Supergen Bioenergy Impact Hub 2023
Lead Research Organisation:
Aston University
Department Name: College of Engineering and Physical Sci
Abstract
The Supergen Bioenergy Hub will bring together academic, industrial an policy stakeholders to focus on sustaianable bioenergy systems. It will adopt an interdisciplinary approach focused on key innovation stages. Research at UK universities will generate new knowledge and insights in sustainable bioenergy, while incubating UK science to deliver its commerical potential and working with researchers to ensure their knowledge is diffused across the innovation community for wider benefit.
This will deliver impact with policy makers via our well-established policy connections and a focused policy-makers only forum to address their key concerns. It will deliver impact with industrialists via an industry forum that will connect innovators with UK scientists and engineers who can support them. It will deliver impact with the wider sustainable energy and product community by establishing a professional forum which will support training of commercial professionals and key knowledge transfer in new knowledge areas.
Above all it will foster stronger connections between the academic, industrial and policy sectors in a way that supports advancement of sustainable bioenergy in the U.K.
This will deliver impact with policy makers via our well-established policy connections and a focused policy-makers only forum to address their key concerns. It will deliver impact with industrialists via an industry forum that will connect innovators with UK scientists and engineers who can support them. It will deliver impact with the wider sustainable energy and product community by establishing a professional forum which will support training of commercial professionals and key knowledge transfer in new knowledge areas.
Above all it will foster stronger connections between the academic, industrial and policy sectors in a way that supports advancement of sustainable bioenergy in the U.K.
Organisations
- Aston University (Lead Research Organisation)
- BBSRC (Co-funder)
- BP (British Petroleum) (Collaboration)
- University of Surrey (Collaboration)
- DRAX (Collaboration)
- Sanergy, Inc. (Collaboration)
- Bauldreay Jet Fuel Consulting (Collaboration)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) (Collaboration)
- AmSpec (Collaboration)
- International Energy Agency (IEA) (Collaboration)
- Rolls-Royce Motor Cars (Collaboration)
- African Sun Holdings (Collaboration)
- Technical University of Darmstadt (Collaboration)
- Deakin University (Collaboration)
- Green Giraffe (Collaboration)
- Worley Consulting (Collaboration)
- Future Biogas (Collaboration)
- Argent Energy (Collaboration)
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) (Collaboration)
- Glass Futures Ltd (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Kenyatta University (Collaboration)
- Flogas Britain (Collaboration)
- Kew Technology (Collaboration)
- Alps Ecoscience (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- United Kingdom Research and Innovation (Collaboration)
- Indian Institute of Technology Madras (Collaboration)
- Wilson Bio-Chemical Limited (Collaboration)
- Global Bioenergies (Collaboration)
- University of the Philippines (Collaboration)
- Advanced Biofuel Solutions (Collaboration)
- Uniper SE (Collaboration)
- Terravesta Ltd (Collaboration)
- Renewable Energy Association (REA) (Collaboration)
- Croda Europe Ltd (Collaboration)
- Engie (Collaboration)
- Visva-Bharati University (Collaboration)
- Energy Systems Catapult Ltd (Collaboration)
- Mapúa University (Collaboration)
- Scotish Gas Networks (Collaboration)
- GREEN FUELS LTD (Collaboration)
- University of the Philippines Los Baños (Collaboration)
- SHV Energy (Collaboration)
- Biomass Technology Group (Collaboration)
- Daabon Group (Project Partner)
- Energy Systems Catapult (Project Partner)
- Rolls-Royce Plc (UK) (Project Partner)
- Compact Syngas Solutions Ltd (Project Partner)
- Bauldreay Jet fuel Consulting Limited (Project Partner)
- Straw Innovations Ltd (Project Partner)
- Future Biogas Ltd (Project Partner)
- Engas UK Ltd (Project Partner)
- Willow Energy (Project Partner)
- Croda Europe Ltd (Project Partner)
- Advisian (Project Partner)
- Uniper Technologies Ltd. (Project Partner)
- Renewable Energy Association REA (Project Partner)
- Terravesta (Project Partner)
Publications
Aljohani M
(2024)
Enhancing Hydrogen Production from the Photoreforming of Lignin.
in ChemPlusChem
Almena A
(2024)
Reducing the environmental impact of international aviation through sustainable aviation fuel with integrated carbon capture and storage
in Energy Conversion and Management
Asim A
(2024)
Cellulose enrichment and enhanced saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass using the ionoSolv approach
in Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery
Borrill E
(2024)
Review of technological developments and LCA applications on biobased SAF conversion processes
in Frontiers in Fuels
Costa J
(2025)
Impacts of microwaves on the pectin extraction from apple pomace: Technological properties in structuring of hydrogels
in Food Hydrocolloids
Crosby R
(2024)
Numerical study and experimental validation of a porous biochar supported form stable composite for thermal energy storage
in Journal of Energy Storage
Das D
(2025)
A comprehensive review on the form stable phase change materials for storing renewable heat preparation, characterization and application
in Journal of Energy Storage
Das D
(2024)
Development of novel form-stable PCM-biochar composites and detailed characterization of their morphological, chemical and thermal properties
in Journal of Energy Storage
Firth AEJ
(2024)
An Ionic Liquid-Based Biorefinery Approach for Duckweed Utilization.
in ACS sustainable resource management
| Title | Czaneil Gomez winning entry for the 'Reframing Biomass in the UK and Beyond' video competition |
| Description | Czaneil Gomez winning entry for the 'Reframing Biomass in the UK and Beyond' video competition |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | 52 views on YouTube |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNFwuUlEv3Q |
| Title | Earth 2050 |
| Description | Scientific advisor to section on bioenergy within https://earth2050.com/ website. This present a balanced view of the contribution that bioenergy could make to energy etc. over the coming decades. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Impact | Product launch is in early 2025. |
| URL | https://earth2050.com/ |
| Title | Global Bioenergy Stories board game |
| Description | Board game to encourage discussion of the decisions and tradeoffs required to sustain an island community. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | Used with community stakeholders in the Philippines and researchers in the UK. |
| Title | Rohit Murali from the University of Surrey, Winner of the REA Future Game Changers Award 2024 |
| Description | Rohit explains his award winning research idea on anaerobic digestion (AD) and unlocking the power of microbial synergies. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | 38 views on YouTube. |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rmu_EPhKOSk&t=4s |
| Title | UK Biomass Strategy one year on |
| Description | Researchers from the Supergen Bioenergy Hub marked the anniversary of the Biomass Strategy by recording their thoughts on what's happened since the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published the strategy, and what still needs to be done to progress sustainable biomass deployment in the UK. |
| Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | 143 views on YouTube |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSp75UE1ev0 |
| Description | Co-chair GBEP Environmental GSI working group |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | FLEX Standard BECCS |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to new or improved professional practice |
| Description | Parliamentary meeting on industrial decarbonisation |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Provision of expert advice to Department for Energy Security and NetZero (DESNZ) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Provision of expert advice to Department for Transport |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/dft-science-advisory-council |
| Description | Provision of expert evidence to Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/trees-and-woodlands-scientific-advisory-group |
| Description | Response to Parliamentary call for evidence on sustainable timber and deforestation |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/output/supergen-bioenergy-hub-input-to-the-environmental-audit-co... |
| Description | Response to Scottish Government consultation on its draft Bioenergy Policy Statement |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/output/supergen-bioenergy-hub-response-to-the-scottish-government... |
| Description | Response to UK Government call for evidence on biomethane production policy framework |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/output/supergen-bioenergy-hub-response-to-the-call-for-evidence-o... |
| Description | Response to UK Government consultation on its industrial strategy |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/output/supergen-bioenergy-hub-response-to-consultation-on-invest-... |
| Description | Response to UK Parliamentary inquiry into engineering biology |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | TAC UNEP Lifecycle Initative |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.lifecycleinitiative.org/activities/life-cycle-assessment-data-and-methods/biogenic-carbo... |
| Description | African Agriculture KTP:23-24 Part 2 |
| Amount | £241,337 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 10097617 |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 07/2024 |
| End | 07/2026 |
| Description | Confidential Network Innovation Fund Project on biomethane -NIA2_SGN0072 |
| Amount | £428,987 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | NIA2_SGN0072 |
| Organisation | Ofgem Office of Gas and Electricity Markets |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2025 |
| End | 07/2025 |
| Description | ERA Skills Community Fund |
| Amount | £2,500 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Loughborough University |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2025 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Description | FLEX Standard for BECCS |
| Amount | £20,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | British Standards Institute (BSI Group) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2024 |
| End | 06/2025 |
| Description | Flame quenching and Lean blow-off limits of new zero/low-carbon fuels towards delivering a green Aviation; a combined Modelling & Experimental study |
| Amount | £630,419 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | EP/Y020839/1 |
| Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 12/2024 |
| End | 11/2027 |
| Description | Global Alliance Africa Sebenzisa Tembisa Waste Challenge |
| Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Innovate UK |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 05/2024 |
| End | 11/2024 |
| Description | Research and Innovation for Development in ASEAN (RIDA) |
| Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2024 |
| End | 06/2024 |
| Description | Technische Universität Darmstadt, for the Institute for Internal Combustion Engines and Powertrain Systems |
| Amount | £92,732 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Technical University of Darmstadt |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | Germany |
| Start | 03/2024 |
| End | 10/2024 |
| Title | Fuel thermal stability ASTM D3421 testing database |
| Description | This database is developed by collecting data from several published results and contains entries such as type of fuel, test operating parameters, and test outcomes. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This dataset has helped in model development for SAF thermal degradation in aviation gas turbines. SAF samples have been challenging to procure so this database was created so that modelling work could continue while liaising with fuel producers and suppliers for SAF samples. |
| Title | SAF thermal loading model |
| Description | This model takes into account umerous experimental results from a single fuel thermal stability test, and combines these to a single metric. This mathematical model give significant impotance on the physics of the poblem rather than just combining a set of numbers to create a single meetric. Several formulations were developed and the three best were selected for use throughout the project. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This mathematical model formulation has the ability of taking into account several results from a single metric and combining these to a single number to determine the propensity of SAF thermal degradation as it goes through a heated region, as occurs in a gas turbine engine. This is one of the foundations upon the modelling capability relies upon, and is therefore highly significant. |
| Description | Advanced Biofuel Solutions Ltd |
| Organisation | Advanced Biofuel Solutions |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | o Andrew Cornell - Chief Executive Officer o We have an established relationship with Advanced Biofuel Solutions Ltd and remain in direct contact regarding gasification research activities to better align our research with industry objectives. They supply industry feedstock, which we analyse and process. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They supply industry feedstock, which we analyse and process. |
| Impact | They supply industry feedstock, which we analyse and process. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Advisian |
| Organisation | Worley Consulting |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have a long-standing relationship with Advisian with a successful secondment of an early career researcher taking up a full time role within the organisation. Building on this foundation, we set up a meeting to discuss further potential collaboration with the organisation, which resulted in an agreement that an academic portfolio of Supergen Bioenergy Hub researchers would be useful for involvement in their consultancy projects. Advisian has committed to a seat on the new impact Hub's Advisory Board and involvement in the new Forums, particularly the Professional Forum. |
| Collaborator Contribution | actively engaged with the Supergen Bioenergy Hub and a meeting was set up to establish potential areas for collaboration working to support Advisian's portfolio with researchers from the Supergen Bioenergy Hub. Advisian has since committed to a seat on the new impact hub Advisory Board and become a core industrial partner. |
