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Study to assess potential for bioenergy in Northern Ireland |
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Written by Bill Bradshaw
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Monday, 03 March 2008 |
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AEA Technology has won a contract to carry out an assessment of the potential for bioenergy development in Northern Ireland. The work, commissioned by Northern Ireland's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment on behalf of the Bioenergy Inter-Departmental group, is scheduled to be completed by mid-March. It will inform the development of a cross departmental bioenergy strategy later in 2008 on how the region can sustainably increase the production and use of bioenergy.
Whilst Northern Ireland is a big exporter of food, thanks to an agricultural based economy, nearly all of its energy is imported. There is a good potential to produce bioenergy using existing by-products from agriculture, livestock farms, food industry, wood industry and forestry.
There is also the possibility to grow crops specifically for energy production. Examples would be Willow Short Rotation Coppice, to provide energy for industrial and commercial use, and oil seed rape or wheat to produce biofuels for transport.
Dr Prab Mistry from AEA, who is heading up the project, commented: “This is an interesting project which will clarify the opportunities for bio-energy in Northern Ireland and could be replicated for other regions. We are excited to be playing a leading role in helping Northern Ireland develop more sustainable and secure energy sources.”
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