Biofuels Seminar Joint Event with EnviroInnovate at the Birmingham City University Technology Innovation Centre 5th November 2008

1. Introduction to Biofuels
5th November 2008
Dr Mike Ahearne
Senior Technology Transfer
Consultant
Birmingham City University
Technology Innovation Centre

2. Birmingham City University
Biofuels for Transport and CHP
• Birmingham City University and Technology Innovation Centre
• Biofuels
• Market Drivers
• BCU Environmental Programmes
• R&D on biofuels for CHP
• Centre of Excellence for Heavy Diesel Emissions Engineering
• Discussion points
• Opportunities for Collaboration

3. Birmingham City University
Technology Innovation Centre
• a company limited by guarantee.
• a subsidiary of Birmingham City University.
• 1,100 fulltime & 1,100 part time students on
undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, professional
qualifications and short courses.
• 297 employees.
• c£16m turnover, c£5m from commercial activity.

5. Key Drivers for
Low and Zero Carbon Solutions
• Climate change (greenhouse gases)
• Energy supply
– Increasing demand for energy
– Economics - price increases
– Security of supply
• Corporate social responsibility and individual concern
• Legislation
– Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO)
– Power Generation – Renewable Obligations Certificates (ROCs)
– Renewable Energy in New Developments - Merton Rule

6. Benefits of biofuels
• Climate Change: „lifecycle‟ emissions of CO2 reduced
• Fuel Security Improved
• Potential to Combat Rising Fuel Prices
• Land Use & Rural Economy – opportunities for new growth business
growing crops for biomass
• New business opportunities – supply chain from crop to production
and distribution of biofuels
• New technology: Research & Development opportunities

7. The impact of transport on
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
• Transport energy demand is projected to double by 2050
• Transport accounts for over 21% of CO2 emissions in UK
• A number of technologies can help reduce the impact of
transport:
– Improved vehicle efficiency
– Biofuels
– Demand reduction

8. UK Government Policy and
Legislation Drivers
Transport >21% of UK carbon
emissions
History of policy and targets
• Transport fuel duty rebate of 20p/litre for biofuels
introduced in 2002
• Target set for 2% biofuel usage by 2005
• Target of 5.75% by 2010
But it was not working! (compare with success in Germany)
• Rebate too low to encourage more than manufacture of
biodiesel from waste oil and imports of bioethanol
• Rebate only guaranteed for 3 years, not long enough for
serious investment decisions
• Sales have been through the independent sector

9. Policy and
Legislation Drivers
The Stern Report – 30th October 2006
• The scientific evidence is now overwhelming: climate change presents very
serious global risks, and it demands an urgent global response.
UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – February 2007
• Consensus of 2,500 scientists from 113 countries that global warming is
real and is caused by human activity
The King Review - October 2007
• Set up by Chancellor of the Exchequer in Budget 2007
• Challenge across all sectors to reduce total emissions by 25% by 2050
• Requires road transport to make urgent and substantial progress including
the deployment of biofuels
The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Becomes Law – April 2008
The Galagher Review – July 2008
Department for Transport Consultation On the RTFO – October 2008

11. Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO)
• Introduction in April 2008 along with extension of the fuel duty
derogation
• Targets will ramp up to 5% in 2010/11
– 2.5% 2008/09
– 3.75% 2009/10
– 5% 2010/11
• 20p/litre fuel duty derogation continues
• 15p/litre penalty for non compliance from April 2008
• Sustainability targets (30% of feedstocks to meet
environmental sustainability standards in 2008-9)
– Lack of established standards currently available
• Compliance through Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates
(RTFCs)

12. UK Government Policy and
Legislation Drivers
The Galagher Review – July 2008
• biofuels can contribute greenhouse gas savings from transport, but only where
significant emissions from landuse change are avoided and appropriate
production technologies are employed;
• demand for food, animal feed and bioenergy is rising and creating additional
pressure on land and contributing to some extent to rising food prices. Current
policies do not ensure that additional production moves to suitable areas;
• there is a risk that current biofuel policies will lead to a net increase in
greenhouse gas emissions and impact upon biodiversity as a result of the
displacement of existing agricultural production;
• the introduction of biofuels in both the UK and EU should be slowed until
adequate controls to address displacement effects are implemented and
demonstrated to be effective; and
• in the UK, the rate of increase in the UK’s RTFO should be slowed to 0.5
per cent per annum so that the RTFO reaches 5 per cent in 2013/14 rather
than 2010/11 as currently planned.