| Impact | Core industrial partner in new impact focused Hub |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | African Sun Holdings partnership |
| Organisation | African Sun Holdings |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We are providing advice on their operations in Africa, linking them with our network, and exploring funding mechanisms. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They often email for advice and ad hoc meetings. They have provided information to us on technologies and African context of bioenergy. |
| Impact | None so far. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Alps Ecoscience |
| Organisation | Alps Ecoscience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Alps Ecoscience attended our industry stakeholder consultation event in January 2023 on the new impact Hub. We engaged with Alan Beesley the CEO to have a follow up meeting and discuss areas for collaboration and interest in the new phase of the Hub. The company is now a core industrial partner of the new Hub and Alan has committed to being Chair of our Advisory Board, he has been engaged in our stakeholder events as a speaker and as a delegate adding his valuable expertise. |
| Collaborator Contribution | actively engaged with Supergen Bioenergy Hub following attendance at our industry stakeholder consultation event and have since committed to a seat on the new Impact Hub's Advisory Board valued at a total of £7,500 per annum. |
| Impact | Core industrial partner in new impact focused Hub and Advisory Board Chair |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | AmSpec Group |
| Organisation | AmSpec |
| Department | AmSpec UK |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We are in discussion about SAF modelling capability Sheffield can contribute to for use in avitaion gas turbines. |
| Collaborator Contribution | AmSpec are very interested in our capability and research activities, and they are very willing to provide SAF samples. Due to issues with fuel logistics, AmSpec are currently looking out for opportunities to intercept a small SAF sample as it enters the UK. |
| Impact | AmSpec are looking to supply Sheffield with SAF sample when feasible. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Argent - carinata for biodiesel |
| Organisation | Argent Energy |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We were approached by Argent to investigate different options and associated factors for producing biodiesel from carinata, with the project being scoped out by researchers. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As above |
| Impact | Not yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | BP |
| Organisation | BP (British Petroleum) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We are in discussion about SAF modelling capability Sheffield can contribute to for use in avitaion gas turbines. |
| Collaborator Contribution | BP are very interested in our capability and research activities, and they are very willing to provide SAF samples. Due to issues with fuel logistics, BP are currently looking out for opportunities to intercept a small SAF sample as it enters the UK. |
| Impact | BP are looking to supply Sheffield with SAF sample when feasible. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | BTG - Biomass Technology Group |
| Organisation | Biomass Technology Group |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | BTG are very interested in our capability and research activities, and they are currently looking into providing us with SAF samples. We are in the process of agreeing on the kind of relationship BTG and Sheffield can have. |
| Collaborator Contribution | BTG and Sheffield are currently in discussions on what Sheffield can offer that is appropriate for level of contribution BTG can offer. |
| Impact | BTG are interested in sending us SAF sample, or have SAF sample tested at their premises with our test specifications and then sending us results so we can process them for model development. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Bauldreay Jet Fuel Consulting Limited |
| Organisation | Bauldreay Jet Fuel Consulting |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Joanna Bauldreay has been a long standing key stakeholder of the Hub with her knowledge and expertise in aviation fuel chemistry and technology with a particular interest in sustainable aviation fuel. Bauldreay Jet Fuel Consulting Limited is a core industrial partner of the hub, and has an active seat on the advisory board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Joanna attends our stakeholder events and is an active member of the Hub. Joanna has committed 7 - 10 days of her time in kind over the next four years, which amounts to £28,000. |
| Impact | Core industrial partner in new impact focused Hub |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Croda |
| Organisation | Croda Europe Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Croda attended our Showcase event in 2022 after which we actively engaged with a key contact from the organisation following the event. Croda have signed a formal NDA and we continue to build our relationship with key contacts regularly attending our hub events. |
| Collaborator Contribution | In support of the Hub programme of activity, Croda will be able to supply key energy challenges for its UK sites, provide guidance to and evaluate new low carbon materials and participate in relevant workshops. |
| Impact | Formal NDA is now in place |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Deakin Aston PhD Cotutelle Programme |
| Organisation | Deakin University |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | EBRI/EPS is exploring the potential for a EBRI/EPS Aston - Deakin University PhD Cotutelle based on the current model already in place and running successfully with the School of Health and Life Sciences at Aston University. Meetings with Deakin University in Australia have taken place with positive outcomes, and further discussions with key energy researchers at Aston have received a positive response to the proposal. A business case has been put together and awaiting sign off. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Deakin University hosted visit from Aston in November 2024, where the potential Cotutelle was discussed, and positive input has been received from key representatives at Deakin. It is believed that the cotutelle would be mutually beneficial to both universities and there is an over-lap and complementarity in the areas of expertise across the energy space of the two institutions. |
| Impact | There will be a series of webinars run in early 2025 to bring together academics from the institutions and confirm the relevant themes for the PhD programme. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Deakin IIT Madras Energy Collaboration |
| Organisation | Deakin University |
| Country | Australia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We were invited to present and discuss collaboration with the Energy Consortium hosted by IIT Madras and Deakin University in Melbourne in November 2024. Patricia Thornley and Rebecca Fothergill both presented on the work of the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute and the Supergen Bioenergy Hub, showcasing our areas of expertise and networking with key representatives from the consortium. We have identified areas of mutual collaboration across the energy topics and plan to hold a series of online workshops in early 2025 to bring together academics from across the three institutions to share in their interest and create a network for the collaboration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Deakin University hosted our visit and enabled the environment to forge the relationships together with IIT Madras for a future collaboration. IIT Madras are also hosting a visit at their campus in India for Patricia Thornley to further showcase their work, and discuss areas for collaboration. The two university partners have been welcoming and believe collaboration across the three universities is mutually beneficial. |
| Impact | We have identified a range of areas where we can collaborate and the online webinars will take place in early 2025 and be reported in the next round. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Deakin IIT Madras Energy Collaboration |
| Organisation | Indian Institute of Technology Madras |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We were invited to present and discuss collaboration with the Energy Consortium hosted by IIT Madras and Deakin University in Melbourne in November 2024. Patricia Thornley and Rebecca Fothergill both presented on the work of the Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute and the Supergen Bioenergy Hub, showcasing our areas of expertise and networking with key representatives from the consortium. We have identified areas of mutual collaboration across the energy topics and plan to hold a series of online workshops in early 2025 to bring together academics from across the three institutions to share in their interest and create a network for the collaboration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Deakin University hosted our visit and enabled the environment to forge the relationships together with IIT Madras for a future collaboration. IIT Madras are also hosting a visit at their campus in India for Patricia Thornley to further showcase their work, and discuss areas for collaboration. The two university partners have been welcoming and believe collaboration across the three universities is mutually beneficial. |
| Impact | We have identified a range of areas where we can collaborate and the online webinars will take place in early 2025 and be reported in the next round. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Drax |
| Organisation | Drax |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have been engaging with Drax for many years in various ways including through Drax representation on our Advisory Board, reciprocal site visits, presentations at events and knowledge sharing and advice. We have had a progress meetings in 2022 and 2023 to continue our engagement on areas of collaboration and potential projects of work. Drax are committed to our new impact Hub with a seat on the Advisory Board and continue to be a key stakeholder in our community. |
| Collaborator Contribution | have been actively engaged with the Hub for many years as a key stakeholder with a seat on our advisory board. Over the last two years they have brought staff to visit the labs at EBRI and we have held a series of progress meetings to discuss potential proposals. They remain engaged and committed to the new impact Hub with a seat on our advisory board and a representative contact allocated for regular communications |
| Impact | No Outputs yet |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | ECR Net Zero Conference 2024 |
| Organisation | United Kingdom Research and Innovation |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Alongside UKRI consortia UKCCSRC, C-DICE, CO2RE, EDI+, EDRC, ERA, IDRIC, IGNITE+, HI-ACT, SUSTAIN, TFI Network+, UKERC and UK-HyRES, we jointly organised and ran a two-day conference for ECRs active in the net zero space. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As above |
| Impact | Connections made between ECRs as well as the consortia themselves with various outcomes, including invitations to present at other events. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Energy Systems Catapult |
| Organisation | Energy Systems Catapult Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Energy Systems Catapult are a core industrial partner of the hub.. Potential idea for collaboration with the Hub over the coming years to deliver impact include exploring national scale models and projections of bioenergy deployment in the UK to 2050 with ESC's Bioenergy Value Chain Model (BVCM), considering local and regional visions for bioenergy deployment, which could utilise learnings from ESC's extensive work on Local Area Energy Plans (LAEPs) and promoting realistic pathways for bioenergy towards net zero, combining the bioenergy expertise of the Supergen Bioenergy Hub with the whole energy systems thinking of ESC |
| Collaborator Contribution | They have committed to a contribution in kind of around 20 days of time from our staff, valued at approximately £20,000. |
| Impact | Core industrial partner in new impact focused Hub |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Engie biogas decision-amking tools |
| Organisation | Engie |
| Country | Global |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have developed models of their biodigesters at 2 sites and have applied optimisation algorithms over these for enhanced decision-making. |
| Collaborator Contribution | They have provided data, advice and steer on direction of research, co-developing the tools. |
| Impact | Models, decision-support tools. Plan for trials in next few months. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Flogas - rDME (renewable or recycled dimethyl ether) synthesis |
| Organisation | Flogas Britain |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | This project will draw upon academic research expertise from the Supergen Bioenergy hub (SGBH). SGBH is the UK's national hub for bioenergy research, comprising 21 academic, industry, government and societal organisations. This project will be resourced from 3 of the partner universities, giving access to the most relevant facilities and internationally leading expertise in gasification (Glasgow), DME synthesis (Sheffield) and sustainability/life cycle assessment (Aston - who also carry out life cycle assessment on the national Greenhouse Gas Removal programme's peatlands restoration project). Using resource from the researchers in the hub will allow flexible input from each university to tackle technical challenges and associated input requirements as they arise. Time has been costed for each partner contribution to allow researcher input of 4 months at each university, which can be accessed and used flexibly alongside the researchers' main Supergen-funded commitments. Glasgow will focus on gas compositional analysis, impurity contaminant, cleaning and upgrading. Sheffield will focus on the chemistry and synthesis of substitute gas and Aston will focus on integrated sustainability assessment over life-cycle of the production process. Aston will produce a final report on the sustainability of gas synthesis, while Glasgow and Sheffield will provide laboratory analysis, characterisation and synthesis input (e.g. choice of catalysts and performance data) during regular project meetings and testing programmes. Each university will have a recognized international expert as the point of contact for Flogas (Thornley, Paul, Yuan) supervising an experienced researcher carrying out the practical tasks. All 3 universities and their relevant researchers are already working together in the Supergen team. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Coordinating the funding application and bringing together contributors. |
