The Biochar Clean Tech Accelerator - Empowering Regional Clusters

该项目基于能源和生物制品研究所（EBRI）的国家和国际公认的热过程专业中心以及阿斯顿商学院的循环经济和高级可持续发展中心（CEAS）的优势，这些中心将为制造和服务公司的成熟网络提供研究成果和学术知识。这些公司将提供技术实际应用方面的专业知识，以及生产产品和进入市场的能力。他们将共同合作开发新的清洁技术低碳机会，并加速该地区的绿色业务增长。该项目将建立在一个技术示范器的基础上，该示范器由大伯明翰和索利赫尔地方企业合作伙伴关系（LEP）和伯明翰市理事会资助，该示范器能够利用从公园和路边树木的可持续管理中收获的木材为温室产生热量，以及一种可用于促进新种植树木生长的木炭。该技术可生产一系列其他产品，如低碳除草剂，可用于清理污染土地的材料，表面涂层，甚至可以减少混凝土对环境影响的添加剂。该项目将支持这些新产品背后的技术开发，利用阿斯顿商学院的专业知识来创建商业主张，并与区域公司合作将其推向市场。该项目将加快创新的水平和速度，这些创新来自于以前在大学开发应用热处理技术和集群发展的项目。与该地区的高质量工程和制造公司建立了强有力的合作伙伴关系，并与地方议会的低碳战略保持一致。这些项目和伙伴关系创造了一套基本的技术，激发了市场对将技术开发成产品的强烈兴趣和需求，生物炭创新加速器项目将加强供应链，并扩大对研究技术应用市场机会的公司集群的参与。这些包括废物和残渣的生产性利用，以取代对基于化石燃料的资源的需求，如可再生热能和电力、用于绿色屋顶的种植材料、绿色墙壁、城市树木和植物生长促进剂。新的、较低技术准备水平（TRL）的产品可以用作先进的建筑材料和保护涂层。

The project is based on the strengths of the national and internationally recognised centre of expertise in thermal processes at the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI), and the Centre for the Circular Economy and Advanced Sustainability (CEAS) at Aston Business School.The centres will provide access to the results of research and academic knowledge to an established network of manufacturing and services companies. The companies will provide their expertise in practical implementation of technologies, and capabilities to produce products and access markets. Together, they will work collaboratively to develop new clean tech low carbon opportunities and accelerate green business growth in the region.The project will build on a technology demonstrator, funded by the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Birmingham City Council, which is able to take wood that is harvested from sustainable management of parks and roadside trees to produce heat for greenhouses, and a type of charcoal which can be used to promote growth in newly planted trees.The technology can produce a range of other products such as low carbon weed killer, material that can be used to clean up contaminated land, surface coatings and even an additive that can reduce the environmental impact of concrete. The project will support development of the technologies behind these new products, use the expertise of Aston Business School to create business propositions, and work with regional companies to bring them to market.The project will accelerate the level and speed of innovations resulting from previous projects which developed applied use of thermal process technologies and cluster development at the University. Strong partnerships have been created with high quality engineering and manufacturing companies in the region and aligned with the low carbon strategies of local councils. The projects and partnerships have created a basic set of technologies which have stimulated strong market interest and demand for the technologies to be developed into products.The Biochar Innovation Accelerator project will strengthen the supply chains and also expand participation in the cluster of companies investigating market opportunities for applications of the technology. These include productive use of waste and residues to replace the need for fossil fuel based resources in applications such as renewable heat and power, planting materials for green roofs, green walls, urban trees and plant growth enhancers. New, lower Technology Readiness Level (TRL) products could include use as advanced building materials and protective coatings.