Projects Profile
Project Title
Overcoming the barriers of commercializing biomass fast pyrolysis technology with joint efforts between UK and China
Partnership
Dr. Sai Gu from University of Southampton, UK
Prof. Shurong Wang from Zhejiang University, China
Project Aim
This project aims to use fast pyrolysis technology in the development of a commercially viable system for converting widely available biomass into liquid biofuels
Inspiration for the projects
Recent rises in oil prices driven by the increased demand for energy amongst the growing economies , including China, has heightened the focus on the need to explore and develop alternative and sustainable sources of energy.
Fast pyrolysis is a novel technology to convert widely available biomass into liquid biofuels and high value products. Unlike the technology used to create 1st generation biofuels, fast pyrolysis does not consume food crops.
Leading this technology innovation globally, the UK researchers have successfully developed lab-scale systems with product yield over 60%, the highest rate in comparison to other biomass thermal conversion technologies. The bio-oil product has been successfully used for industrial heating and power generation, with a great potential as transportation fuels through upgrading and refinery.
With abundant supply of under-used biomass and much reduced operation costs, China has unique advantages to implement this new technology while the major energy and power producers in China has been actively pursuing the commercial exploitation.
Innovation Elements
The innovative part of the project will be the completed design of a fast pyrolysis system ready for scale-up installation, which will deliver yields in excess of all other existing biomass thermal conversion technologies.
Commercial Potential and Further Development
It is expected that companies such as CNOOC will start to build the scale-up plant based on the design and the academics will provide technical support to the commercial project through a UK-China joint venture.
