At the Forefront of Energy Innovation ERA: at the Forefront of Energy Innovation 3 Our Partners

ABOUT US

ERA is an Innovate UK funded programme SOLVING within Midlands Innovation. ERA involves At the forefront of a consortium of six midlands based GLOBAL ENERGY research intensive universities, together with the British Geological Survey, who CHALLENGES energy innovation are harnessing the Midlands’ combined £60m Over research excellence and industry Innovate UK expertise to play a critical role in tackling investment 40 industrial some of the biggest energy challenges partners £120m facing the UK. industrial co-investment

ERA welcomes engagement with research, industry and policy- More than makers across the energy sector. 1,000 7 For more information visit: researchers partners era.ac.uk [email protected] @EnergyRA Find out more at era.ac.uk “We are the last generation that can Fossil fuels are responsible for take steps to avoid 35.6 billion the worst impacts tonnes of climate change. of CO2 emissions Future generations will judge us harshly if Atmospheric CO is now 409ppm A step change in energy we fail to uphold our 2 moral and historical up 40% innovation responsibilities.” from the start of the industrial revolution Ban Ki-Moon The great challenge of the 21st century is how to address the issue of climate change. Experts agree that a temperature increase of just Former Secretary-General, 2 degrees Celsius would be disastrous for the world, resulting in United Nations 30 million acres of forests are lost flooding of low lying land, crop failures and human migration on a scale never witnessed before. each year, resulting in The global need to move from a dependency on fossil fuels to 1.5bn tonnes renewables has never been more acute. The need for clean, affordable and secure energy, coupled with the applied skills to be of CO2 able to deliver innovation, is a national priority, and the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) being released to the has been established to help to deliver a step change in energy innovation in the UK. ERA draws on the vast expertise of the Midlands Innovation universities of Aston, atmosphere Birmingham, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham, Warwick, plus the British Geological Survey. Drawing on unrivalled facilities and many world-class energy academics, ERA is focused on finding solutions to the most pressing energy challenges through research, the development of demonstrators and by training the next generation of energy researchers.

ERA is also very closely aligned to the Midlands Engine agenda, helping to create new jobs SOLVING and provide a platform for productivity in the region and the wider UK. We are working closely with businesses, from SMEs to large corporates, to ensure that the solutions GLOBAL ENERGY developed are practical and can be applied to real-world situations. CHALLENGES Working together, we are driving innovation to meet the objectives of decarbonisation, The purpose of the Energy security of supply and affordability. Research Accelerator (ERA) is to work with UK government, industry and the higher education sector to undertake Gordon Waddington innovative research, develop Chief Executive, Energy Research Accelerator the next generation of energy leaders, and demonstrate low carbon technologies that help shape the future of the UK’s energy landscape.

2 ERA: at the forefront of energy innovation ERA: at the forefront of energy innovation 3 Our partners

The Energy Research Accelerator £60m Over Tackling some of Innovate UK draws on the expertise and the biggest energy investment 40 world-class facilities of many of industrial challenges facing the the Midlands Innovation group of universities – Aston, Birmingham, partners £120m UK, and supporting the industrial Leicester, Loughborough, co-investment Midlands Engine. Nottingham and Warwick, plus the British Geological Survey.

MIDLANDS INNOVATION UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

Midlands Innovation is a world-class university The University of Leicester has a varied energy research research and innovation partnership, pooling the program coupled to extensive industrial collaborations collective excellence of universities in the Midlands to that are leading the way in the search for alternative power growth across the region. It includes all of the energy sources and greater energy efficiency. Innovative universities in the ERA partnership, which are listed energy research at the University includes new battery below, and has also recently been supplemented by the technologies, energy storage, smart-grids, HV transmission addition of the universities of Cranfield and Keele. and geo-energy. Novel work on compact thermoelectric nuclear sources is also being developed at the university. More than ASTON UNIVERSITY LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY 1,000 ERA works with the European Bioenergy Research Loughborough’s energy research priorities include 7 Institute (EBRI) at Aston University. EBRI delivers energy generation, energy storage and energy demand. researchers partners world-class bioenergy and energy systems research. It It is also the home of CREST (Centre for Renewable acts as a focus for international activities on scientific Energy Systems Technology) and has overseen the and technological aspects of biomass conversion and research and development of the most progressive utilisation of products for renewable power, heat, renewable energy technologies, collaborating with transport fuels, hydrogen and chemicals. industry and international academic networks.

UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

The Birmingham Energy Institute at the University The University of Nottingham is home to the Energy The University of Warwick has expertise in a range of The British Geological Survey is a world-leading of Birmingham has over 140 academics engaged in Technologies Research Institute. Its research expertise energy research areas including electrical power, energy geoscience centre. It focuses on public-good science energy-related research and development. It is driving spans a broad range of technologies encompassing management, storage, low carbon transport and thermal for government, and research to understand earth and technology innovation and developing the thinking bioenergy, fossil energy, energy storage, advanced energy. The Energy Innovation Centre at WMG is a national environmental processes. It is the UK’s premier provider required to solve the challenges facing the UK, as materials, the built environment, smart grids and the facility for battery research across the R&D process from of objective and authoritative geoscientific data, it seeks to develop sustainable energy solutions in impact of human behaviour on energy use. materials and electrochemistry through to application information and knowledge, to help society to use its transport, electricity and heat supply. integration and recycling or re-use. The facilities support natural resources responsibly, manage environmental the testing, development and scale-up of new battery change and be resilient to environmental hazards. chemistries from initial concept through to full-scale products.

4 ERA: at the forefront of energy innovation ERA: at the forefront of energy innovation 5 Electricity from renewable Do you know that electric sources now accounts for vehicles can potentially Our innovation around one quarter of all return power to the grid at challenges UK electricity generation times of peak demand?

ERA’s work focuses on addressing the most pressing global energy challenges. Our four innovation themes are aimed at finding new ways to address the issue of climate change through the development of renewable energy solutions and the reduction of carbon emissions.

KEY PRIORITIES Energy Generation Energy Storage KEY PRIORITIES Photo-Voltaics Hydrogen energy storage • ERA is progressing the development of new photo- OBJECTIVE • Excess electricity from wind farms can potentially be voltaic materials and components from early stage OBJECTIVE used to produce and then efficiently store hydrogen. laboratory ideas to viable prototype systems to be Locating equipment of this type close to renewable realised in a timely way. To demonstrate a broad range of To develop low carbon, commercially sources offers an attractive mechanism to increase renewable and sustainable energy Bioenergy viable technologies that efficiently the commercial viability of wind power whilst also generation technologies whilst working • ERA supports several demonstration facilities reducing the carbon footprint of domestic heating. associated with the creation of sustainable biomass capture, store and release energy back in conjunction with industry. energy and resources from organic waste. These at the appropriate time. facilities address the practical challenges around Battery storage energy and waste and seek to get innovative • Battery storage facilities are one of the key components of new, smart energy systems, and will The UK is quickly moving away from fossil fuel solutions implemented. Consumers across the country are starting to interact also play a vital role in the move to electric vehicles. technologies and towards a more sustainable energy Wind Generation differently with their energy system. Around a million ERA is investing in state-of-the-art battery testing generation system based on renewable energy • By researching the way wind energy is harnessed and UK homes have solar panels on their roofs, smart facilities at the Energy Innovation Centre at Warwick systems. These cover technologies such as solar, wind, used by the national grid, ERA can uniquely link this meters are being rolled out and other smart devices University to ensure that the Midlands stays at the geothermal, bioenergy, tidal power, and hydroelectricity. energy generation technology with energy distribution are becoming increasingly common. In future, electric forefront of battery storage technologies. ERA can demonstrate real, unique capability in a wide and storage. vehicles will dominate our road networks. By harnessing range of green energy generation areas, through its Thermo Catalytic Reformer TCR® the power of energy storage and smarter business facilities, academic excellence or a combination of both. Thermo-mechanical energy storage • ERA has installed a small-scale Thermo-Catalytic models, the UK has the opportunity to upgrade to one • Heating and cooling dominate society’s use of Reformer at the Tyseley Energy Park in Birmingham. of the most efficient and productive energy systems in energy. Integrating Thermal Energy Storage, both The TCR® is able to convert waste matter the world. into various forms of fuel, and ERA’s aim is to hot and cold, can help create more efficient energy demonstrate how this technology can be scaled up systems. ERA partners are involved in the research, to provide a commercially viable solution. development and demonstration of thermal energy storage technologies and systems. Hydrogen Generation • ERA is pulling together a consortium on a project to support the decarbonisation of the UK gas network. This will be achieved through the development of an innovative low-cost enrichment process which subsequently produces carbon, hydrogen gas and a smaller quantity of methane. Hydrothermal Carbonisation (HTC) • ERA is working closely with industrial partners to demonstrate the commercial use of HTC technologies to use biomaterials to replace fossil fuels in domestic and industrial applications.

