SUSTAINABLE BIOMASS BASED ENERGY SYSTEMS TO 2020 AND BEYOND

生物质能和可生物降解的废物是英国仍未开发的两种可再生资源，它们可以帮助减轻我们对化石燃料的依赖，并有助于实现可持续能源方案。在这个应用中，每个人在与这些原料的可持续利用相关的问题上都有独特和互补的经验。他们的专业知识涵盖了许多主题，包括生物质热化学降解的基础知识，详细的分析化学，通过实验研究的过程设计和开发，以及化学和计算建模。申请者在这些领域建立了优秀的研究团队，目前的研究经费超过440万美元，在能源领域发表了500多篇职业学术论文。该研究涉及清洁、可持续能源系统的发展，以及从生物质和废物处理中回收/发展原料。这些小组具有研究基础化学和过程工程的专业知识，并通过建模和过程设计来优化系统。这包括在设备、机械和工艺的设计和开发中预测行为的新型计算方法的发展。平台赠款将能够在可持续生物质能源系统领域建立一个国际知名的卓越中心。生物质的一种方案是一个能源工厂，集能源生产、清洁燃料、高价值化学品或氢气生产于一体，具有污染控制和废热/蒸汽用于工业用途。平台赠款将有助于留住关键研究人员，为协调这一主题的活动提供中期投资。在某些情况下，需要进行早期的可行性研究，在其他情况下，可以立即努力建立财团和拟订建议。通过EPSRC、欧盟和DTI资助的项目，包括SUPERGEN生物质和生物燃料联盟，已经进行了大量投资。范围界定研究的后续项目（其中一些已在建议中概述），以及“第三方”活动（如顾问、本地伙伴关系和项目活动），也会带来附加价值。将通过访问和接待研究人员进一步利用国际联系，从而加强现有的合作并培育新的合作。到平台赠款结束时，将建立一个拥有专业知识和设施的世界级中心，以解决利用生物质资源作为燃料和化学品以及清洁可持续能源方面的新挑战。

Biomass and biodegradable wastes are two of the UK's renewable resources that remain under exploited, and that can help alleviate our dependence on fossil fuels, and contribute to a sustainable energy scenario. The individuals in this application each have unique and complementary experience in the problems associated with the sustainable utilisation of these feedstocks. Their expertise covers many topics including the fundamentals of thermochemical degradation of biomass, detailed analytical chemistry, process design and development through experimental studies, and chemical and computational modelling. Between them, the applicants have developed outstanding research groups in these areas with current research grants of more than 4.4M and more than 500 career academic publications in the field of energy. The research concerns the development of clean, sustainable energy systems, and recovering/development of feedstocks from biomass and waste processing. The groups have the expertise to study fundamental chemistry and process engineering, and to optimize systems through modeling and process design. This includes the development of novel computational approaches for predicting behaviour in the design and development of equipment, machinery and processes. The Platform Grant will enable the establishment of a centre of excellence of international renown in the area of sustainable biomass based energy systems. One scenario for biomass is an energy plant with integrated energy production, clean fuels, high value chemicals or hydrogen production, with pollution control and waste heat/steam for industrial use. The Platform Grant will enable the retention of key researchers, providing medium term investment to coordinate activities on this theme. In some cases, early feasibility studies will be required, in others effort can be immediately directed to building consortia and preparing proposals.Substantial investment is already in place through EPSRC, EU and DTI funded projects, including the SUPERGEN Biomass and Biofuels consortium. Added value will also arise from follow-on projects arising from scoping studies, some of which are outlined in the proposal as well as from 'third arm' activities, such as consultancy, local partnerships and project activities. International links would be further exploited through visits and hosting researchers, so that existing collaborations will be strengthened and new ones fostered. By the end of the Platform Grant a world class centre will be established with expertise and facilities to solve emerging challenges in the use of biomass resources for fuels and chemicals and for clean sustainable energy.