13. UK Government Policy and
Legislation Drivers
Department for Transport Consultation On the RTFO
15th October 2008
Option 1: leave obligation levels untouched
Option 2: Freeze the obligation at 2.5%
Option 3: Implement the Gallagher recommendation

14. Renewables Obligation for Electricity (ROCs)
10% of UK electricity from renewable energy sources by 2010
• Compliance demonstrated by tradable certificates known as
Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs)
• ROC trading is stimulating the market for renewable power
generation
• ROCs for renewable CHP to double in 2009

15. CHP plays a key role in
achieving Government targets
• Government target is 10,000
MWe by 2010
• Over 20% of Kyoto Carbon
target
• Where applicable, CHP is the
single biggest measure for
reducing buildings related
CO2emissions
• CHP using biofuels qualifies
for ROCs – set to double in
value in 2009

16. What does all this mean for the
Supply Chain
• The EU is committed to reducing the environmental impact of
transport fuels and fuels for power generation
• The RTFO was introduced in the UK in 2008
• ROCs for CHP to double in 2009
• The legislation creates a large biofuels market
• The market provides challenges and opportunities in the West
Midlands for the rural communities and for industrial supply
chain:
– New crops
– Opportunities for local production
– New fuel standards for different blends will be needed
– Refuelling and storage technologies will need to cope with a greater
variety of fuels
– Engines and components will need further development

17. Legislation Creates a c£3 Billion Market
The RTFO will drive demand for biofuels for transport.
To meet UK government targets for biofuels by 2010
• Biodiesel sales c£1000 million
• Bioethanol sales c£1000 million
ROCs for Power Generation creates demand for renewable fuels
• Biofuels for heat and power c£1000 million

18. BCU Environmental Programmes
EnviroINNOVATE – March 2009
First Programme Completed in March 2006, won EU Regiostars Award
Led to Carbon Trust Funded Research Programme – Completed September 2007
R&D on the use of biofuels blends for combined heat and power (CHP)
In partnership with three commercial companies.
Developed BCU Expertise in:
• Biofuels production
• Engine performance testing with biofuels blends
• Power generation and ROCs
The Environmental Business Opportunities Programme (EBOP) – Completed July 2008
Created Biofuels Special Interest Group
Biofuels for Transport, Heating and Power
• Business/markets
• Vehicle emission testing – Worcestershire County Council
• R&D on Biofuel blends for building and process heating
• Support to SMEs for overseas visits to biofuel production plants
• Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO)
• Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs)
• Presentations at seminars and conferences
• Biomass testing, using the environmental lab
• Seminars (4 per year) – Established a UK wide reputation for knowledge transfer
• Member of the House Of Commons All Party Renewable Transport Group
• Member of the Oxford University Environmental KTN, Technical Advisory Group

19. Carbon Trust Funded Research
on Biofuel CHP
R&D on the use of biofuels for combined heat and power
(CHP)
Biofuel produced from used cooking oil
In partnership with three commercial companies
Developed BCU expertise in:
• Biofuels production
• Engine performance testing with biofuels
• Power generation and ROCs

20. Performance Tests
Fuel spray visualisation is able to
provide information about droplet
formation and penetration
characteristics that are important
for combustion performance
Fuel Sprays at 4500 FPS
Fuel Sprays at 9000 FPS

21. CO2 Audit
Projected collection of used Waste Vegetable UK Oil Supply Projections
cooking oil within the UK (to (tonnes/year)
2020) 200,000
180,000
160,000
140,000
120,000
UK Waste Vegetable Oil - CO2 Savings
100,000
(tonnes/year)
80,000
60,000
450,000
40,000
20,000
400,000 100 % Transport 0
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025
100 % CHP
350,000
80% Transport 20 %
300,000
CHP
Estimated CO2 savings from
50 % - 50%
250,000
piston engine utilisation of UCO
20% Transport 80%
(static CHP and transportation)
CHP
200,000
150,000
2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 2025

22. Dissemination
“Small Scale Combined Heat and
Power Generation(CHP) using
Locally Collected Waste Vegetable
Oil in Compression Ignition
Engines”,
Proceedings Bioenergy 2007 3rd
International Bioenergy
Conference and Exhibition,
3rd-6th September 2007,
Jyväskylä, Finland .

23. Biofuels Special Interest Group
Biofuels for Transport, Heating and Power
• Business/markets
• Environment Agency requirements (IPPC)
• By-products/waste management e.g. glycerol issues
• Vehicle emission testing – Worcestershire County Council
• R&D on Biofuel blends for building and process heating
• Support for overseas visits to biofuel production plants
• Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO)
• Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs)
• Biomass testing, using the environmental lab
Knowledge Transfer and Reputation
• Seminars (3 per year)
• Networking
• Knowledge Transfer partnerships (KTPs) – Armstrong Integrated Systems
• Bids – IEC SME
• Member of the House Of Commons All Party Renewable Transport Group
• Member of the Oxford University Environmental KTN, Technical Advisory Group

