Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy

EEN Intelligent Energy Group Meeting

Belfast, November 2016

Sam McCloskey

Contents

Energy – the global position

Source : International Energy Agency, 2014 World Energy Statistics

The All Ireland position

• Copious renewable energy resources– BUT heavy reliance on imports – 88% RoI (oil & gas) and

100% NI (gas)• Single Electricity Market• RES-E 40% target (NI & ROI)• RES-H 12% ROI, 10% NI• RES-T 10% ROI (nothing specific in NI SEF)• DS3 (Delivering a Secure, Sustainable Electricity System)

Sustainable Energy – Current NI position

• 3 Power stations• 40% target by 2020…..25.4% generated at March 2016 (90.2% from

wind)• Grid constraints (by December 2015):

– 1,570MW connected or in process of connection– Need 1600 – 1800 MW to meet 40% target– Risk to security of supply due to

• Planning delays N/S interconnector• Compliance with EU Emissions Directive – withdrawal of capacity at Ballylumford

(510MW steam) & Kilroot• Moyle Interconnector fault• No allocated innovation spend by system operator (SONI)

• Electricity Market Reform – CfD’s

MATRIX SEHP

• Intelligent Energy Systems

• Assisting in coordinating the transition

• Collaborative Network application

• Seeking EU funding opportunities

An Introduction to CASE

• £10M Centre for industry driven research• Potential £5M funding over 5 years from Invest NI• Additional leveraged funding• Up to 75% funding for collaborative research projects• Will fund research projects only• Aligns renewable energy expertise at QUB / UU /

AFBI with the research needs of participating companies

The QUESTOR Centre

• Founded in 1989• The only Centre outside the US to be part of the National

Science Foundation’s (NSF) Model• Leveraged £40m funding – average £1.5m / year• ATWARM – Marie Curie ETN Water [Complete]• ATBEST – Marie Curie ETN Biogas [Complete June 2016]• REMEDIATE – Marie Curie ETN Contaminated Land

Remediation [Ongoing]

Academic Partners

• Queen’s University Belfast (UK) – Lead Partner• Dublin City University (RoI) – 2005• Stevens Institute of Technology (US) –2006• Dalhousie University (Canada) – Nov 2007• University of Duisburg Essen (Germany) – Nov 2007• The Institute for Water Research (Germany) – Nov 2007• Cranfield University (UK) – May 2008• AFBI (UK) – May 2010• Dalian University of Technology (China) – April 2011• Liaoning Shihua (Petrochemical)University (China) – April 2011

CASE Steering Group

Michael Robinson

Trevor Haslett CBE - Chair

Robert BrennanB9 Organic Energy

Colin SpenceFAST Technologies

Thomas CromieAgri AD

David SurplusB9 Group

John TonerWIS

Roger HendersonNIE

Adam HollandFASTANK

Professor Neil Hewitt,UU

Professors Trevor Whittaker / Peter Robertson, QUB

Chris Johnston, AFBI

Dr Wilson McGarel, Globus 3

Michael McSherry, McLaughlin & Harvey

Mike Jackson,Energy Trading Ireland

Forged links

Forged links

Turbines

• Wind, wave and tidal turbines • Improved design and manufacture:

whole life cycle, carbon footprint; use of composites - new materials, fibres, hybrids

• Resource and site characterisation: modelling & measurement

• Technology breakthroughs: blade technology/manufacture; materials; gear boxes; generator technology

• Smart-grid challenges: Voltage control; Real and Reactive power control • Generation: Device characteristics of emerging distributed generation

(DG) technologies• Storage technologies : Large & small scale

“The maximum demand in the province is around 1,800MW, but on a summer night, it is around only 600MW. If it is a windy summer night and there is 1,500/1,600 MW of wind, it cannot be used because there

is nowhere for the power generated from it to go. (DETI Barriers report, quoting NIE)

• System Integration : Grid infrastructure

Energy Systems & Integration

Energy from Biomass

• Solid biomass to energy via thermal routes: holistic approach from production to end-use ensuring consistent, high quality fuel; technology optimised for biomass resource.

• Anaerobic Digestion: evaluation of wastes, manures and energy crops including grass silage – a potential 200-300MWe; technology optimisation and efficiency improvement.

• Biogas upgrading & energy conversion:developments in upgrading and processing of biogas and the onward use of the biomethane in fuel cells or conversion to liquid biofuels.

Triple T’s

• 1/10th scale testing• Array – tidal turbines• Test tank, sheltered lake, lough• Mix of local SME’s and international partners• QUB - academic lead• Applied Renewables Research – industrial lead• ~£1m funding (over three projects)• WORLD FIRST happening in Northern Ireland!

