ATBEST · Advanced Technologies for Biogas Efficiency Sustainability and Transport
FP7 — People (Marie Curie Actions)
- Duration
- 2013-07-01 → 2017-06-30
- EU contribution
- €3,864,394
- Participants
- 9
- Scheme
- MC-ITN
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Advanced Technologies for Biogas Efficiency Sustainability andTransport
Biogas, a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide formed by the degradation of organic material in the absence of oxygen, is a source of renewable energy for electricity generation, heating and transport, which can make a significant contribution to Europe's climate change commitments. However, the production and utilisation of biogas is not yet sustainable, relying on government subsidies to ensure the development of biogas infrastructure is an economically viable investment. The EU Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC) set targets of a 20% share of energy from renewable sources by 2020 (including 10% of transport fuel). Whilst considerable progress has been made towards this, further development is required in other to ensure the 2020 targets are met in their entirety, along with the more challenging targets that will be set in the future. The ATBEST ITN tackled several key research challenges along the biogas supply chain, helping develop new knowledge and technologies which will improve the competitiveness of this energy source with respect to fossil derived fuels and increase the sustainability of the biogas industry in Europe. The ATBEST ITN recruited 14 young researchers to work on research challenges along the biogas supply chain in one of the following areas: Feedstock sustainability and digestion; Process monitoring; Biogas upgrading and supply or Optimum biogas utilisation. Each ATBEST fellow carried out industrially relevant research, helping to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the relevant research area and remove bottlenecks along the supply chain. Additionally, fellows participated in industrially relevant training which aimed to develop the young people into leaders of tomorrow in either the biogas industry or in academia. Eleven fellows received training to a doctoral standard. The outputs of the projects were disseminated across Europe to policy makers, industry, academia and to the general public through the project website, participation in conferences, peer reviewed journal articles and contributions carried by the broadcast and written media. For more details of the project, please visit the project website via go.qub.ac.uk/atbest or contact the project manager using atbest@qub.ac.uk
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The ATBEST ITN will develop innovative research and training for the biogas industry in Europe. It comprises eight training sites located in the UK, Ireland, Germany and Sweden and is a multidisciplinary collaboration between internationally-renowned research teams and industrial partners, each with complementary expertise in a wide range of environmental technologies. 12 ESRs and 2 ERs will be recruited and each will participate in secondments, industrially relevant training and 3 Summer Schools. The aim is to establish long-term collaborations and develop structured research and training relevant to industry and academia along the biogas supply chain (biogas production from feedstock to its utilisation as energy). The project will reinforce and expand existing research links to standardise and advance biogas training.The Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC) sets EU targets of a 20% share of energy from renewable sources in the overall energy mix by 2020. However, current technologies are not sufficient to reach these targets in a sustainable manner. ATBEST will develop new and innovative technologies for the biogas sector, to enable Europe to implement its Energy 2020 strategy and to address the challenges of increasing energy demand and energy generation costs. The young researchers will create new knowledge for the biogas industry, and will develop advanced technical and commercial skills to enhance their employment opportunities upon completion of the programme. ATBEST outputs will be disseminated across Europe – to policy makers, applicable sectors (including energy, agri-food and transport), academia and to the general public. An Innovation, Exploitation and Employability Steering Group will input industrial and policy expertise from the Associate Partners to the training programme. The Associate Partners will also provide feedback to each fellow and provide additional industrial secondment opportunities.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- THE QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY OF BELFAST · BELFASTCoordinatorUnited Kingdom
- BIOKRAFT INTERNATIONAL AB · STOCKHOLMSweden
- ERVIA · CorkIreland
- GAS NETWORKS IRELAND · CorkIreland
- LINKOPINGS UNIVERSITET · LinkopingSweden
- TEAGASC - AGRICULTURE AND FOOD DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY · CarlowIreland
- TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE KOLN · KolnGermany
- UNIVERSITAET DUISBURG-ESSEN · EssenGermany
- UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK - NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, CORK · CorkIreland
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union