| Impact | Ongoing |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Funding and partnerships workshop - BBNet, EBNet and HVB |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Alongside three BBSRC NIBBs - BBNet, EBNet and HVB - we jointly organised a two-day training course in October 2023 for early career researchers to develop their skills in applying for funding and developing partnerships. Through a series of talks, facilitated discussions, knowledge-sharing and advice clinics, participants learnt about developing research proposals and investment pitches; how to approach industrial collaborations; incubating and launching start-ups; legal implications and IP; navigating the funding landscape; and how to network better. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As above |
| Impact | Connections were forged during the event with the potential for future collaboration. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Future Biogas |
| Organisation | Future Biogas |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We first engaged with Future Biogas Business Development Director Becky Wheeler in 2022 inviting her to attend our stakeholder consultation event in January 2023. Three colleagues from Future Biogas attended the event and we arranged follow up meetings to discuss their interests and potential collaboration with the Supergen Bioenergy Hub. Future Biogas is now a new core industrial partner in the Impact Hub and have a place on the Advisory Board and we continue to deepen our collaboration through contact via Michael Short at the University of Surrey working on the Hub project on AI and AD. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Actively engaged with Supergen Bioenergy Hub following attendance at our industry stakeholder consultation event and have since committed to a seat on the new Impact Hub's Advisory Board valued at £1,000 per day. |
| Impact | Core industrial partner in new impact focused Hub |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Glass Futures |
| Organisation | Glass Futures Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Researcher for the Supergen Bioenergy Hub from the University of Manchester undertook UK biomass availability work for a Glass Futures project with Pilkington Glass. This work in turn helped the company to secure a £6 million project under the BEIS Industrial Fuel Switching Phase 2 competition to continue studies and undertake industrial-scale trials of biofuels with involvement from Supergen Bioenergy Hub and the Energy & Bioproducts Research Institute at Aston University. Progress meetings were undertaken and further opportunities to engage Glass Futures were executed including speaker invitations at our key stakeholder event on the UK Government's Biomass Strategy and commitment to the new Supergen Bioenergy Impact focused Hub. Glass Futures are a core industrial partner of the hub and have a seat on our Advisory Board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Glass Futures have actively engaged with the Supergen Bioenergy Hub following an initial piece of work with researcher on UK Biomass Availability. Rob Ireson from the company has been extremely supportive of the Hub's work and has fostered a collaboration between the two organisations, with £200k allocated to pay SUPERGEN partners, as subcontractors, for services to help deliver the Phase 2 IFS project. In addition they have estimated a further input during the 4 year project lifetime would be of the order of at least 40 days' time from professional staff, valued at approximately £40,000. |
| Impact | Report output: https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SBH-Glass-Futures-Biomass-Resource-Feasibility-Report-FINAL.pdf; https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/649ac491b4d6ef000c038f5e/Glass_Futures_-_IFS_Phase_1_report.pdf |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Global Bioenergies |
| Organisation | Global Bioenergies |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Global Bioenergies and Sheffield are in preliminary discussions to engage with the Supergen project. Sheffield have offered detailed fuel analysis of their SAF, and potentially with another agreement, modelling output for how their SAF can behave in an actual gas turbine. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Global Bioenergies are currently assessing if the benefit with engaging with Sheffield is worthwhile, and if so then they could either provide SAF samples or carry out testing on behalf of Sheffield and then send us results for further data analysis and modelling. |
| Impact | Global Bioenergies are currently deciding whether there is benefit for them to engage with Sheffield. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Green Fuels |
| Organisation | Green Fuels Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Green Fuels Ltd are very interested in our capability and research activities, and they are very willing to provide SAF samples. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Green Fuels are still in early stages of production and they cannot supply 5 litres of SAf we require. Green Fuels and Sheffield will restart discussions once they have larger capability for SAF production and can provide SAF sample. |
| Impact | Green Fuels are working towards scaling up and once they have 5 lt SAF available then we will arrange a shipment to Sheffield. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | IEA Bioenergy Task 33 - Gasification of Biogenic and Waste Feedstocks for a Sustainable Future |
| Organisation | International Energy Agency (IEA) |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | UK country member for IEA Bioenergy Task 33 - Gasification of Biogenic and Waste Feedstocks for a Sustainable Future, contributing to workshops, projects and reports. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Managing the work of Task 33. |
| Impact | Country reports and project outputs are available online: https://task33.ieabioenergy.com/# |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | IIT Madras |
| Organisation | Indian Institute of Technology Madras |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This partnership was identified through attendance at the Energy Consortium Summit at Deakin University in November 2024. We are currently engaging colleagues at IIT Madras to identify key areas for collaboration, and a partnership has been formed with colleagues in EBRI in the heating and cooling area for a future consortium opportunity. Patricia Thornley is visiting IIT Madras in March 2025 to further the relationship. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Colleagues at IIT Madras have been forthcoming to introduce colleagues from across their engineering and relevant departments as well as engaging with their global partnerships team. They are hosting Patricia Thornley's visit to the institution in March 2025, where we aim to identify potential opportunities for collaboration. |
| Impact | There are no outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Innovate UK African Agriculture Knowledge Transfer Partnership |
| Organisation | Kenyatta University |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Working to model and digitalise a black soldier fly from human waste business delivering sanitation to townships. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Working to model and digitalise a black soldier fly from human waste business delivering sanitation to townships. |
| Impact | Not yet. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Innovate UK African Agriculture Knowledge Transfer Partnership |
| Organisation | Sanergy, Inc. |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Working to model and digitalise a black soldier fly from human waste business delivering sanitation to townships. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Working to model and digitalise a black soldier fly from human waste business delivering sanitation to townships. |
| Impact | Not yet. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Innovate UK African Agriculture Knowledge Transfer Partnership |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Working to model and digitalise a black soldier fly from human waste business delivering sanitation to townships. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Working to model and digitalise a black soldier fly from human waste business delivering sanitation to townships. |
| Impact | Not yet. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Kew Technology |
| Organisation | KEW Technology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Kew Technologies are a member of our Advisory Board. We have a long-standing relationship with this local company which previously received secondment funding from the Hub and would like to offer more secondment opportunities in this phase. Amna Bezanty from KEW Technology is an Aston University alumna is a new Advisory Board member and is very engaged in our activities. She also joined the EBRI/Aston visit to Saudi Arabia on the energy to waste project and presented on the industrial perspective. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Amna Bezanty from KEW Technology is an Aston University alumna and is a new Advisory Board member and is very engaged in our activities. She also joined the EBRI/Aston visit to Saudi Arabia on the energy to waste project and presented on the industrial perspective. |
| Impact | Position on Advisory Board |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | LCA training - BBNet and EBNet |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Funding and support for LCA training offered to members of the Hub and BBNet and EBNet networks. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As above |
| Impact | 20 participants from academia and industry received a two-day training course in life cycle assessment methodologies. A follow-up will be carried out six months after the event to understand how the training is being used and what impact it has made to participants' practice. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | MoU Mapua University |
| Organisation | Mapúa University |
| Country | Philippines |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Memorandum of agreement with Mapua University |
| Collaborator Contribution | Memorandum of agreement with Mapua University |
| Impact | The agreement builds on Aston University's close ties with the sustainability sector in the south-east Asian country where it has been exploring the use of rice straw as an alternative fuel. It establishes a formal relationship and marks a joint commitment to future research and education collaborations. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | RSPB report on biomass resources |
| Organisation | Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | We were approached by a consultant producing a report on biomass resources in the UK for the RSPB. Our researchers met with the consultant twice and provided various data and evidence to inform the report. |
| Collaborator Contribution | As above |
| Impact | Report is being produced. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Renewable Energy Association |
| Organisation | Renewable Energy Association (REA) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | We have a long-standing relationship with the REA as a core partner of the hub, and collaboratively developed a new Award as part of the REA Renewable Energy Awards for postgraduate students with innovative ideas in the field of renewable energy. We held planning meetings and launched the Future Game Changers Award on the Supergen Bioenergy Hub website - engaging our Early Career Researchers community to apply. Shortlisted candidates were invited to the Awards dinner with opportunities to network with key industrial companies working in the renewable energy space and the winner was announced on the night with bursary prize money. Working together on this Award has further deepened our relationship and we have engaged the REA as speakers at our stakeholder events including our Showcase Event in 2022, and our UK Biomass Strategy. This has also resulted in the REA taking a seat on our impact Hub Advisory Board |
| Collaborator Contribution | The REA actively engaged with the Supergen Bioenergy Hub to take forward the Future Game Changers Award resulting in opportunities for the Hub's early career researchers as well as promotion via the REA's broad network of members and seats at the British Renewable Energy Awards. Furthermore, the REA has taken a seat on the Hub's new Advisory Board, and committed to a total of in-kind support of approximately £5000. |
| Impact | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/future-game-changers-at-the-british-renewable-energy-awards-2023/ |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Rolls Royce |
| Organisation | Rolls-Royce Motor Cars |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | are a new partner to the impact Hub from 2023, being engaged by our academic partner Spiridon Siouris from The University of Sheffield on the Hub funded research project to investigate the modelling of fuel thermal stability for bioderived sustainable aviation fuels |
| Collaborator Contribution | regular update meetings and quarterly reviews with project partners. Rolls-Royce will provide an industrial perspective and experience on operating conditions and design of engine system components to the project. Over the duration of the project, they would estimate total value in-kind of up to £10K. |
| Impact | Core industrial partner in new impact focused Hub |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | SHV low carbon LPG |
| Organisation | SHV Energy |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | SHV have a seat on our Advisory Board and we are carrying out a joint project investigating catalytic pathways from biomass to renewable liquid C3-C8 hydrocarbons to act as low carbon LPG globally. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Scoped project, cash contribution as above, guiding and supervising research project. Also now an advisory board member for SGBH and has met with early career researchers to encourage and mentor as well as representing SGBH internationally at our Gothenburg conference. |
