This will enable 24 organizations, including start-ups and small- and medium-sized enterprises, to develop strong project proposals that will deliver commercially viable innovations in biomass production.
The competition is separated into 2 lots: lot 1 - innovation projects; lot 2 - multi-site demonstrator platforms designed to showcase the variety of lot 1 innovation projects in a range of UK locations
Biomass refers to sustainably derived plant material that could be used as fuel to produce energy or to create products such as chemicals and bio-plastics. It is a small but important part of the renewable energy mix that the UK requires to meet its commitment to eradicate its contribution to climate change by 2050 - and is also backed by the UK’s independent Committee on Climate Change.
The recipients are:
Transforming UK offshore marine algae biomass production led by SeaGrown Limited
MISTY: Microalgae Biomass Sustainability led by Green Fuels Research Ltd.
Gold to Green to Gold (3Gs): Whisky by-products to enhance production of microalgal biomass and reduce carbon emissions led by Phycofoods Ltd.
Integrated microalgae biomass production via carbon dioxide sequestration led by SEaB Power Ltd.
MiDas led by Impact Laboratories Limited, trading as Impact Solutions with support from Strathclyde University
Miscanspeed led by Aberystwyth University.
Technological Innovations in Mobile Pelletisation led by White Horse Energy Ltd.
Automated planting, weeding and harvesting of Miscanthus in harsh environments, exploiting complimentary microalgal production for increased revenue options led by Systems, Power and Energy Research Division, University of Glasgow.
Optimizing Miscanthus Establishment through improved mechanisation and data capture to meet net zero targets (OMENZ) led by Terravesta Farms Limited.
HEMP-30: catalyzing a step change in the production and utilization of industrial hemp as a biorefinery crop in the UK led by University of York.
Accelerating Willow Breeding and Deployment (AWBD) led by Rothamsted Research.
Upscaling UK SRC Willow Planting and Harvesting Capacity led by Rickerby Estates Ltd (trading as Willow Energy).
Soilless cultivation for rapid bioenergy feedstock production led by the Centre for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Surrey.
Proving low ground pressure harvesting equipment in the field to extend SRC willow and poplar wood crops harvesting season led by ECCL 2020 Limited.
Marginal land biomass harvesting and extraction using drone assisted technology led by Hennock International Ltd.
Teesdale Moorland Biomass led by Teesdale Environmental Consulting Ltd (TEC Ltd).
Harvesting Agricultural Hedges for Biomass Production led by J George Limited, trading as Hej Harvester.
Integrated whole tree extraction and on site pre-processing of under-yielding forest resources led by Mostex Global Solutions Ltd.
Development of a biodegradable, bio-based tree shelter that improves planting efficiency led by NMC2 Limited with support from the Centre for Sustainable and Circular Technologies at the University of Bath.
Using geospatial data science to identify optimal planting sites for forestry-based biomass production led by Forest Creation Partners (FCP) with support from Forest Research (FR)
Enhanced vegetative propagation combined with new variety introductions to expand energy crop production led by New Energy Farms (NEF).
BIOFIND: the Biomass Feedstock Innovation Demonstration Platform led by UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology.
NIAB multi-site energy crop demonstrator led by NIAB.
PromoBio led by Reheat (Renewable Technologies) Limited.
