Aberystwyth University unveils new research facilities

 

The BEACON biorefining centre at Aberystwyth University’s Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS), has unveiled new research facilities as part of a UK£20 million (US$31.7 million) initiative. The centre is the first of its kind in Wales and houses large-scale equipment capable of taking laboratory research and scaling up to produce commercial products, services and technologies.

The new facilities are already enabling businesses to develop new ways of converting crops such as rye grass, oats and miscanthus (elephant grass) into products including platform chemicals, fuels and cosmetics. Read more ...

ATI awarded advanced technological education grant

The Agricultural Technical Institute was awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation for a program entitled "Bioenergy: A Model Workforce Education Program." The grant of US$762,416 (€584,495), will be used to develop a new associate of science degree and certificate program in bioenergy as well as offering professional development programs for 120 high school and college educators.

The new bioenergy program will be offered beginning in autumn 2012 to coincide with the conversion to semesters. The program will prepare students for employment in operations management or maintenance of bioenergy facilities and related businesses. Read more ...

University of Montana gets Federal grant for logging studies

The Federal government has provided a grant to the University of Montana to conduct logging-use studies in the Pacific Northwest. "The overall goal of the project is to really develop an industry in our region that can use wood to manufacture jet fuel and that part of the challenge in our region is to make higher value products like jet fuel or other chemical type products from what has been low value wood," explained Bureau of Business and Economic Research Forest Industry Research Director Todd Morgan. Read more ...

USC demands refund of $20 million from builders

The University of South Carolina's Columbia campus is demanding repayment of US$20 (€14.691) million from the supplier of a biomass power plant that exploded. The University closed the power plant in March and has demanded a full refund from the builders Wisconsin-based Johnson Controls Inc. The plan was for this power plant to provide 75 percent of the steam for the campus, but the plant only provided 98 days out of 534 days in one two year period. Read more ...

ABO and the University of Minnesota to jointly host show on Algae

The Algal Biomass Organisation (ABO), the leading trade association for the algae industry, is partnering with the University of Minnesota to offer a unique workshop and tour for attendees of the 5th annual Algae Biomass Summit, which will be held October 24 - 27, at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis. "The growing algae industry, and the biofuels and other products that come from it, will play a role in the economic development of Minnesota and the surrounding region," said John Sheehan, Scientific Director for Biofuels and the Global Environment with the University of Minnesota's Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment. "We're excited to show attendees how this region and the University of Minnesota in particular is making a unique contribution to the industry." Read more ...