24. Biofuels Special Interest Group Participants
Larger Organisations
• Birmingham City Council
• Worcestershire County Council
• Staffordshire County Council
• Wardell Armstrong
• Balfour Beatty Power Networks
• Grace Davidson
• Harper Adams University College
• Aston University
• Advantage West Midlands/Staffordshire University
• Nu-way Ltd
• Riello Burners Ltd
• CLA West Midlands
SMEs
• ASR Electrical
• Associated Biodiesel
• BHR Group
• Black Country Housing
• Ecotec Resources
• Frome Valley Biofuels
• GB Waste Care
• Green Biodiesel
• Greener Fuels
• Harvest Biofuels
• Longma Biofuels
• Marches Energy Agency
• Sunrise Biodiesel
• Rix Biodiesel
• Ledbury Tanks

25. Opportunities for Collaborative
Projects
A new research facility for heavy
diesel powertrain development and
emissions analysis has been
installed and is commissioned.
The facility is available for
collaborative projects on biofuels for
power and transport

26. Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE)
Strategy on Biofuels for European Regions
• c3.0 Million Euro Bid
• 12 European Partners
• Bid led by the Province of Reggio Emilia, Italy
• BCU is a major partner and work-stream leader
• Project Goal
– To develop an integrated and coherent approach and to
disseminate best practices, experience and knowledge from
projects utilising, biogas. bio-ethanol and biodiesel throughout
the European Union

27. European Bioenergy Research Institute
(EBRI)
• Launched at Aston University at a Conference on 30th
June and 1st July 2008
• Establishes a network of potential partners covering all
aspects of bioenergy
• Relationships can be short or long term depending on
specific projects
• Network is open to all willing to participate in funded
research or seeking cooperation
• Birmingham City University is participating in EBRI and
developing proposals for R&D on 2nd Generation
Biofuels for CHP

28. Some Interesting Points
for Discussion
• Environmental Impact of growing crops for biofuel production
• World trading impact on local production
• Food vs fuel issue
• Need to develop new standards for higher blends
• Vehicle warranties
• Emissions legislation

29. Not all biofuels have the same
carbon reduction credentials
• Life cycle analysis will take
account of negative
environmental impacts
when evaluating RTFCs

30. CO2 Balance of Biofuels
Source – Reinhardt 5th European Motor Fuels Forum, Newcastle, Sept 2006

31. ‘Splash and Dash’
(B99 Scam)
• US government offers subsidy for each gallon of B99
• Companies are setting up in the US and importing and
blending biofuel to B99
• US B99 is undercutting EU companies
• Result: EU companies are cutting production or getting out of
the market

32. Food vs Fuel
• EU Commission model shows that world biofuel production currently has a
small effect on food prices
• Media is turning popular opinion against biofuels
• Other vested interests are supporting the food vs fuel issue
• Gallagher review has suggested a slowing down of the implementation of
biofuels blends
• Government has initiated a consultation on the future of biofuels targets for
the UK
• Need for independent scientific evaluation of the true scale of biofuel
impact on food prices

33. Biodiesel Standards
• B5 (5% biodiesel)
– EN 590/10
– Blend component EN 14214
• B10…B99
– No standards
• B100 public Filling Stations
– EN 14214/10
– Plus additional requirements:
• Oxidation stabiliser
• Limited fatty acid profile
• Registered trace back to suppliers
• B100 Own (fleet) filling stations
– EN 14214/10

34. Biodiesel Requirements for
Warranties
• B5 - OK
• B10 – needs co-operation of all parties
– Approval of the fuel injection equipment manufacturers
– New specification within CEN for B10
– Refuelling technology specifications e.g. rubber
components
• B100
– Current non compliance with diesel particulate filters
– Review of existing B100 specification
– Refuelling technology specifications e.g. rubber
components

35. Biodiesel
Fulfilment of emission requirements
• B5 (component in fossil diesel: EN 590)
– Yes
• B10 – B30
– Euro III and Euro V ?
• B100
– Cars: Euro V not possible without after treatment system
– HGVs Yes

36. Bio-ethanol: Issues
• E10
– Automotive industry is open for 10% blending provided that all petrol
(gasoline) in EU is blended to 5%
– Needs co-operation of all parties e.g. New specification within CEN for
E10
• E85
– The industry is not prepared to introduce a new distribution system in
Europe for a relatively small market
– The use of higher percentage blends such as E85 in combination with
flexi-fuel cars are being rejected by most manufacturers due to the
relatively small amount of ethanol in use

37. Discussion Points
• Land Use & Rural Economy – opportunities for new growth business
growing crops for biomass
• New business opportunities – supply chain from crop to production
and distribution of biofuels
• New technology: Research & Development opportunities
• Need to develop new standards for higher blends
• Need to conduct R&D on effect of existing biofuels blends and new
second generation fuels and blends on engines and their emissions
• R&D on ancillary equipment e.g. refuelling technology

38. Opportunities for collaborative
R&D on biofuels for CHP and
Transport
Birmingham City University‟s new
faculty of Technology Innovation
and Development has the facilities
and expertise to undertake R&D
on biofuels for power and
transport.
The university welcomes
opportunities for collaborative
research and is currently working
with European partners on bids for
funding of R&D biofuel projects.