| Impact | Not yet completed. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Scottish Gas Networks OFGEM NIA |
| Organisation | Green Giraffe |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We are funded by the Network Innovation Allowance to study biomethane in the natural gas grid. We are performing optimisation and technoeconomic analysis and design of biomethane sites. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners provide data for gas demands and locations, as well as feedstock availability. They also perform financial modelling to deliver the project. |
| Impact | None. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Scottish Gas Networks OFGEM NIA |
| Organisation | Scotish Gas Networks |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We are funded by the Network Innovation Allowance to study biomethane in the natural gas grid. We are performing optimisation and technoeconomic analysis and design of biomethane sites. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partners provide data for gas demands and locations, as well as feedstock availability. They also perform financial modelling to deliver the project. |
| Impact | None. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Technical University of Damstadt |
| Organisation | Technical University of Darmstadt |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We were approached by TUD and worked with them to articulate our complementary knowledge and skills. We developed a joining proposal based on that understanding, which was funded by industrial partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | TUD sought out our expertise based on their understanding of their client needs. |
| Impact | No outputs yet |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Terrevesta |
| Organisation | Terravesta Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Terrevesta are core industrial partners of the hub. They have been a key stakeholder of the Hub and we met with key contacts in 2022 and 2023 to discuss future collaborations to help deliver for their sector to help drive the UK green bio-economy. Terrevesta are committed to the new phase of the impact Hub with regular attendance at events and have an seat on the advisory board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | support the new impact Hub to be valued at approximately £15,000 over the project's life. |
| Impact | Core industrial partner in new impact focused Hub |
| Start Year | 2022 |
| Description | Transformative Systems Through Partnership (TSP) - Engineering X . Royal Academy of Engineering |
| Organisation | Visva-Bharati University |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The UK project lead in collaboration with Suiso Ltd |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Indian partner is the overall PI |
| Impact | Final project report, yes multi-disciplinary including Business School |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Uniper |
| Organisation | Uniper SE |
| Country | Germany |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Uniper are a core industrial partner having signed our Collaboration Agreement in October 2024. They have been a key stakeholder of the Hub and confirmed their continued support to the third round of the Supergen Bioenergy Impact Hub, as well as providing support to the Advisory Board. |
| Collaborator Contribution | have committed to a seat on the advisory board of the new Hub and an in-kind contribution of £1,050/day averaged over the life of the third round of the hub, and up to a maximum of 5 days of time per calendar year. |
| Impact | Core industrial partner in new impact focused Hub and member of Advisory Board |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Visting researcher |
| Organisation | University of the Philippines |
| Country | Philippines |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Hosting visiting researcher from University of Philippines Los Banos |
| Collaborator Contribution | collaborating on research during research vistit at Aston University |
| Impact | n/a |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Visting researcher |
| Organisation | University of the Philippines Los Baños |
| Country | Philippines |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Hosting visiting researcher from University of Philippines Los Banos |
| Collaborator Contribution | collaborating on research during research vistit at Aston University |
| Impact | No impact yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Wilson BioChemical |
| Organisation | Wilson Bio-Chemical Limited |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Asked to perform torrefaction trials on Wilson Fibre® pellets at the EBRI facilities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Providing the pellets for testing. |
| Impact | Ongoing |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | • Kew Technology Ltd |
| Organisation | KEW Technology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | We have an established relationship with this local company, which previously received secondment funding from the Hub, and we aim to offer additional secondment opportunities in this phase. I undertook a secondment with Kew from October to November 2021 and remain in direct contact regarding gasification research activities to better align our research with industry objectives. Kew supplies industry feedstock, which we analyse and process. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Kew supplies industry feedstock, which we analyse and process. |
| Impact | Kew supplies industry feedstock, which we analyse and process. |
| Start Year | 2021 |
| Title | Global Bioenergy Stories |
| Description | innovative outreach concept to engage with young generations on bioenergy and energy futures |
| IP Reference | |
| Protection | Trade Mark |
| Year Protection Granted | 2023 |
| Licensed | Yes |
| Impact | innovative outreach concept to engage with young generations on bioenergy and energy futures |
| Title | Data analysis of thermal stability datasets |
| Description | Internal software for data analysis of test results. This incorporates machine learning tools such as principal component analysis as well as simpler statistical methods such as cross correletion to determine how dependent (or independent) test results are. This help identifying which parameters are truly independent and therefore can be used for model inputs for assessing fuel thermal stability. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Impact | This has been crucial in understanding the relationship between measure variables during testing of fuel therm all stability. This is crucial for identifying which outputs are important and independent from each other so they can have a greater weight on the characterisation of fuel thermal stability. |
| Description | - Hydrogen v battery buses on our roads? BBC WM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Patricia Thornley discussed the benefits of hydrogen versus battery buses in the West Midlands on BBC WM. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | 3 talks at University of Sao Paulo campuses |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Delivered 3 talks at University of Sao Paulo campuses in Sao Carlos and Ribeirao Preto for academics, undergraduates and postgraduate students in December 2024 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | A presentation of the current work carried out on Biowaste Hydrogen production via a Redox Mediator at the Supergen Annual Assembly 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | To update the Supergen organisation of the progress and topic of "Hydrogen production via mediated electrolysis of biomass", allowing for discussion with other team members of the project and possible collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | AI for Net Zero Webinars |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr.Dekhici delivered a presentation in the AI for Net Zero webinars series on YouTube, where he mentioned and advertised the SBIH. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr1E7mLXYcU |
| Description | AI for Net Zero webinar series |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Benaissa Dekhici gave a talk at the AI for Net Zero webinar series, presenting on control of AD: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr1E7mLXYcU&ab_channel=AIforNetZeroWebinars, The YouTube video has been viewed 157 times. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yr1E7mLXYcU&ab_channel=AIforNetZeroWebinars |
| Description | AI4AD conference presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr. Dekhic delivered a talk at the AI for Net Zero Conference at the University of Exeter (16-19 December 2024) on the research topic "Data-Driven Modelling and Predictive Control of Biogas Production in an Anaerobic Digestion Process." |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | African Summit on Entrepreneurship and Innovation (ASENTI 2023) in Cape Town |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Dr Short Invited to attend by the Department for Business and Trade. Participated in panel discussions as well as presented a workshop on artifical intelligence and bioenergy. The 2 panels that Dr Short participated in were in front of the full conference (70-80 people), and the workshop was conducted with 20-30 people. Feedback mentioned that bioenergy was under-represented in national strategies. Several follow-up meetings with South African academics, government, and industry, with high potential for impact in South Africa. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | An oral presentation at the Supergen Bioenergy Hub Annual Assembly 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Delivered an oral presentation to attendees of the Supergen Bioenergy Hub Annual Assembly 2024, which generated interest in the subject from policymakers responsible for the biomass sustainability within policy. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | An oral presentation at the Supergen Bioenergy Hub Annual Assembly 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented on the biomass availability in UK and Europe, which generated several questions and discussions and information exchange. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Annual Assembly 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We held our Annual Assembly on Tuesday 5 and Wednesday 6 November at Kenwood Hall Hotel in Sheffield, with a focus on collaborating for impact. Over the two days, we had a variety of interactive workshops and research presentations, as well as site visits, public engagement training and a meeting of our Industry Forum. Day 1 started off with site visits to the University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) and Translational Energy Research Centre (TERC), which provided first-hand insight into AMRC's cutting-edge manufacturing facilities and the world-leading pilot-scale research developing green energy solutions at TERC. Public engagement was the focus of our afternoon sessions, with Paul Slater from the Big Bang Partnership facilitating an interactive session on storytelling, providing participants with tools to address the challenges we face as a community in sharing messages around bioenergy and biomass. We explored how to make a compelling and impactful story on bioenergy using two different methods: the pyramid principle and the empathy map. Top tips to take away were to humanise your story, use real life examples, address pain points, create emotional connections, and adapt your language to your target audience. Storytelling and impactful engagement was also the theme of the final part of the session led by Czaneil Gomez, a PhD student at Aston University. Czaneil shared a presentation on Global Bioenergy Stories, an outreach project funded by the Hub. The project empowers young people to share their vision of a sustainable future through interactive workshops, which have been delivered across the globe. We had the opportunity to take part in the new Global Bioenergy Stories boardgame, taking a journey through the fictional Island of Obodo and choosing the most sustainable options to survive and thrive. This method of engagement raises awareness of the topic of bioenergy and sustainability in an accessible way, tailored for young people and communities. Facilitators Czaneil Gomez, Katie Chong, Dan Abudu, Thea Mae Baltazar passed on their learnings to inspire others to get involved in Global Bioenergy Stories activities, which can be delivered in any organisation using the resource pack (available to download here). On day 2, the morning session focused on efforts to diffuse UK research knowledge, from investigating land use in Europe to increasing digitalisation, and AI in the bioenergy industry, and from research on biomass fractionation via ionic liquids to a presentation on designing biomass policy. An interactive session on Government missions and priorities, led by Biomass Policy Fellow Freya Horsfield, helped participants understand the wider context of our work and where it can make an impact. Over lunch, we held our first Industry Forum, connecting industrialists and academics to address the challenge of carbon utilisation within BECCUS (biomass to energy with carbon capture, utilisation and storage). Chairing the forum was Samantha Smith from the REA (Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology), with Michael Burnett from Innovate UK, Sarah Davidson from Croda and Richard Jackson from Standard Gas Technologies offering pitch presentations on the utilisation opportunities and challenges. These were then discussed on roundtables between academics and industry representatives to find a way forward to address the challenges collaboratively. The Super(gen) marketplace showcased our broader activities such as early career researcher development; internationalisation; stakeholder engagement; and equality, diversity and inclusion, as well as six new funded projects. We were thrilled to have two keynote speakers for the afternoon's incubation and commercialisation session. Andrew Cornell from Advanced Biofuel Solutions talked us through the learnings from the Swindon gasification plant, while Zoe Harris from the University of Surrey introduced the TAEDA Tech Project, which is making incredible strides in aeroponics research and development. We also heard from two of the Supergen technology development projects on gasification for net negative emissions and hydrogen production via mediated electrolysis of biomass. We closed with our researchers reading postcards from our future to get us thinking about the impact our work will have in the wider context, before Hub Director Patricia Thornley elaborated on the theme and gave us food for thought on the journey home. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/collaboration-and-impact-at-annual-assembly-2024/ |
