy park is one of a number of Energy Innovation Zones within the Energy Capital, a new vision that aims at making the West Midlands one of the world's leading destinations for energy innovation and investment.

[David Horsfall] Phase one of the Energy Park has seen the delivery of a 10 megawatt wood gasifier and this reactor will be linked to the second phase of development on the low carbon refuelling station.

[Charles Greenhalf] Our thermo catalytic reforming technology is not only part of the Energy Park but it is also part of the Birmingham thermal belt which is a concept first coined by Professor Andreas Hornung in 2008 to realise 20 decentralised biomass conversion plants around the cities.

[Miloud Ouadi] This particular reactor which you can see behind me will convert up to 80 kilograms an hour of biomass and plastic residues into bio oil hydrogen rich synthesis gas and biochar for energy generation and value-added chemicals and this is funded by sixty million pound Innovate UK Energy Research Accelerator.

[Professor Andreas Hornung, Fraunhofer UMSICHT, University of Birmingham Joint Research Platform] Being part of Energy Research Accelerator and having located here at Tyseley Energy Park we have now the right set up to deliver the thermal belt for Birmingham including 15 to 20 units of TCR technology taking residue material from all over the place and delivering green hydrogen, green fuel and green power to the City. 

[Birmingham Energy Institute logo]

[Creative Media logo]

Ends