Funded through Interreg IVB’s Strategic Initiatives Programme, Energetic Algae (EnAlgae) is a four year project which combines the expertise and resources of 19 partners over 7 countries in order to address sustainable pathways for Algal Bioenergy.
Researchers
Research background
Funded through Interreg IVB's Strategic Initiatives Programme, Energetic Algae (EnAlgae) is a four year project which combines the expertise and resources of 19 partners over seven countries in order to address sustainable pathways for Algal Bioenergy.
EC legislation increases the proportion of energy generated from renewable sources (EC Directive 2009/28/EC) and provides a clear incentive for Europe (particular the North West who account for over 40 per cent of Europe's GHG Emissions) to reduce its current reliance on fossil fuels. By developing sustainable algal biotechnologies as part of an integrated strategy for bioenergy production and GHG mitigation BCU is leading in researching one of the solutions to the low carbon agenda.
Research aims
The funded project with a budget of over €14.5 million has an overall aim to reduce carbon emissions and dependency on unsustainable energy sources in the North West European member states. It will be achieved through accelerating the development and use of algal-based biomass, bioenergy and GHG mitigation and bioremediation technologies from pilot phase to application and out to the market.
Research methods
The 19 partner network designing and delivering EnAlgae will develop and exchange best practices and collate input from policy makers, regulators and other stakeholders and develop a sectoral technology roadmap. Birmingham City University's ICT decision support tool is then to be implemented in order to guide sustainable expansion of the algal bioenergy sector in the North-West European region.
