New £20 million green technology programme
Aberystwyth University is leading a major new initiative that could boost the green economy in Wales and make a significant contribution to combating climate change.
The world consumes 30 billion barrels of oil each year and can sustain two billion people without oil; some five billion less than today's population. With the prediction that the human population will rise by approximately three billion by 2050, there is concern that there will not be enough resource for use in basic products such as food and fuel.
The BEACON programme will aim to develop new technologies and new ways of making products that are traditionally made from oil. It will establish Wales as a Bio-refining Centre of Excellence, with a total budget of £20 million.
Deputy First Minister for Wales, Ieuan Wyn Jones AM, today announced £10.5 million of funding for the programme from the European Regional Development Fund.
Mr Jones, who is also Minister for the Economy and Transport, made the announcement in Februrary 2010, showcasing world class research at Aberystwyth University, Bangor University and Swansea University that is responding to 21st century global challenges.
BEACON will also build closer links between universities and industry, promote Welsh expertise in scientific research and innovation within Europe and the United States and boost inward investment in these technologies for the benefit of Wales.
The Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth is the lead organisation in the programme in collaboration with Bangor and Swansea universities.
The pioneering research will involve bio-refining – developing sophisticated processes to turn locally grown crops into valuable chemicals and commercial products, ranging from fuels to cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, textiles, food and health products.
Bio-refining means that full use is made of crops, whilst cutting back on emissions of greenhouse gases. IBERS is already carrying out innovative work in producing fuels from energy crops such as high-sugar grasses.
The benefits of bio-refining for Wales include: replacing some of the industrial chemicals produced from oil with similar molecules from plants that could supply potentially lucrative markets within easy reach of Welsh producers; turning crops such as Rye Grass, Miscanthus, Oats and Artichokes into valuable fuels and chemicals would cut back on greenhouse gases, would increase fuel and chemical security whilst adding value to the Welsh economy; chemicals derived from plants have uses in a range of sectors, including transport, food, health, hygiene and the environment; they include new materials called bio-composites and bio-plastics; as well as creating and safeguarding jobs in the West Wales and the Valleys, the pioneering work will help develop science in Wales.
A recent study led by the Chemistry Innovation Knowledge Transfer Network reports that Wales has access to feedstock suitable for biorefining without disruption of land use patterns, as well as a strong science and technology base. The report concludes that by developing these strengths, Wales could achieve a leading position in the use of renewable bio-based materials, an activity that "would contribute considerably to building a low-carbon economy in Wales as well as reversing the decline in rural communities and diversifying their commercial opportunities".
A key to success in building Wales' world-leadership in biorefining capacity is the development of overseas collaborators and technical 'intelligence', to complement and accelerate the BEACON initiative.
The US consumes 40% of the world's oil resource and US researchers are keen to explore alternatives to the resource. BEACON will build on and extend contacts made with a number of leading R&D centres in the US who are conducting similar activities to those planned through BEACON. The aim is to create a strong network between Welsh scientists and leading US and other international bioenergy and bioproduct experts.
It is also expected that international institutions will provide co-sponsorship and support for their scientists to visit BEACON partners.
“We are delighted to be leading this partnership project that has the potential to provide immense benefits for the whole of Wales and the world,” said the Vice-Chancellor of Aberystwyth University, Professor Noel Lloyd. “By pooling the knowledge and using the joint expertise of our three universities, we can develop centres of excellence across Wales to respond to a major global challenge.”
“IBERS has always been a world leader in the development of new sustainability opportunities,” said the Director of IBERS, Professor Wayne Powell. “The BEACON programme is based on the concept of bio-refining, using the most advanced academic research to provide practical solutions to global problems.”
Bangor University will build on work to develop new materials from plants which can be used to develop innovative products, having recently discovered that compounds found in some local plants can be used to control problems like potato blight.
Professor David Shepherd, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at Bangor University said: “Bangor has a long and successful track record of cooperative research with companies to find alternative uses for plant based materials which can be grown locally.”
“We welcome the opportunity to extend this work as part of this new venture which will promote the opportunities offered to Welsh businesses by adopting and exploiting low carbon technologies. Our work with local company Phytovation is just one example of our work in this area across a broad range of industries.”
Swansea's BEACON lead, Professor Steve Kelly, Professor of Microbial Genetics and Molecular Biology, from Swansea's University's College of Medicine said: "The Institute of Life Science at Swansea University has an international reputation in microbial and molecular technologies using yeast, other fungi and bacteria".
Swansea's co-lead for BEACON, Dr Diane Kelly, Reader in Microbial Genetics and Molecular Biology said: "In addition products produced by the biorefining process using microbes for health and pharmaceutical purposes will also be the focus of Swansea's role in BEACON. This will exploit the natural ability of microbes to produce enzymes and products identified as important for therapies.
Deputy First Minister for Wales, Ieun Wyn Jones AM said, “Stimulating innovation through R&D is at the heart of the Welsh Assembly Goverment's Economic Renewal programme, driving forward productivity, economic growth and increasing prosperity across the region.”
Case study 1:
Aber Instruments is one company taking part in a research collaboration on bio-fuels with Aberystwyth University.
The company, which sells Biomass Monitors worldwide, has been able to identify new applications and new markets, including those in the pharmaceutical and brewing industries.
John Carvell at Aber Instruments said: “Our technology enables these industries to monitor live micro-organisms in the fermentation broths in the brewing process and in the production of pharmaceuticals such as antibiotics.”
“ As a result, our customers can better control the production of the desired end product. In an environment that is highly competitive it is critical for us as a business to capture and develop new opportunities that give us a technical lead.”
Case study 2:
Bangor University has been working with Phytovation – a Caernarfon based company - to develop new technologies to produce pharmaceuticals from plant sources.
This collaboration has enabled the company to progress new products such as Senna powder for use in making high quality laxatives, based on plants that could eventually be grown in the North Wales region.
As a result, Phytovation has also achieved Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification from the Medicines & Healthcare Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which will make them more attractive as a manufacturer and increase their chances of winning new business overseas.
Andy Beggin of Phytovation said: “Our partnership with the University is highly valued and we hope that this funding will act as a springboard for companies such as ourselves to increase our business and boost the Welsh economy. We very much look forward to working with the university in the future for our mutual benefit.”