6 ERA: at the forefront of energy innovation ERA: at the forefront of energy innovation 7 Energy demand is expected to rise by around 30% globally by 2040

Energy Distribution KEY PRIORITIES Energy Use KEY PRIORITIES Smart Grids Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) • Smart Grids bring together a variety of electrical • CCUS is a key ERA research and development OBJECTIVE energy sources and use methods of production, OBJECTIVE area at the University of Leicester, the University distribution and smart metering to minimise energy of Nottingham and the British Geological Survey. To develop new technologies that will To address challenges that enable demand, share resources and optimise efficiency. It ERA is working to find new ways of detecting and help to reduce UK emissions and lower energy distribution systems to become is essential that new technologies which help store monitoring CO2 in order to better understand how smarter, more flexible and be able to and manage energy are developed and tested such the amount of energy used by industrial leakages might potentially occur in storage sites. realise future technological advances. that they are fit for the future. and domestic customers. Heat Pumps Power electronics • Air source heat pumps extract heat from the outside

• ERA aims to focus on innovative research into air in the same way that a fridge extracts heat from Cities represent 80% of CO emissions, and are a major As we move to a smarter, more flexible energy materials, resilience, converter circuits and systems 2 its inside. The heat they extract from the air or water environmental policy challenge for governments across distribution system, we need to ensure that the through to high voltage solutions for automotive, is constantly being renewed naturally. ERA aims to the world. The UK has a stock of old, poorly insulated opportunities afforded by advancements in technology rail, marine and aerospace use. Research and explore ways in which heat pumps can be deployed homes that significantly increase energy use. This, can be realised. The existing energy system was not development will also concentrate on demand-side more effectively to supply heat for domestic coupled with a strong affinity for existing gas systems designed with new forms of smart technologies in management and energy storage technologies to properties. means that the challenge facing the UK to make mind, and therefore ERA recognises that there are improve the use of domestic generation for the significant inroads into this CO source is great. However, significant challenges that need to be addressed in benefit of both customer and grid operators. 2 energy distribution, ranging from decentralisation of to accelerate the provision of low-cost, low-carbon Community Energy Schemes generation, to the use of intermittent renewable energy, housing, this work needs to be underpinned by research • Community energy schemes aim to provide and the increased electrification of transport. and large-scale demonstrators. low-cost renewable energy to local communities, while also giving the community a greater say in the energy they generate and use. At Nottingham Waterside, Trent Basin, ERA is investing in a ground- breaking community energy demonstration project which will act as a model for future energy use in the UK.

Energy Efficiency in the Built Environment • Energy efficiency in the built environment can make a major contribution to the move towards sustainable energy. ERA partners are looking at a range of new technologies related to mitigating the impacts of climate change, which reduce energy use in the built environment and enhance comfort, productivity and the well-being of building users.

8 ERA: at the forefront of energy innovation ERA: at the forefront of energy innovation 9 ERA IN ACTION Demonstration projects and facilities

One of the key strands of ERA’s work is the development of large scale demonstrators. ERA has a number of demonstrators which are able to prove how innovative ideas and technologies can be applied to solve a diverse range of energy problems. The GeoEnergy Test Bed

The following are just some of the demonstrator OVERVIEW WHAT ERA IS DOING projects that ERA is investing in across the Midlands. Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is Ten boreholes of differing depths have been drilled at vitally important in the battle to address climate Sutton Bonington in Nottinghamshire. The geology of

change. The process captures waste CO2 from sources the site is similar to that of the North Sea, albeit at a such as fossil fuel power plants, and transports it to a much more accessible depth, and it enables researchers Nottingham Waterside, Trent Basin storage site where it is prevented from being released to investigate behaviours of gases and liquids in the into the atmosphere. shallow sub-surface.