| Description | Article publication and promotion of research on alternative fuels in Research Features. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Our article, "Alternative Fuels Reduce Harmful Emissions During Combustion," was published in Research Features (Earth and Environment section) to deliver our findings beyond the academic community. The article highlights the potential of alternative fuels, such as dimethyl ether, in reducing harmful emissions from engines. This activity aimed to raise knowledge of alternative fuels and their advantages for the environment. In addition, a podcast was generated to summarize the key findings. The podcast published in multiple social media platforms, including YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X, to maximize engagement and reach to multiple of audiences, including general public and industry professionals. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://researchfeatures.com/alternative-fuels-reduce-harmful-emissions-combustion/ |
| Description | Attend a UK-South Africa Decarbonisation workshop and give a talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invited by FCDO and Energy Systems Catapult to attend a UK-South Africa Decarbonisation workshop and give a talk in Pretoria representing SBIH (February 2024) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | BBC News Midlands Today talking about biomass boilers |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Patricia Thornley on BBC News Midlands Today talking about biomass boilers in council housing and the problems with wood pellets supply. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | BBNet Conference Biorefining - Clean Growth - Net Zero |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Rebecca Fothergill, Joanna Sparks and Patricia Thornley attended the BBNet conference, to deliver presentations and chair sessions during the two day conference. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | BECCS: different pathways and options for bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (co-hosted with UKCCSRC) Online Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This joint online event was organised with the UK Carbon Capture and Storage Research Centre to explore the different pathways and options for bioenergy with carbon capture and storage. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | BioMass Canada webinar series |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The webinar series was jointly organised with BioMass Canada and Supergen Bioenergy Hub to engage Early Career Researchers from both countries to share their research, exchange ideas and collaborate. Part 1 of this webinar series, Next-Gen Talent in Biomass and Bioenergy: Insights from Canada and the UK took place on 4 December 2024. This session showcased emerging talent in the biomass and bioenergy sectors, featuring a bilateral research symposium showcasing early-career professionals actively engaged in cutting-edge research projects. Highlighting collaborations between the BioMass Canada Cluster and the UK's Supergen Bioenergy Hub, participants gained a unique insights into the latest innovations and the role of next-gen researchers in advancing the bioeconomy on both sides of the Atlantic. In Part 2, 'Unlocking Opportunities: Building Careers for a Sustainable Bioeconomy', which took place on 11 December, the focus was on the career pathways, essential skills, and competencies required for success in biomass and bioenergy research, both within and beyond academia. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/next-gen-talent-in-biomass-and-bioenergy-insights-from-canad... |
| Description | Biomass Canada webinar series |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The webinar series was jointly organised with Biomass Canada and Supergen bioenergy hub to engage early career researchers from both countries to share their research and develop networks. The 1st meeting of the series, Next Gen Talent in Biomass and Bioenergy, insights from Canada and UK, took place 4th Dec 2024. The 2nd meeting, Unlocking opportunities: Building Careers for a Sustainable Bioeconomy, was held on the 11th Dec 2024. The 3rd, Advancing a Sustainable Bioeconomy Through Innovative Research: Industry and Academia Partnerships in Canada and the UK, was held on the 2nd Jan 2025. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/next-gen-talent-in-biomass-and-bioenergy-insights-from-canad... |
| Description | Biorenwables Development Centre Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | We hosted a team from the Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC) at University of York for a visit to EBRI - Energy & Bioproducts Research Institute, Aston University at Aston University. After an introduction to BDC, EBRI and Supergen Bioenergy Hub activities, we moved on to more in-depth discussions about shared interests and where there may be opportunities for collaboration. We ended the day with a tour round our labs and pilot plant, led by some of our PhD students and postdocs. Further discussions took place in how to continue collaboration for the future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Closing Plenary talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Delivered the closing Plenary talk at the Brazilian Process Systems Engineering 24 conference at University of Sao Paulo in July 2024 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://sites.usp.br/psebr24/ |
| Description | Conversation to connect DBT International Trade Adviser (Clean Growth) with key individuals active in Biofuels / Clean Energy in Canada |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Supergen convened a conversation to connect DBT International Trade Adviser (Clean Growth) with key individuals active in Biofuels / Clean Energy in Canada |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | DEFRA Forestry Innovation Teams meetings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This is a monthly meeting with DEFRA's Forestry Innovation Teams to scope out current issues and how the Supergen Bioenergy Hub might contribute knowledge to inform development of their programme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | ECR Conference 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr. Dekhici attended and presented an overview on 'AI-Enhanced Optimization of Anaerobic Digestion for Biogas Production' at the EBNet ECR Conference 2024, held from July 24-26 at Newcastle University, Newcastle. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | ECR Net Zero Conference 2024 (co-hosted with UKCCSRC, C-DICE, CO2RE, EDI+, EDRC, ERA, IDRIC, IGNITE+, HI-ACT, SUSTAIN, TFI Network+, UKERC and UK-HyRES) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This joint Conference for Early Career Researchers (ECRs) took place on Birmingham on 27 - 28 February. The purpose of the event was to bring the ECR community together to take part in sessions on net zero and develop knowledge on wider topics around equality, diversity & inclusion, public engagement and multidisciplinary research, as well as CV writing skills. The Supergen Bioenergy Hub were one of 13 research hubs and networks involved in organising this important event bringing together such a diverse range of students from academic institutions across the country. There was an opportunity to hear about all the work taking place across the energy space. Dan Abudu from Aston University represented the Supergen Bioenergy Hub and presented the overview of the Hub during the plenary session. On the second day, our SHARE Network Committee members Michael Gargaro, Dan Taylor, Collette Larkin, Dan Abudu and Akshay Bagde and supported by Paula H Blanco Sanchez, Catriona Heaton and Muhammad Naveed Arshad, delivered a session on the cost of net zero. Dan Taylor gave a great overview of the tricky environmental, economic and social decisions and trade-offs that need to be considered on the journey towards Net Zero, before handing over to Eilidh Forster, Head of Forest Carbon at Drax, who spoke about wood value chains in the net zero transition and the sustainability considerations of supply and demand. The session closed with a fishbowl debate where audience members were invited to participate, offering their 'hot takes' on the wider questions of the cost of net zero. Lots of networking took place throughout the two days, enhancing soft skills and opportunity for ECRs to share their latest research through an interactive poster display. Keynote speaker Aaron Goater from Baringa brought the conference to a close on a note of optimism for the progress made so far, with a call to action to all early career researchers to find the innovative solutions that will ease the net zero transition for society as a whole. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/share-committee-take-to-the-stage-at-ecr-net-zero-conference... |
| Description | ECR workshop on realising your potential through partnerships and funding |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This workshop is tailored for (ECRs) who want to learn more about winning funding - from research proposals to investment pitches. Through a series of talks, facilitated discussions, knowledge-sharing and advice clinics, ECRs had the opportunity to explore how to develop their ideas, form partnerships and identify and apply for funding opportunities - giving them the skills they need to build the next steps of their career. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/enthusiasm-and-collaboration-at-ecr-workshop-on-funding-and-... |
| Description | EU Commission: European Sustainable Energy Week 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | presentation and panel discussion about biomethane during the EU Commission: European Sustainable Energy Week 2024, Brussels |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://sustainable-energy-week.ec.europa.eu/index_en |
| Description | EUBCE 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Panel discussion at EUBCE Side Event on harmonisation of certification schemes for biochemicals and bio-based products |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101060133/reporting |
| Description | Energy Systems Catapult and FCDO workshops for UK-SA industrial decarbonisation (online and in Pretoria) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Dr Short Invited by Energy Systems Catapult to feed into a South African decarbonisation pathways project, sponsored by FCDO. Dr Short gave several presentations on the potential for bioenergy to play a role in South Africa's decarbonisation. Events included government, academic, and industrial players in South Africa. Future work currently being discussed |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Engagement between Supergen and Scottish Government on topics around bioenergy and sustainability |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Regular, sustained engagement between Supergen and Scottish Government, on topics around bioenergy and sustainability |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Engagement with Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Government Office for Science around UK Government work on engineering biology for net zero, |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Engagement with Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Government Office for Science officials around UK Government work on engineering biology for net zero, including an invitation to Dr Sparks to give an expert interview |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Engagement with Department for Transport officials to inform DfT work on emissions modelling |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Engagement with Department for Transport (DfT) officials to inform DfT work on emissions modelling |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Engagement with Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Contributed research outputs and insights for the development of two POST notes focused on the Land Use Framework and Land Use. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://post.parliament.uk/balancing-competing-land-uses-a-multifunctional-approach/ |
| Description | Extraordinary flex funding webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We held an information webinar about the Flexible Funding Call Opportunity for potential applicants on 20 November 2024, hosted by Director Patricia Thornley. There was an opportunity to go through the details of the call, application guide lines and answer any questions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/launch-of-extraordinary-flexible-funding-call-on-bio-based-c... |
| Description | FAO GBEP Bioenergy Week |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | presenation and session moderation during FAO GBEP Bioenergy Week |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.fao.org/in-action/global-bioenergy-partnership/news-and-events/news/news-detail/advancin... |
