22.5 mio to a strategic centre for bioenergy - 08.01.2009

The Danish Council for Strategic Research has awarded 22.5 mio DKK to a strategic centre for the development and implementation of biotechnology for bioenergy (Bio4Bio).

 

The centre, which will run from May 2009 to April 2013, will be coordinated by professor Claus Felby, Forest & Landscape Denmark. Partners in the project are University of Copenhagen, Aarhus University, Aalborg University, CBMI, DLF Trifolium, Novozymes, Inbicon A/S and Terranol A/S.

 

Summary from the project description:

The goal and purpose of the proposed Centre is to link and focus Danish research within plant biology, biomass technology, microbiology and processing technology for the advancement of biotechnologies for conversion of non-food plant biomass to sustainable energy carriers.

 

Lignocellulosic plant biomass is the largest available resource for production of renewable liquid fuels for substitution of fossil fuels. To realize the potential of plant biomass, it requires an economically viable and genuine sustainable technology with no negative environmental impact which decouples the use of plant biomass for food and energy. These challenges are the key focus for the Bio4Bio strategic research centre.

 

Bio4Bio will coordinate and focus Danish research within plant biology, biomass technology and microbiology for the study and advancement of biotechnologies for optimal conversion of non-food plant biomass to sustainable energy. The approach of the research is to do an integrated technological development of both the biomass feedstock and the microbial proteins needed to break down the biomass as well as the impact of the individual process steps.

 

A central part of the research is the use of a range of state-of-the-art analytical tools in order to identify and pinpoint the structural biomass structures that are critical for the convertability to high density energy carriers. The technical focus will be on 2nd generation bioethanol processing, but the technologies may also be applied for conversion of biomass to biogas or chemicals. The results from the centre will provide new technologies for more efficient biomass feedstocks and new enzyme and protein tolls for plant cell wall deconstruction.

 

The research within Bio4Bio is built on a close collaboration between academia and industry, as well as a strong network with leading international research centers and ongoing Danish activities within the area, thus ensuring the optimum impact of the centre research.