OVERVIEW WHAT ERA IS DOING Testing for emissions in carbon sequestration sites is The site has a number of surface and down-hole sensors critical to ensure that harmful gases do not leak from which will be used to create a data archive that can The Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) is supporting The aim of Trent Basin is to deploy a local, integrated storage sites. The GeoEnergy Test Bed (GTB), is an ERA validate future measurements. A range of tests have an innovative community energy initiative which could energy system with solar and ground source thermal funded facility involving the University of Leicester, the been conducted and a full depth rock core has been become a model for providing low-carbon energy energy, together with battery and thermal storage University of Nottingham and the British Geological extracted for analysis. The 10 wells include deep and solutions at residential developments across the UK. in a live housing project. The development, which Survey. It is designed primarily for the development shallow injection wells and can be used to monitor currently comprises 45 homes, is preparing to install and testing of new types of surface and subsurface the motion of gases and fluids in the subsurface after The Trent Basin project demonstrates how the Europe’s largest community battery (2MWh), and solar sensors and geological modelling software. The GTB injection. The site is also intended to be used for remote establishment of a community-focused energy supply photovoltaics that will generate, store and distribute has the infrastructure available to support, research sensing techniques and assessments of gas injection on company that utilises a range of renewable energy energy at a neighbourhood level. The Trent Basin and develop monitoring technologies applicable to geo- biological activity. generation technologies and a battery storage facility scheme has also developed a unique, first of its kind, energy sector industries. can work as a model for future nation-wide schemes, energy company that will enable residents to take The project will not only enable scientists to increase which could provide a significant increase in the amount control of their energy usage and costs. The potential impact of the GTB is wide reaching. their understanding of CCUS techniques, but will allow of renewable energy produced, while also reducing Companies working in the oil and gas industry may innovative new sensing technologies to be developed energy costs for consumers. Homeowners at Trent Basin will be invited to participate be interested in this technology as a new and more and tested in a natural environment. Unmanned Aerial in the project and, by opting in, will make significant effective way of monitoring the impact of fluid injection, Vehicles are equipped with sensors which are able to savings in energy costs through the installation of whether gases or liquid, into rocks. It also provides assess plume movement after a fluid injection, and photovoltaic panels, smart meters and voice-controlled a national test-bed that can be used to conduct using sophisticated 3D modelling techniques, will trace speakers for access to live data on energy created, experiments or enhance the development of sensors back the source of the leak. stored and consumed. An urban solar panel farm and software used for monitoring and modelling. will also be installed on the areas of the site yet to be developed, and as houses are built, panels will be transferred to each home. Subsequent investment will include ground source 16 of the 17 warmest heat pumps which will generate heat for local storage, distribution and use. Clean, green energy for the pumps years on record have will be sourced from the photovoltaic panels and the community battery. occurred since 2001

10 ERA: at the forefront of energy innovation ERA: at the forefront of energy innovation 11 Thermo-Catalytic Reforming (TCR®) at Tyseley Energy Park Thermal energy