| Description | Future Biogas House of Commons reception |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Future Biogas held a panel discussion at the House of Commons focused on the scalable potential of biomethane for greening our national gas grid. Bill Esterson MP, Chair of the Energy Security & Net Zero Select Committee, sponsored the event and Rachael Burford, Chief Political Correspondent at the Evening Standard chaired. The panel featured Howard Forster, COO at Cadent Gas Limited, Lord Rupert Redesdale and Future Biogas CEO, Philipp Lukas. Attendees included representatives from the energy and agricultural industries, end users, government and research representatives. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Geospatial Commission on Land Use and Geospatial Data |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | This was an academic workshop to discuss finding of the Geospatial Commissions report "Finding Common Ground: Integrating data, science and innovation for better use of land. Date 26th January 2024. The audience was the Geospatial Commission primarily but also representatives across government departments involved in land use principally DEFRA, DEZNEZ. A report is being written by the workshop conveners with Rob Holland's inputs being taken into account in the shaping of further work around land use. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | HI-ACT and Supergen Bioenergy Hub Gas Network Transition - Scoping Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | HI ACT and Supergen held a workshop on 19 September at the University of Birmingham to discuss the topic of the Gas Network Transmission. The objective of the event was to share information on the subject matter with a view to developing a joint report. A joint summary statement from the workshop has been produced and will be published on the Supergen and HI-ACT websites. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Hosted a visit by Department for Transport Low Carbon Fuels team to Aston University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | EBRI hosted a visit by Head of DfT Low Carbon Fuels team, as part of supporting DfT to engage with academics |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Hosted visit by Department for Business official to Aston University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Hosted visit by Department for Business official to Aston University |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | HyDEX summer school 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Paula Blanco-Sanchez presented on hydrogen production routes via biomass conversion at the HyDEX Hydrogen Summer School on 9 - 13 September. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | ICSET 2025, Mapua University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Keynote on sustainable biomass at 2025 International Conference on Sustainable Environmental Technologies (ICSET) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://icset2025.mapua.edu.ph/ |
| Description | IEA BBEST 2024 conference and International Symposium on Innovation and Technology |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Patricia Thornley and Jude Onwudili attended the IEA Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme BBEST international conference 2024 and the International Symposium on Innovation and Technology (SIINTEC) at SENAI CIMATEC. They participated in a workshop bringing together specialists from different countries for a day full of discussions, debates and learning. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Independent external advice to Department for Energy & Net Zero officials on GHG emissions for feedstock pathways |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Independent external advice to Department for Energy & Net Zero officials on Greenhouse Gas emissions for feedstock pathways |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Independent external advice to Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on biomass for hydrogen |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Independent external advice to Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on biomass for hydrogen |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Industry Workshop on Sustainability |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Spresentation on sustainable manufacturing and policy at MTC in Coventry |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | International talks on Research and Innovation for Development in ASEAN (RIDA) FCDO-funded project - Michael Short |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | In March, Michael Short gave talks in Manila, Kuala Lumpur, and Kuching related to the FCDO-funded project: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/research-and-innovation-for-development-in-asean-rida . They discussed energy systems optimisation for future net zero and had members of various government agencies attending and sharing challenges and opportunities. Michael discussed the role of bioenergy in these systems in detail and engaged with a lot of palm oil mill operators and owners. He also advertised the role of the Hub and encouraged engagement. He gave a final webinar and discussed the role of emissions trading systems, and how this helps to finance and encourage decarbonisation of the electricity sector. Bioenergy plays a large role in our model results, which will be published on the FCDO website. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/guidance/research-and-innovation-for-development-in-asean-rida |
| Description | Interviewed by BBC South television on an explosion that occurred on an AD plant. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Short was interviewed by BBC South television on an explosion that occurred on an AD plant. (approx. 140,000 people viewed) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://netzerotube.com/videos/artificial-intelligence-applied-to-anaerobic-digestion-a-project-prom... |
| Description | Invited workshops for EBNet on AI in biotech |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Dr Short gave invited workshops for EBNet on AI in biotech and introduction to biogas decision-making and modelling. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Keynote talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Gave a keynote talk at the Carnegie Mellon University Centre for Advanced Process Decision-making (CAPD) Fall Enterprise-Wide Optimisation conference (Oct 2024). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | LCA for biomass systems workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | We welcomed representatives from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Net Zero Innovation Portfolio projects to Aston University for a session on lifecycle analysis for biomass systems. The purpose of the event was to provide an introduction to the topic and enable projects to develop and enhance their LCA knowledge, plans and skills. The session was organised by our Policy Fellow Joanna Sparks at the request of DESNZ, and led by LCA experts Patricia Thornley, Mirjam Röder (both Aston University), Rachael Rothman (University of Sheffield), Gioia Falcone (University of Glasgow), Isabela Butnar (UCL), Andrew Welfle (University of Manchester) and Sam Cooper (University of Bath). In the morning, industry representatives from the NZIP projects had the opportunity to hear from the experts on a range of key LCA related topics. This was followed by a series of presentations from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero covering the Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard and greenhouse gas removal standards in the UK. Joanna Sparks closed the morning with her presentation on the UK Biomass Strategy. The afternoon was focused on giving the NZIP projects the opportunity to discuss their LCA challenges with facilitated group sessions to share current processes and systems and to think about the LCA questions they are aiming to address. A presentation on data quality followed, and then finally an opportunity for each project to work on their own LCA plan using a worksheet template with experts on hand to help. The day was wrapped up with information on the UN Environment Programme's biogenic carbon guidance project and final words from Patricia Thornley, Director of the Supergen Bioenergy Hub. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/training-up-on-lifecycle-analysis-for-biomass-systems/ |
| Description | Launch of the Supergen Bioenergy Impact Hub 2023 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We invited all academics, industrialists, policymakers and the third sector working or interested in biomass and bioenergy to join us at the launch event for the new Supergen Bioenergy Impact Hub. The purpose of the event was to share our plans for the next four years with both new and existing stakeholders, gather feedback, and engage stakeholders to be part of the forthcoming activities including the new stakeholder forums and call for flexible funding. The agenda was focused on impact, covering our wide range of research projects, partnership and funding opportunities, and stakeholder feedback and engagement. The event was opened by Director Patricia Thornley, followed by a series of presentations from across the research projects by the CO-Is, providing a flavour of the work and collaborations being undertaken in the new Hub. Hub team members Catriona Heaton, Rebecca Fothergill and Joanna Sparks presented on our stakeholder and policy engagement work, including around the UK Biomass Strategy. Delegates heard how they could get involved in ongoing and new engagement activities, including the new industrial, professional, policy and public engagement forums. Mirjam Röder presented on the hub's planned international engagement strategy and activity, while Zoe Harris from University of Surrey, Sonia Heaven from University of Southampton and Paula Blanco-Sanchez gave an overview of the IEA Bioenergy Technology Collaboration Programme and encouraged attendees to get involved. Rebecca Rowe from the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology presented on a forthcoming report on novel crops and forestry species for industrial biomass, which follows a workshop held earlier this year. The new committee members leading our SHARE Network for early career researchers introduced their plans for the four years. The day ended with a feedback session from key stakeholders and the wider audience. Gerard Davies from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and Colin Miles from the Biotechnology and Biological Science Research Council - representing the hub's joint funders - gave their perspective on what they want the hub to deliver over the next four years. Industrial partners Amna Bezanty from KEW Technology, Alan Beesley from AlpsEcoscience and Rebecca Wheeler from Future Biogas shared their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities for the new hub, before the question was opened to all attendees. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/launch-of-the-supergen-bioenergy-hub-2023/ |
| Description | Low Carbon Agriculture Show |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Patricia Thornley represented Supergen Bioenergy Hub and presented in the session on Biomass and its role in Net Zero. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Low-Carbon Agriculture Show - Exhibition stand |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | We exhibited at the Low Carbon Agriculture Show which was held over two days, attracting a range of businesses, end users, and researchers on low carbon practices, technology and energy solutions for sustainable farming. It was a fantastic opportunity to share information on the new impact Hub, talking to visitors about our research projects, current outputs, as well as engaging them with our interactive tools: comic, biorefinery book and game, and making new connections. On day 2, our director Patricia Thornley presented on evidencing sustainability of UK biomass, highlighting the importance of data, transparency, trust and governance in the session chaired by Jeanette Whitaker from UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH). The session covered biomass, biochar and its role in netzero plans and the presentation panel included Neil Watkins of Eco Crops UK, Márton Németh of Silvanus Forestry, and Julian Marris of Carbon Focus Engineering Ltd. Patricia referenced a paper published by Supergen Bioenergy Hub researchers on the sustainability of bioenergy and mapping the risks & benefits which can be downloaded. We were delighted to receive many enquiries and make new connections, as well as have such positive feedback and engagement with our biorefinery book. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/connecting-at-the-low-carbon-agriculture-show-2024/ |
| Description | Make UK / Innovate UK event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | We exhibited at the MAKE UK and Innovate UK 'meet the buyer' Event taking place at Aston University which provided the opportunity to disseminate our work to businesses and industry representatives from across the manufacturing sector and engage with big players and innovative SMEs working at the nexus between energy and manufacturing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Maritime Policy Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Workshop with key DfT staff to better understand their policy priorities in the maritime area and develop shared research priorities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Meeting with Department for Business to discuss Waste to Value and Circular Economy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with Department for Business investment manager & colleagues to discuss Waste to Value and Circular Economy |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Meeting with Department for Transport to discuss DfT evidence needs and College of Experts |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Prof Thornley met Department for Transport officials to discuss DfT College of Experts, as part of enabling DfT to find suitable academics to engage with |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Michael Short at Process Systems Engineering (PSE) and European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering (ESCAPE) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | This talk led to Michael Short being invited to give a plenary talk at the PSE-Br (Process Systems Engineering Brazil) conference in Sao Paolo |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.aidic.it/escape34-pse24/index.php |
| Description | Online report launch: Carbon for chemicals and the role of biomass |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Supergen Policy Fellow Joanna Sparks hosted a webinar to introduce the joint carbon for chemicals report produced with BBNet, with key recommendations for policy makers and and highlighting evidence gaps and areas where further research may be needed. Within the webinar, Joanna outlined the key messages and lessons of the report, exploring questions such as: - What does the current chemical system look like, and what are its climate and environmental impacts? - How is biomass converted into bio-based chemicals? - What does the bio-based chemicals sector look like now, and how might it develop? - Are bio-based chemicals more sustainable than fossil-based chemicals? - Is there sufficient, sustainable feedstock to supply the chemicals sector? - What is the best use of biomass within the chemicals sector? - What opportunities could bio-based chemicals provide for the UK, and what action might be needed to deliver them? The purpose of the webinar was to raise awareness that carbon-based chemicals cannot be decarbonised but can be defossilised through a transition to renewable carbon sources such as biomass, recycled carbon, and carbon dioxide and provides evidence on bio-based chemicals and materials, to improve understanding, support policy development, and identify evidence gaps and areas where further research is required. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/online-webinar-launch-carbon-for-chemicals-and-the-role-of-b... |
