Thermochemical LC Biomass TWG

The Thermochemical LC Biomass Thematic Working Group (TWG) aims to develop optimal strategies to promote and drive the UK development of sustainable thermochemical processes for producing fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass.

Thermochemical technologies can be used to produce valuable products from a variety of biomass resources including waste materials. These products include liquid transport fuels, methane, electricity and materials or a mixture of two or more of these. This TWG aims to develop optimal strategies to promote and drive the UK development of sustainable thermochemical processes for producing fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass.

Dr. Geraint Evans is the NNFCC Sector Manager responsble for co-ordinating this Group.

If, after reading the terms of reference (below), you are interested in joining the Thermochemical LC Biomass TWG or using any of our other member services, please contact the NNFCC's administration team.

Meetings

The next meeting will be held on the 18th October 2011.

Terms of Reference

1.1  Context

Thermochemical technologies which incorporate gasification or pyrolysis can be used to produce valuable products from a variety of lignocellulosic (LC) biomass resources including waste materials. These products include liquid transport fuels, methane, heat, electricity, chemicals and materials or a mixture of two or more of these.

NNFCC analysis has shown that, for a variety of reasons, the thermochemical upgrading of biomass to biofuels offers one of the most attractive options for producing advanced biofuels in the UK. These reasons include the ability to produce mid distillates including jet fuel and methane, the ability to use wastes as a feedstock and the high GHG saving potential. A key barrier, though, is cost. Although demonstration activities with plans for commercial development are starting across the world, particularly in Europe and North America, there is little integrated activity in the UK. However, interest and activity is growing.

1.2  Mission

This team's aim is to develop optimal strategies to promote and drive the UK development of sustainable thermochemical processes for producing fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass.

1.3  Objectives

• Draw together all the main organisations and individuals involved in or with significant potential expertise in this field in the UK. This will allow opportunities and common synergies to be exploited.
• Promote the benefits of integrated thermochemical biomass to liquids technologies for processing biomass to produce liquid/gaseous energy products in the UK.
• Identify and address barriers to the uptake of thermochemical biomass to liquids technologies.
• Support and drive the development of thermochemical biomass to liquids projects in the UK.
• Guide NNFCC and Government strategies, in particular DECC, Defra, DfT and Regional Governments, in the area of thermochemical biomass to liquids

1.4  Membership

Membership of the Thermochemical LC Biomass TWG is open to all paid up members to the NNFCC. Invitations to the TWG will be posted on the NNFCC website and in newsletters. The invitation will ask those interested to register their intention to attend a meeting to the NNFCC and to download the meeting papers from the website.

In addition, membership will be extended to expert representatives from industry that are currently not NNFCC members but, in the opinion of the TWG, can contribute to the work of the group. Such expert representatives are expected to include senior representatives from UK companies with specific interests in developing biomass to liquids processes in the UK and/or developing aspects of the technologies needed.

The Chairman of the TWG will be elected by the members of the group and will stand for re-election every two years. The Chairman will approve items to be included on the agenda of each meeting.

The Secretariat shall consist of NNFCC staff. These will include:

1. Events team for meeting organisation and meeting administration
2. Technical team led by Dr Geraint Evans, NNFCC Fuels and Energy Sector Manager

1.5  Meeting Arrangements

The TWG will meet three times each calendar year, unless otherwise agreed. Meetings will be held alternately in London and York or may be held at other venues, as arranged, or at the invitation of members of the TWG.

NNFCC will meet the cost of venues and refreshments where they arrange the meeting. The host organisation will meet these costs in other cases. Any sub groups of the TWG will make their own meeting arrangements, if required, to suit the needs of the sub group.

1.6  Reporting and Accountability

At the meetings, or at the direction of the Chairman, it may be decided to set specific tasks for individuals or subgroups to action outside the TWG meetings. The outcomes of these tasks will first be reported to the Chairman, who will either ask for further work or will refer the item for agreement at a full meeting of the TWG.

It is important that Thermochemical LC Biomass TWG meetings and dialogue are conducted in an atmosphere of trust. Therefore, all those taking part should respect that views expressed and data shared within the meetings should be treated as confidential within the TWG and should not be broadcast or used for other purposes outside the group, unless otherwise agreed.

1.7  Decision making

A number of issues will be consulted on by email between meetings in order to ensure that actions are progressed in a timely way. It is inevitable that some members will be more active than others in such processes; also others will not share their views with the whole group but respond only to the coordinator. In order to ensure fairness in decision-making, the Chairman will consider whether an issue needs to be referred for final agreement to a meeting of the TWG. Alternatively, the Chairman will come to a view themselves on the basis of the responses received, and may solicit further responses by direct contact with members of the TWG.