of new high performance insulation and building façade OVERVIEW WHAT ERA IS DOING OVERVIEW systems. The university is also establishing a cryogenic engine test facility to support the development of Cold The Tyseley Energy Park in Birmingham draws TCR® technology converts biomass and plastic waste Heating and cooling in buildings and infrastructure Engine Technology. together a range of different energy technologies from households and industry into easily transportable accounts for more than half of our total energy to act as an energy and waste hub for the city of biofuels for use in vehicles, and combined heat and consumption and is set to grow dramatically over Manufacturing Technology Centre Birmingham, showing how innovative low-carbon power applications. Through the process, products of the next 15 years. Energy consumption for cooling The Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) develops energy technologies can be used to support industrial unprecedented quality can be obtained from different is projected to exceed heating within 40 years, yet and proves innovative manufacturing processes and and domestic energy users. raw materials such as straw and grasses, garden waste, 84% of heating and cooling is still generated by the technologies in partnership with industry, academia paper waste, sewage and even nappies. The TCR® burning of fossil fuels. and other institutions. The MTC is working with ERA ERA is funding a Thermo-Catalytic Reforming (TCR®) creates the three products oil, gas or coal. on the ‘Factory in a Box’ concept, which will allow demonstrator at Tyseley which converts bio-waste ERA is working with partners at Aston University, the manufacturers of energy products to have a British to energy in an innovative and effective way. The The TCR® demonstrator is being managed by a team University of Birmingham, the University of Warwick technology solution delivered to their doorstep. The technology, developed by Fraunhofer UMSICHT in from the University of Birmingham, and can process and the Manufacturing Technology Centre, to drive mobile factories will use smart sensors, super-fast Germany, converts waste biomass such as sludge, 80kg of biowaste per hour. the development and integration of a range of thermal broadband and big data to measure and control sewage and solid waste to biofuels. and cryo-energy technologies. These will deliver jobs production processes remotely. The outputs of the TCR® include: and apprenticeships, wealth creation and the next The learning from the ERA funded TCR® at Tyseley generation of scientists and engineers in the energy • H rich Synthesis gas: to use either in gas or dual fuel Highview Liquid Air Energy Storage Facility is also being used as the basis for new, larger scale 2 sector and emerging industries. engines or for H separation and purification for H The UK’s first dedicated research facility for energy demonstrators. The aim is for a full-scale commercial 2 2 fuel cells. storage using cryogenic liquids, opened at the plant to be developed on the site by 2019. This will be • Bio-oil: oil, which can be upgraded and fractionated University of Birmingham in 2015. The technology can capable of processing 500 kg of biomass per hour. It is into a diesel, gasoline and jet A1 equivalent fuel. WHAT ERA IS DOING integrate waste heat or cold from industrial processes to also hoped that the TCR® will help to deliver the Thermal • Biochar: biochar is the solid residue left behind increase the system’s overall efficiency to over 70%. Belt for Birmingham, delivering green hydrogen, green ERA is working collaboratively with Midlands after the process and is ideally used as a solid fuel in This facility, which is also used for ERA funded research, fuel and green power for the city. Innovation universities and other partners, to drive gasifiers, boilers and combustors or in some cases for has the potential to transform future energy systems, the development and integration of a range of thermal soil remediation. reducing the costs of integrating intermittent generation and cryo-energy technologies. These will deliver jobs into the electricity system and ensuring power is and apprenticeships, wealth creation and the next available when it is most needed. generation of scientists and engineers in the energy sector and emerging industries. Thermal Technologies Laboratory The Thermal Technologies Laboratory is being ERA is working to support thermal and cryogenic enhanced by the provision of further test equipment The Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) research and is both investing in and utilising a number and data logging facilities. New in-house manufacturing of facilities. These include: capability is also being provided by the purchase of OVERVIEW WHAT ERA IS DOING Thermal Testbeds micro-TIG welding systems and a laser cutter to allow ERA is supporting Loughborough University to enhance rapid proto-typing of the bespoke heat-exchangers The Energy Innovation Centre (EIC) at the University Research is currently focused on the immediate priority existing thermal characterisation facilities and being developed. New thermal baths will extend the of Warwick is a national facility for battery research of developing cheaper, higher energy density, safer provide testbeds to evaluate thermal storage system ability to test thermal systems that require controlled across the R&D process, from materials and batteries. The Energy Innovation Centre has been performance. Facilities will also support the development heating and cooling. electrochemistry, through to application integration awarded £20m as part of the ERA programme, which and recycling / re-use. These facilities support test, will significantly expand the EIC facilities. ERA research development and scale-up of new battery chemistries will support innovation and growth in the automotive from concept through to full proven traction batteries, sector, by enabling technologies in energy storage produced in sufficient quantities for detailed industrial and energy machines, drives and systems. Particular evaluation in target applications. areas of focus are: new battery chemistries, electro mechanical behaviour, second life applications, super- The aim of ERA’s investment in the EIC is to develop a capacitors and high rate chemistries. new generation of high-performance batteries designed to be more economic and stable, which boast higher Research at the energy innovation facility has energy density levels than those currently available on applications in a wide range of sectors, including: the market. • Automotive industry: passenger cars, motorsport, haulage, public transport • Other sectors: grid/static, portable, wearable technology, aerospace, marine

12 ERA: at the forefront of energy innovation ERA: at the forefront of energy innovation 13 Approximately 30% The Research Acceleration and Demonstration of energy used in the (RAD) building world’s buildings is used inefficiently or OVERVIEW unnecessarily A new Research Acceleration and Demonstration building is being built in Nottingham in order to house a range of new equipment and facilities which researchers and business partners can use to help find new solutions to the energy challenges faced by industry and society. The RAD building will include laboratory space for research ranging from harvesting and storing wind energy, to the development of new materials for hydrogen storage.

