Supergen Biomass Biofuels and energy crops II core project
Lead Research Organisation:
Rothamsted Research
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
Theme 1: Resources (Theme Leader: Rothamsted Research)
This Theme underpins decision making in primary production of energy crop resources with knowledge of production related factors that affect crop quality and suitability for different end uses. Objectives:
1) To identify factors causing variation in crop quality
2) To generate markers to facilitate rapid selection of superior genotypes for energy conversion
3) To determine the potential to alter crop quality by biotechnology.
4) To quantify the affect of agronomy on yield and quality in SRC willow.
5) To investigate the potential of year round energy crop supply.
6) To consider the role of imported biomass and how it should be incorporated into the UK energy supply.
Theme 2: Characterisation and pretreatment (Theme Leader: Leeds) Objectives:
1) To characterise a diverse range of energy crops, residues, wastes and derived fuels in order to assess their potential for energy, fuels and chemicals.
2) To develop novel analytical methods for characterising and studying biomass, its chemical and genetic makeup and its derived products and chemicals, as well as probing and understanding its thermochemical conversion.
3) To examine fuel enhancement and added value through fuel handling and preparation.
4) Together with results from Themes 1, 3 and 4, to deliver assessment criteria for the production and selection, and where appropriate, pre-processing of biomass resources.
Themes 3-5: Thermo-chemical conversion processes (low level of RRes input)
Theme 6: System analysis (Theme Leader: Manchester)
This theme aims to facilitate an informed answer to the question: 'What is the best use of our limited biomass resource?'
Theme 7: Dissemination and collaboration (Theme Leader: Aston)
The objective of this theme is to provide and disseminate information on the activities of the Consortium and bioenergy news generally to support the bioenergy research community and industry.
This Theme underpins decision making in primary production of energy crop resources with knowledge of production related factors that affect crop quality and suitability for different end uses. Objectives:
1) To identify factors causing variation in crop quality
2) To generate markers to facilitate rapid selection of superior genotypes for energy conversion
3) To determine the potential to alter crop quality by biotechnology.
4) To quantify the affect of agronomy on yield and quality in SRC willow.
5) To investigate the potential of year round energy crop supply.
6) To consider the role of imported biomass and how it should be incorporated into the UK energy supply.
Theme 2: Characterisation and pretreatment (Theme Leader: Leeds) Objectives:
1) To characterise a diverse range of energy crops, residues, wastes and derived fuels in order to assess their potential for energy, fuels and chemicals.
2) To develop novel analytical methods for characterising and studying biomass, its chemical and genetic makeup and its derived products and chemicals, as well as probing and understanding its thermochemical conversion.
3) To examine fuel enhancement and added value through fuel handling and preparation.
4) Together with results from Themes 1, 3 and 4, to deliver assessment criteria for the production and selection, and where appropriate, pre-processing of biomass resources.
Themes 3-5: Thermo-chemical conversion processes (low level of RRes input)
Theme 6: System analysis (Theme Leader: Manchester)
This theme aims to facilitate an informed answer to the question: 'What is the best use of our limited biomass resource?'
Theme 7: Dissemination and collaboration (Theme Leader: Aston)
The objective of this theme is to provide and disseminate information on the activities of the Consortium and bioenergy news generally to support the bioenergy research community and industry.
Planned Impact
unavailable
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Angela Karp (Principal Investigator) | |
| Ian Shield (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Allison GG
(2009)
Measurement of key compositional parameters in two species of energy grass by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
in Bioresource technology
Allison GG
(2009)
Quantification of hydroxycinnamic acids and lignin in perennial forage and energy grasses by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and partial least squares regression.
in Bioresource technology
Baxter X
(2014)
Miscanthus combustion properties and variations with Miscanthus agronomy
in Fuel
Baxter X
(2012)
Study of Miscanthus x giganteus ash composition - Variation with agronomy and assessment method
in Fuel
Greenhalf C
(2012)
Thermochemical characterisation of straws and high yielding perennial grasses
in Industrial Crops and Products
Greenhalf C
(2013)
The influence of harvest and storage on the properties of and fast pyrolysis products from Miscanthus x giganteus
in Biomass and Bioenergy
Hodgson EM
(2010)
Miscanthus as a feedstock for fast-pyrolysis: does agronomic treatment affect quality?
in Bioresource technology
Hodgson EM
(2011)
Variation in Miscanthus chemical composition and implications for conversion by pyrolysis and thermo-chemical bio-refining for fuels and chemicals.
in Bioresource technology
Karp A
(2010)
Willow has advanced as an energy crop but is the UK reaping the benefits?
in Journal of the Royal Agricultural Society of England.
Lesur C
(2013)
Modeling long-term yield trends of Miscanthus×giganteus using experimental data from across Europe
in Field Crops Research
| Description | The effect of fertiliser and harvest management on fuel quality was studied in two leading energy crops for the UK, SRC willow and Miscanthus x. giganteus. Key elements for thermo-chemical energy conversion technologies and their environmental impact were N, K, S, Na, and Cl. The crops responded differently to the fertilisers. SRC willow showed no yield response to a range of N applications between 0 and 250 kg ha-1. Miscanthus responded strongly, with an optimum at approximately 100 kg ha-1 N. It was demonstrated that the K status of the miscanthus crop could be maintained by addition of 50 kg ha-1 K as KCl at reasonable cost and with minimal impact on the K and Cl concentration of the harvested biomass. The alternative, K2SO4, was approximately twice the price of KCl (per unit of K) but did produce a slightly "cleaner" or less problematic biomass fuel. A Supergen Biofuels and Bioenergy "Plus" project studied the chemical forms that the nitrogen present in the miscanthus biomass fuel took. This was used collaboratively with Leeds University to predict the fate of the N during combustion. Storage of miscanthus harvested at different times presented no problems, however, SRC willow stored for 6 months to allow ambient drying suffered a dry matter loss of approximately 18%. |
| Exploitation Route | The identification of important dry matter losses from stored SRC willow led to questions regarding the nature of the losses, particularly in terms of Green House Gasses, and how widespread they may be (e.g. forestry wood supply chains). This is an important aspect of an ongoing project within the Supergen Bioenergy Hub. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Energy Environment |
| Description | The results regarding the response of miscanthus to fertiliser inputs have been published and the papers supplied to staff at Terra Vesta (the leading miscanthus developer in the UK). This has been followed up with one to one discussions with their staff and some of their growers. The misconception that miscanthus requires no fertiliser is widely held and it is important that this is addressed to continue the successful development of the crop. SRC willow developers and others involved in the forestry wood supply chains have been alerted to the scale of losses in storage and the potential for GHG emissions that could seriously affect the GHG balance of the crop. There have been one or two changes of attitude and practice. Further data from the Supergen Bioenergy Hub will be used to strengthen the case for change. Consulted with BERR (UK Govt Dept at the time, Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) and DECC on bio-energy policy. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2008 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Energy |
| Impact Types | Societal Economic |