ETI launches search for partners for new Bioenergy project examining characterising UK grown feedstocks

July 1st 2014

The Characterisation of Feedstocks project aims to provide an understanding of UK produced biomass properties, how they vary and identifying what causes this variability. It will sample several types of UK produced biomass under varying planting, growing, harvesting and storage conditions with the results analysed to understand what impacts different production and storage methods have on biomass properties. The outputs from this project will feed into a soon to be launched parallel project - a techno-economic assessment of biomass pre-processing activities.

• ETI issues new request for proposals to deliver new Bioenergy project – deadline of 15 August 2014


• Seeking to understand how UK produced biomass properties vary and what causes the variability


• Project will sample several types of UK produced biomass under differing conditions to assess the impact of site, production and storage methods

Loughborough – July 1st 2014 - The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) is launching a new project in its Bioenergy programme – Characterisation of Feedstocks -  and is seeking partners to deliver it by issuing a request for proposals today.

ETI modelling suggests that any future UK energy system capable of delivering on its climate change targets, that is built without the use of bioenergy, would cost more than £50billion per year more by 2050. ETI’s own analysis and work by the Committee on Climate Change (2011), and work funded by the UK Research Councils (e.g. TSec-Biosys, Supergen  and the Rural Economy Land Use Programmes) has shown the UK could potentially utilise reasonable volumes of domestically grown biomass to help fuel the UK’s energy future. To achieve this and in order for bio-dedicated conversion technologies to be confidently designed and deployed, there is a need for greater knowledge of the variability in feedstock characteristics, and understanding of how these affect, on a system level, the overall costs and performance of biomass value chains. A significant part of this, is the need to assess the system level value of biomass pre-processing activities.

The Characterisation of Feedstocks project aims to provide an understanding of UK produced biomass properties, how they vary and identifying what causes this variability. It will sample several types of UK produced biomass under varying planting, growing, harvesting and storage conditions with the results analysed to understand what impacts different production and storage methods have on biomass properties.  The outputs from this project will feed into a soon to be launched parallel project - a techno-economic assessment of biomass pre-processing activities.

Dr Geraint Evans, Programme Manager, Bioenergy at the ETI who is leading the selection process for the project said:

“Our modelling work to date has shown the value of Bioenergy in the delivery of a low carbon transition and the meeting of UK climate change targets. To make this a reality we need to increase our understanding of what is the best use of any sustainable feedstock produced in the UK at a system level. This project and our upcoming techno-economic assessment of biomass pre-processing project aims to help us do that. For this first project we are seeking to team up with partners who can bring their expertise in the area of biomass properties and biomass production in order to help us further develop an evidence base for the use of Bioenergy in a future UK low carbon energy system.”

To view the Request for Proposals document please click here.

To view the Due Diligence form please click here.

To view the Non-Disclosure Agreement please click here.

To view the Intention to Submit document please click here.

Deadline to submit proposals for this project is 15^th August 2014.