The building will provide a purpose-built centre for energy research, incorporating state-of-the-art facilities for research and testing into renewable and sustainable low-carbon energy technologies. This includes the Hydrogen Systems Test Bed development of hydrogen as a clean energy source, • Hydrogen technologies will make a major impact on carbon capture, new innovations for energy storage two important energy challenges: decarbonisation and development of new materials for use in energy of heat, and zero emission vehicles. Hydrogen is applications. a versatile energy source and provides an energy storage solution for grid scale and microgrid applications. This facility will be a flexible test bed WHAT ERA IS DOING for different technologies, including hydrogen components - generation, gas upgrade, storage and Equipment installed in the building’s research labs use. The 1 MWh hydrogen store enables testing of is designed to take novel energy materials and systems up to 100 kW in scale. technologies from the test bench into working devices, ranging from gas storage materials and batteries through to water-splitting surfaces and fuel cells. High Performance Compression and Expansion Lab (HPCX) The RAD building contains the following state-of-the-art • Machines that compress or expand gas are hugely facilities: important in both generation and electricity consumption, focusing on reducing wasted Multidisciplinary Development Lab (MDL) energy in the system and increasing the durability • The MDL is designed to drive scientific discoveries of compressor technologies across a range of and new energy technologies from bench to applications. Energy storage is a primary application demonstrator. The lab is equipped with state- area for the HPCX lab. The HPCX lab will support of-the-art facilities for near-ambient pressure exploration of machine designs with much greater photoelectron spectroscopy, nanoscale imaging, efficiency than their predecessors. One application gas-storage and separation, thermal analysis, fuel instance is a power transmission system for wind cell testing and accelerated gas cycling. The x-ray turbines. photoelectron spectroscopy facility will enable researchers to replicate how atoms and molecules Carbon Capture through Solid Adsorbent Looping interact at pressures close to their normal operating Technology environment to drive scientific discoveries and new • ERA is investing in a pilot-scale facility that will energy technologies. The MDL will allow testing enable up to 50kg of adsorbent to be prepared and and development of low-cost, robust direct solar operated under real flue gas conditions. The facility water-splitting surfaces to harvest sunlight and store comprises a circulating fluidised bed, where flue it as hydrogen fuel for transport and on-demand gas is contacted with adsorbent and a bubbling

electricity generation. bed regenerator to desorb the CO2 in a pure form for compression and storage. The programme will involve international collaboration with Korea and China, where successful projects have already been completed on the scale-up of adsorbents. Images © Lewis and Hickey, Architects. and Hickey, © Lewis Images 14 ERA: at the forefront of energy innovation ERA: at the forefront of energy innovation 15 Hydrothermal Carbonisation (HTC) plant OVERVIEW WHAT ERA IS DOING The ERA Innovate UK The Energy Research Accelerator is working with ERA is working with industry and the University of industry to produce a commercial scale facility capable Nottingham on the development of the HTC plant at of converting biomass into next-generation solid fuels Immingham. project having coal-like properties. The facility, the first of its kind in the UK, will be The technology being used to develop the coal is known operated by CPL, a manufacturer and distributor of as Hydrothermal Carbonisation (HTC). This converts smokeless fuels which already has products on the high-moisture biomass into solid fuels using moderate market containing a proportion of biomass material. The ERA project is funded by Innovate UK. temperatures and high pressures. The HTC process The facility will process waste streams such as organic effectively mimics the long-term natural process of coal waste into fuel products that could be used in both The £60m Innovate UK investment is enabling formation, with the process taking a matter of hours domestic and industrial applications. As the products rather than millennia. are being made with biowaste, they are a carbon neutral the development of state-of-the-art new alternative to solid fossil fuel that will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. facilities and unique demonstration projects Due to open in 2018, the HTC plant has the potential to across the ERA partners, which are all designed revolutionise the treatment of high-moisture organic waste streams, producing value-added products that to benefit research and industry. The initial displace the fossil fuels currently used in industrial applications such as foundries and smelters, and also funding of £60m is being matched by a further in domestic, home-heating applications. If adopted widely, the new products have the potential to £120m of co-investment from the private sector. significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

ERA’s project with Innovate UK is organised around the three key innovation challenges of Geo-energy, Thermal energy and Integrated energy, which support ERA’s key innovation themes of Energy Generation, Energy Storage, Energy Distribution and Energy Use.