| Description | Oral presentation at BBNet Conference 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Delivered an oral presentation on research contributing towards the Supergen Bioenergy Impact Hub project "Maximising sustainability trade-offs" which attracted attention from attendees representing industry and academic backgrounds. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/connecting-at-the-biomass-biorefinery-network/ |
| Description | Oral presentation at EUBCE2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Delivered an oral presentation at EUBCE2024 in Marseille, where over 1300 participants from 54 countries were in attendance in Marseille. Presented in the 'Biofuel and Biomethane Policies' session on the design of biomass policy to deliver net zero. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/leading-the-way-in-global-sustainability-bioenergy/ |
| Description | Outreach Iloilo Global Bioenergy Stories |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Running Global Bioenergy Story workshop with highschool class at the municipal agricultural office in Iloilo, Philippines |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/global-bioenergy-stories/ |
| Description | Panel discussion GIE annual conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Panel discussion on biomethane at the annual conference of Gas Infrastruture Europe |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.gie.eu/event/gie-annual-conference-2024/ |
| Description | Participated in the IEA Task 33 Biomass Gasification Webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Participated in the IEA Task 33 Biomass Gasification Webinar, which highlights the current and future gasification activities of countries across the world. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Participation in DEFRA Trees & Forestry stakeholder event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof Thornley took part in stakeholder event organised by DEFRA Trees & Forestry Engagement Team |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Participation in Department for Transport-organised Expert Engagement event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Prof Thornley participated in an DfT-organised Expert Engagement event in February 2024 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Participation in policy scoping workshop organised by Department for Transport |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Prof Thornley participated in a workshop organised by Department for Transport scoping future work |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Physics Partner Event at King Edwards School, Birmingham |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | The event was run by Physics Partners for 200 A level students at Birmingham University on September 19th on the subject of sustainable energy and in our conversations and Patricia Thornley was invited to be one of the key presenters alongside experts from across the energy space in academia and industry. The event aimed to inspire and stimulate a generation of young people to invest in their science education. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Plenary talk at the World Biogas Expo |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Delivered a plenary talk at the World Biogas Expo in Birmingham at the Engine Room on the role of AI in Biogas, July 2024. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Poster presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Dr.Dekhici presented a poster titled "Data-Driven Modelling and Control of Biogas Production in a Simple Chemostat with Monod Kinetics" at the PSE Research Day, to be held at Imperial College London from September 2-6. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Poster presentation at EUBCE 2024 (European Biomass Conference and Exhibition) by Dr Jun Li |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A presentation on the previous work carrier out before the Supergen project began (Using Whisky distillery waste to reduce the redox mediator) that was presented at the European Biomass Conference and Exhibition 2024, introducing the concept to conference goers along with informing them of the work being carried out under Supergen |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Poster presentation at Hydrogen Scotland Conference 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A presentation on the previous work carrier out before the Supergen project began (Using Whisky distillery waste to reduce the redox mediator) that was presented at the Hydrogen Scotland Conference 2024, introducingt he concept to conference goers along with informing them of the work being carried out under Supergen |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presenation at AgriGHG-2024 Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presentation on sustainable bioenergy uses from agri residues at the AgriGHG-2024 Symposium, Berlin, Germany |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.agrighg-2024.de/ |
| Description | Presentation at Chem Expo UK |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Dr Sparks gave an invited presentation on biobased polymers, at Chem Expo UK. Audience of industry and academia |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation of Supergen SAF project to AmSpec Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presented Supergen SAF project to develop further collaborations related to the SAF modelling capability this project is developing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation of Supergen SAF project to BP |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presented Supergen SAF project to develop further collaborations related to the SAF modelling capability this project is developing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation of Supergen SAF project to BTG - Biomass Technology Group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presented Supergen SAF project to develop further collaborations related to the SAF modelling capability this project is developing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Presentation of Supergen SAF project to Coryton Fuels |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presented Supergen SAF project to develop further collaborations related to the SAF modelling capability this project is developing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation of Supergen SAF project to Global Bioenergies |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presented Supergen SAF project to foster further collaborations related to the SAF modelling capability we are currently developing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Presentation of Supergen SAF project to Green Fuels |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Presented Supergen SAF project to develop further collaborations related to the SAF modelling capability this project is developing. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presentation on work related to bio-based chemicals, at a petrochemicals and climate change conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Dr Sparks gave a presentation on work related to bio-based chemicals, at a petrochemicals and climate change conference whose audience included industry and academic |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Presented at the UK-Canada Next-Gen Talent in Biomass and Bioenergy Insight Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Presented at the UK-Canada Next-Gen Talent in Biomass and Bioenergy Insight Event. The event had around 15 attendees with the majority from wither the UK or Canada. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Press release on new collaboration to help unlock renewable energy and reduce rice straw emissions in India and the Philippines |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | To raise awareness of the work being undertaken by Aston and Supergen Bioenergy Hub, highlighting the key issues with rice straw to policymakers, encouraging people to contact us to collaborate with an interest in the area of rice straw, GHG emissions and international development. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.aston.ac.uk/latest-news/aston-university-researchers-help-unlock-renewable-energy-and-re... |
| Description | Prof Thornley provided commissioned independent expert advice to Department for Energy Security & Net Zero |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Prof Thornley provided commissioned expert advice to Department for Energy Security & Net Zero via CB7 expert group convened by DESNZ Chief Scientific Advisor (CSA) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| Description | Provision of independent expert advice to Defra via Trees and Woodlands Scientific Advisory Group (TAW-SAG) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Prof Thornley served on Member of Trees and Woodlands Scientific Advisory Group (TAW-SAG), which is an advisory body commissioned by DEFRA to provide expert advice. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/trees-and-woodlands-scientific-advisory-group |
| Description | Provision of regular, commissioned independent expert advice to Department for Transport |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Prof Thornley served on the DfT Science Advisory Council (SAC), which provides strategic level scientific advice and challenge to DfT. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024,2025 |
| URL | https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/dft-science-advisory-council |
| Description | REA Future Game Changers Award 2024 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Supergen Bioenergy Hub together with the Supergen Offshore Renewable Energy Hub and the Supergen Energy Networks Hub were delighted to support this year's Future Game Changers Award as part of the British Renewable Energy Awards. The Future Game Changers award is specifically designed to find postgraduate students who will be 'Future Game Changers' in the field of renewable energy and technology. Five fantastic postgraduate students were shortlisted to attend the prestigious awards event along with their supervisors courtesy of the REA and their video entries were showcased to the foremost renewable energy leaders in the UK who voted for their favourite idea. Rohit Murali from the University of Surrey, winner of this year's REA Future Game Changers Award 2024. Rohit's research on anaerobic digestion and unlocking the power of microbial synergies was voted the winner. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/rea-future-game-changers-award-winner-2024/ |
| Description | REA House of Commons Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Patricia Thornley was invited to attend the Reception at the House of Commons hosted by the Renewable Energy Association. The event hosted by Bill Esterson MP, Chair of the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee provided an opportunity to network with experts in the field and hear their perspectives on the renewable energy transition, as well as gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of the renewable energy sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | RefreSHARE event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The Supergen SHARE Network for early career researchers got together at the University of Surrey on 19 and 20 March to welcome new members and refresh engagement with the community of ECRs working in bioenergy and related fields. Organised by our new SHARE Committee - Michael Gargaro (University of Surrey), Collette Larkin (University of Edinburgh), Akshay Badge (University of Glasgow), Dan Abudu (Aston University) and Dan Taylor (Aston University) - the event gave ECRs the opportunity to have their say on what they want the network to deliver over the next four years of the Supergen Bioenergy Hub. After an ice-breaker session and introduction to the hub and the network, attendees heard from SHARE Network almuna Carly Whittaker on her career trajectory to date, which has taken her from SHARE leader and jobs in academia to government departments and her current role as Senior Carbon Scientist at Forest Research. In a brainstorming session, SHARE members discussed the opportunities and support they would like the network to deliver, including CV and interview training and bid-writing support. They also discussed how they could best support each other as peers, such as through reciprocal reviewing and discussion forums. Day 1 ended with networking and a poster display competition - won by Prince Okoro from Aston University - followed by a social dinner event in central Guildford. On day 2 attendees were able to visit the university's greenhouses where they heard from Zoe Harris, Senior Lecturer in Environment and Sustainability (and another SHARE alumna), and her team from the Taeda Tech project on their innovative work in aeroponics, growing short rotation coppice willow in a mist environment. This work is crucial for enhancing the UK's biomass stocks to meet the targeted levels by 2050. The team also had exciting news on their breakthroughs growing seeds and other cuttings in this environment, including a miscanthus cutting. Back on campus, participants joined a lab tour led by Bing Guo and team before reconvening for the closing session. These labs are dedicated to pioneering laboratory processes geared towards sustainable extraction and utilisation of methane, bioethanol, and environmental contaminants, aligning closely with the UK's net-zero targets. Feedback on the event from attendees was extremely positive, with many voicing their gratitude for the opportunity to make valuable connections with peers in their field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/forming-connections-and-reinvigorating-the-network-at-refres... |
| Description | Regular engagement with Department for Transport on Clean Maritime |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Regular engagement with Department for Transport, including with DfT Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (PUSS), Chief Scientific Advisor (CSA) and officials on topics around Clean Maritime |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Regular, ongoing engagement with DEFRA Natural Environment Directorate |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | Regular, ongoing engagement with Energy Forestry team in DEFRA's Natural environment Directorate, proving expert advice to complement advice provided by Prof Thornley via DEFRA TAW-SAG |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024,2025 |