Pelletisation Project - READ

• Value: £497,109• 36 months (March 2014 – March 2017)• Project Partners:

– Fuel Pod Systems, B9 Organic Energy Ltd, Agri AD, MPS Ltd, QUB, UU, AFBI

• CASE funding: £372,832• Development of pellets from anaerobic digestate

– Gasification / pyrolysis– Slow release fertiliser

Waste Heat Recovery Project

• Value: £487,700• Duration: 24 months• Project Partners:

– B9 Organic Energy, Thermtech, AgriAD, NI Water, QUB

• CASE funding : £365,775• Enhancements to the recovery of waste heat from

mobile and static engines – Organic Rankine Cycle

Dual Fuel Vehicle Modelling

• Value: £349,717• Duration: 24 months• Project Partners:

– AgriAD, Northern Ireland Water, TG Haulage, QUB• CASE funding: £262,288

• Modelling a range of engines and scenario’s to increase engine efficiency and reduce carbon & ghg emissions

Tension Pile Foundations

• Value: £140,000• Duration: 12 months• Project Partners:

– McLaughlin & Harvey, Aquamarine Power, Scotrenewables, QUB

• CASE Funding : £104,000

• Extension of early McL&H research. Detailed data analysis and further testing of scaled version of the prototype.

Fatty Acids Catalysis

• Value: £526,288• Duration: 24 months• Project Partners:

– Oleon [Belgium], MOF Technologies[NI], Caterwaste [NI], QUB

• CASE Funding : £394,716• Creation of fatty acids and fatty hydrocarbons at much

lower temperatures and pressures than traditionally – thereby increasing energy efficiency. Novel production / conversion to biofuels.

SUBB

• Value: £420,254• Duration: 2 Years• Project Partners: Urban Forest, Tree Maintenance,

Hegan Biomass, RSPB, Harp Renewables, Agri AD, Original Heating, AFBI

• CASE Funding : £315,191• Sustainable Utilisation of Underutilised Biomass

Boiler Fuels

Coleraine Microgrid

• Value: £48,736• Duration:6 months• Project Partners: B9 Energy Storage, Drilling &

Pumping Supplies, Energy Trading Ireland, Star Refrigeration, McLaughlin & Harvey, Causeway Coast & Glens Council, Ulster University

• CASE Funding : £36,552• Techno-economic assessment of a proposed district

energy system for Coleraine

Biogas to Biorefinery

• Value: £206,657• Duration: 2 years• Project Partners: Agri AD, Kilmoyle Energy, Bridge &

York Capital Partners, QUB• CASE Funding : £154,993• Life Cycle Assessment and Funding Evaluation Tool

for biogas opportunities in Northern Ireland

Project List

• 45 companies participating

• 14 projects• New call opened 05th

September – closes 14th October 2016

*Completed projects^ Signing collaboration agreements

READ £372,832

DUAL FUEL £262,288

WHR £365,774

TTT2 £115,652*

TENSION PILE FOUNDATIONS

£102,897*

FATTY ACIDS CATALYSIS £394,716

TTT3 £516,237

BIOGAS TO BIOREF £154,993

SUBB £315,191

SENERGY^ £196,747

COLERAINE MICROGRID £36,552

BRILL^ £98,206

WHR CONTROLS^ £225,123

PHOTOCATALYSIS^ £381,740

TOTAL £3,538,948

Headline Opportunities- Early wins : TTT’s

£115K funding has leveraged:•£140K actual contracts•£225K pipeline of potential contracts (near future)•USA Prize $1.2m potential•£429,892 leveraged funding (3successful applications from TTT partners (EU / Wave Energy Scotland))•1 fte for 12 months (PDRA) •Transfer of PDRA to associated partner on TTT3 as FT employee•New successful CASE project application (2 posts for PDRA x 24 mths)•Interest in use of Strangford Lough as test site•2 jobs for individuals associated with Schottel•At least 7 published papers•Business Development / Networking opportunities•Strong global interest in project results through dissemination activity

What are the pitfalls?

• Contractual negotiations get in the way!• Conflicting goals

– Too commercial / too academic ? • Complicated R&D funder rules• Too many managers

– Especially in a large consortium• Managing expectations throughout – level of support,

timescales for delivery, IP…….• Not engaging with all stakeholders

Contact Details

www.case-research.net

Centre for Advanced Sustainable EnergyDavid Keir Building

Stranmillis RoadBelfast, BT9 5AG

Tel: +44(0)28 9097 5577Fax: +44(0)28 9066 1462

s.mccloskey@qub.ac.uk