European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI)

OVERVIEW WHAT ERA IS DOING

The European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI) at ERA’s work with EBRI includes both investment in new the University of Aston, is a focus for worldwide equipment and also providing support for businesses. activities on scientific and technological aspects of EBRI is helping SMEs to access technical knowledge, biomass production, conversion and utilisation of offering a range of services and testing, designed to products for renewable power, heat, transport fuels, meet the needs of business and industry. hydrogen and chemicals. EBRI is developing technologies for business that are capable of turning organic waste products such as Midlands businesses are also able to benefit from ERA’s sewage sludge, garden and crop waste into heat, power investment in EBRI, receiving specialist support, access and electrical sources. ERA is supporting EBRI’s work by to cutting-edge technologies and benefitting from investing in new facilities that will enable companies to bespoke training through workshops and seminars. work with the centre to explore and develop practical bioenergy solutions. G-ERA (Geo-energy) is focusing T-ERA (Thermal energy) is I-ERA (Integrated energy) focuses on energy security from fossil and supporting research that improves on improved electricity battery ERA’s new investments at EBRI include: biomass power plants. It aims to the efficiency of thermal energy storage technology. Integrating

• X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy machine (XPS) identify potential hazards at CO2 technologies. By developing new energy storage systems is seen • Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) storage sites and enable real time technologies that utilise energy as a critical alternative to the • Bioreactor suite monitoring of operations. vectors for thermal energy, this single issue systems we often have will help create new methods of today. These facilities are being used to research a range of energy storage. purposes from product analysis and characterisation of materials, to biomass and waste processing from anaerobic digestion systems.

16 ERA: at the forefront of energy innovation ERA: at the forefront of energy innovation 17 ERA IN ACTION Developing future leaders

The energy landscape is changing rapidly. New skills are needed to apply technological, commercial and policy advances in the energy industry. There is an increasing demand across industry for experts who have the At the forefront of energy ability to develop and implement innovative new energy technologies. innovation ERA is working to meet this demand by increasing the supply of highly- trained, skilled postgraduates across the spectrum of energy research. ERA wants to create a talent pipeline to secure the UK’s position as a leader in energy research and innovation.

The ERA doctoral training programme

INDUSTRY-LED CHALLENGES

The ERA doctoral training programme is designed to community, both within and across Institutions and provide scholars with a solid grounding in their research Industrial partners. areas during their PhDs. This programme will enable high quality PhD students to address industry-led The programme encourages cross-institutional research challenges. It is designed to broaden their communication through active feedback into the way horizons and empower and support the development the programme develops, as well as the organisation of contacts and links within the broader energy of a number of activities throughout the year. These environment. include themed seminars, conferences and symposiums, industry outreach and collaboration, field trips to other All ERA participants are encouraged to take an active Institutions and demonstration sites as well as industrial role in the development and growth of the ERA student placements.

“ERA is a very important network “Doing a PhD gives you the for the PhD students. Through opportunity to join several projects ERA we have the opportunity to all over the world. Through ERA collaborate and see our projects I am able to meet and exchange “We are in the midst of a grand transition in which from a different point of view, ideas with other PhD students the energy sector is being transformed from a giving new ideas for the possible and expand my personal and solutions of the problems, not professional network with resource based and capital intensive industry to a only from the PhD but also from other alumni, professors and knowledge based and technology intensive one.” the project itself.” professionals.”

Jorge Ordovas, Aston University Anabel Trujillo, University of Birmingham Younghoon David Kim, Chair of the World Energy Council

18 ERA: at the forefront of energy innovation ERA: at the forefront of energy innovation 19