| Description | Regular, ongoing engagement with Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Strategy Directorate to inform development of UK Government's biomass sustainability framework |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Regular, ongoing engagement with DESNZ Net Zero Strategy Directorate, to provide access to research insight to inform development of UK Government's biomass sustainability framework |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024,2025 |
| Description | Royal College of Defence study visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We hosted a cohort from the Royal College of Defence Studies Global Strategy Programme on a study visit to EBRI - Energy & Bioproducts Research Institute, Aston University at Aston University. The Global Strategy Programme aims to develop strategic thinkers and leaders within the armed forces and civil service by providing insights and perspectives from around the world. The visitors to EBRI were given insights into the Aston strategy, student recruitment, knowledge exchange and policy engagement. They also heard presentations on specific research groups and topics, with a particular focus on sustainable bioenergy and bioproducts, before taking a tour of the EBRI labs and power plant. We received feedback in the form of a written letter from the Gp Captain C Gibb to send thanks and stated that the 'visit provided a unique insight into your work and indeed the challenges faced by the UK higher education organisations - both factors our strategic studies course is considering in its review of how the UK works, and contribution to challenges now and in the future.' |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Royal Society - BECCS workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Invite only workshop on What is the role of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage in the UK's sustainable future? |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2024/09/beccs-workshop/ |
| Description | SAF on BBC WM |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Patricia Thornley discussed sustainable aviation fuels on BBC Radio WM. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | SHARE forum and site visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The SHARE Network organised an interactive session on the 13 May, followed by a site visit to the Viridor waste management facility in the morning of 14 May. In the afternoon of the 14th, they joined the wider Supergen Bioenergy Hub community for discussions on how to engage with the Hub through its new stakeholder forums, as well as the launch of the challenge funding call. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/share-early-career-researcher-forum-and-site-visit-glasgow-1... |
| Description | SHARE online workshop: Managing your next steps as an early career researcher |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This online workshop organised by the SHARE Network (the Supergen Bioenergy Hub's network for early career researchers) was focused on the next steps an ECR might be considering for their career. Two interactive sessions were held with speakers in industry, academia, and policy on how to tailor your CV for different career paths and get practical advice on finding new opportunities. Followed by a session on how career changes can affect our personal lives and share a toolkit of tips to manage the balance better. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/online-workshop-managing-your-next-steps-as-an-early-career-... |
| Description | SHAREscape Early Career Researcher Event in Leeds |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The two-day event was hosted at the University of Leeds, with the opportunity to take part in a site visit either to the Drax power station in Selby or to the Enfinium waste-to-energy plant in Ferrybridge. Both site visits offered insights into the latest carbon capture innovations. Day 1 - A site visit to the Drax Power Station in Selby or the Enfinium Ferrybridge Plant, a research talk from Dr Daya Pandey from the University of Leeds, followed by a networking dinner. Day 2 - Lab tours at the University of Leeds, a 3-Minute Thesis (3MT) training session, a presentation from Dr Andrew Ross, and networking opportunities with researchers, academics and industry professionals. A great opportunity for early career researchers from across the UK to come together, enhance their knowledge and skills, and network with colleagues from across the renewable energy space. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/sharescape-2025-site-visits-and-impact-forum/ |
| Description | SHAREscape Early Career Researcher event, Leeds |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | This was a 2-day event at the University of Leeds. Involved site visits to Enfinium at Ferrybridge and Drax in Selby. Site visits offered insights into strategies developed in navigating the challenges of energy security, sustainability and decarbonisation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/sharescape-2025-site-visits-and-impact-forum/ |
| Description | Session on policy for sustainable biorefineries, at annual BBNet conference. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Dr Sparks ran a session on policy for sustainable biorefineries, at annual BBNet conference. Audience contained industry and academia |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Severn Trent Water Introduction to EBRI |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Representatives of Supergen were invited to take part in an introductory meeting with Severn Trent Water colleagues visiting the University to find out more about potential areas for collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Showcased the Wolfson Centre - Demonstrator Gasifier to the Royal College of Defence |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I showcased the Wolfson Centre-Demonstrator Gasifier to 20 Royal College of Defence members. This was to highlight the potential application of gasification for hydrogen production within their potential fields of research, business, and interests. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Supergen Bioenergy Hub Policy Forum: LCA for biomass systems |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The event was the meeting of the Policy Forum for UK government representatives. The forum is about connecting policy stakeholders from different government departments together with academics to explore a topic of cross-cutting interest. The focus of this meeting was lifecycle assessment (LCA) for biomass systems and we were delighted to host a very engaged group of representatives from government departments including the Department for Transport, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. We explored topics such as the benefits and limitations of different LCA methodologies; the importance of data availability and transparency; and how LCA can support policymaking, standard setting and regulation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/policy-forum-meets-with-a-focus-on-lifecycle-assessment-lca/ |
| Description | Supergen Bioenergy Hub launch in Bioenergy News |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Supergen Bioenergy Hub launch featured in Bioenergy News. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| URL | https://www.bioenergy-news.com/news/supergen-bioenergy-hub-officially-launched-at-aston-university-u... |
| Description | Supergen presented presented findings of the Supergen Carbon for Chemicals report to Department for Business official |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Supergen presented presented findings of the Supergen Carbon for Chemicals report to Department for Business official |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Sustainable aviation fuel for BBC Morning Live |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | - Puala Blanco-Sanchez showed how we can convert used cooking oil into sustainable aviation fuel for BBC Morning Live http://bbc.in/3TgbIsF (starts at 16:16) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | http://bbc.in/3TgbIsF |
| Description | Sustainable aviation fuels on BBC News The Context |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Patricia Thornley discussed the importance of developing sustainable aviation fuels on BBC News The Context. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Talk at ESCAPE |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Gave a talk at the European Symposium on Computer-Aided Process Engineering (ESCAPE) conference in June 2024 in Florence on scheduling and optimisation of anaerobic digestion. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Talk on energy systems and role of bioenergy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Gave talk on energy systems and role of bioenergy 3 venues to industry, government and academic audience in March 2024 in Manila (90 delegates, mostly from government), Kuala Lumpur (30 delegates, mostly industry) and Kuching (20 delegates, mostly academic). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | The Supergen Bioenergy Hub, Biorefineries and Thermochemical Processing |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | A presentation was made to academics and businesses leading in bioflow processes with a view towards potential collaboration with the hub. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.rsc.org/events/detail/80066/the-continuous-bioflow-network-launch |
| Description | Tree and Forestry Team |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Workshop with DEFRA's Tree and Forestry Team on development of a vision for landscapes and biomass production from trees. 17 January 2024. Audience was stakeholders from industry and across government departments. A report was produced by the conveners highlighting knowledge gaps and areas for future work based on Rob Holland's inputs. These are now being worked through by the policy teams. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Waste to Energy Event with KAUST University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This international workshop included talks and panel discussions led by experts from the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia within the waste-to-energy sector. The gathering was of significant importance as a key element of the UK-KSA Waste2Energy project, supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office under the Gulf Strategy Fund (GSF) program. The initiative is dedicated to exploring and leveraging waste-to-energy opportunities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Patricia Thornley took part in the event, presenting on EBRI's Wide research projects and industrial engagements and Supergen Bioenergy Hub. Rebecca Fothergill attended the networking lunch and made links with key representatives of KAUST. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Webinar on flexible funding call 1: Biomass to bio-based products |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We organised a webinar to inform interested parties about our first flexible funding call with a focus on using sustainable biomass to produce chemicals and materials. The webinar provided the background to the call, the scope and themes to focus on, the assessment criteria and how to get involved. There was also be an opportunity for Q&A in which potential applicants were able to discuss their queries directly with Patricia Thornley the Director of the Supergen Bioenergy Hub. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/webinar-on-flexible-funding-call-1-biomass-to-bio-based-prod... |
| Description | Working with the Supergen Bioenergy Hub - impact through forums and funding |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The event was organised to bring the wider Supergen community together to gather feedback on our proposed stakeholder forums and to launch our funding call on bio-based chemicals and bioproducts. Patricia Thornley and Catriona Heaton introduced proposals for how the new stakeholder forums - industry, professional, public engagement and policy - will operate, before we heard thoughts from leading industrial and policy representatives. Patricia then outlined the terms for our new funding call to address research and innovation challenges relating to producing chemicals and products from biomass. Participants then organised into topic-focused groups to discuss the challenges and explore collaboration opportunities. Mirjam Röder closed the session by introducing a showcase of images from the Global Bioenergy Stories project (https://lnkd.in/eNhkva3p), which gives young people a platform to voice their visions for sustainable energy in collaboration with local artists and informed by UK bioenergy scientists. We received feedback on our activities and raised awareness of the forthcoming flexible funding call and encouraged applications. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.supergen-bioenergy.net/news/forums-and-funding-meeting-in-glasgow-14-may-2024/ |
| Description | Workshop to enable DBT officials to scope potential discussion with an energy supplier |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Workshop to enable DBT officials to scope potential discussion with an energy supplier |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Workshops with Scottish Government |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | We organised a series of deep dive sessions/ workshops for Scottish Government to support their work on the Scottish Bioenergy action plan. Supergen worked with Scottish government to identify topics where further information was needed, and then organised 7 sessions which brought civil servants together with Supergen experts with the aim of facilitating knowledge exchange. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
| Description | World Biogas Association Expo and Summit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Michael Short gave a talk at the World Biogas Association Expo and Summit at the NEC on Birmingham. He gave a plenary-style talk on 'The Role of AI in the Biogas Industry', generated a lot of interest and resulted in follow-up meetings with industry. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| Description | Youth Day at GBEP Bioenergy Week |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Run Global Bioenergy Story workshop/board game at Youth Day of FAO GBEP Bioenergy Week in Rome, Italy as one of the discovery stations |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.fao.org/in-action/global-bioenergy-partnership/news-and-events/news/news-detail/gbep-yun... |