Miscanthus promises to be the bioenergy crop of the future

In fields around the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at the University of Aberystwyth in Wales they are planting crops of Miscanthus. The plots contain hundreds of different types of Miscanthus, but it is not for its aesthetic appeal that Miscanthus is being grown in Wales, rather its promise as a bioenergy crop. Researchers at IBERS have been undertaking a large-scale study of the plant for the last six years in the hope of providing improved varieties for energy production. Dr Elaine Jensen, has been funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) to study the plants' flowering times. Read more ...

New research facility for bioenergy center at Nottingham University

A UK£25 million (€40 million) research facility at Nottingham University opened its doors on Friday. The new building will be home to one of six Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) sustainable bioenergy center research programs. These programs have been set up to develop sustainable bioenergy fuels from industrial and agricultural waste materials. Professor David Greenaway said: "The research, development and demonstration which will be carried out within this new building has the potential to be transformational and far-reaching on a local, national and international level". Read more ...