Japanese engine producer Yanmar has teamed up with researchers at the Clothier Laboratories at the Hebburn research centre in north east England to test out a new generation of biodiesel-fuelled combined heat and power engines (CHPs).
The north east will be the only location in Europe to run the scheme for Yanmar, although the company is also carrying out CHP demonstration projects in Japan, India and Malaysia. These will evaluate the ability of its engine to run on various types of bio-fuels and then develop the engine to a point at which it will be ready for commercial sale.
To date, Yanmar has installed two engines at the Clothier Laboratories and endurance testing begins this month. The company will work with the New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC), Newcastle University and local partners to power, monitor, appraise and develop the engine, which it expects to launch on the UK market within the next three years.
For its part, the One NorthEast’s Rural and Environmental team has invested £200,000 of funding into the project through NaREC.
Nanogenerator consumes CO2 to generate electricity
Whoopee, they've solved how to keep a light on but not a lot else.