Aston joins biomass project

Researchers from Aston University are part of a European-Chinese team that is evaluating the commercial possibilities of cofiring biomass in China’s coal fired power stations. The research team hopes to help cut China’s dependence on fossil fuel and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions.

The €590,000 China EU Bioenergy project is a two year initiative funded by the European Commission.

Those involved in the project believe the potential impact of substituting coal with a CO2 neutral fuel is large. It is estimated that if half of the biomass wastes currently produced in China was utilised in existing power plants it could displace more than 200 million tonnes of coal.

Coal has fuelled China’s emergence as an economic powerhouse and today the country is the world’s largest coal producer and consumer. With over 70 per cent of all energy consumed in China coming from coal, the market is promising for EU companies keen to introduce their cofiring technology to new markets.