Application Form for Co-Investigator and Management Group Roles in the new Supergen Bioenergy Hub

Summary

This document provides background information on the new Supergen Bioenergy Hub to be proposed to the RCUK by 18th January 2018. It provides information on the background to the RCUK Call, the vision for the new Hub, details of the proposed management structure, the consultation process and information on how to apply to be involved either as a co-investigator or a member of the management group for the new Hub.

Those interested in getting involved in the future Hub are welcome to attend any one of our consultation events (registration for which is currently live on ) or to discuss withProf. Patricia Thornley(, 07798 858295).

Background to the RCUKSupergen Bioenergy Call

The Supergen Programme was set up in 2001 to deliver sustained and coordinated research on Sustainable PowER GENeration and supply, focusing on eight key research areas: bioenergy; energy networks; energy storage; fuel cells; hydrogen and other vectors; marine, wave and tidal; solar technology; and wind power.

EPSRC has supported seven Supergen hubs over the last five years (including calls and Centres for Doctoral Training) and the initiative has led to the development of new tools and technologies, such as pre-treatment technologies for emission reduction in bioenergy; greater collaboration between academia, government and industry; the creation of new strategies and innovation programmes, such as in CHP fuel cells; and provided an opportunity for international collaboration.

The Supergen Review 2016 report recommended that the EPSRC needs to broaden the scope of the Supergen Programme across the RCUK Energy Programme spectrum to draw in expertise from the remits of other key research councils (i.e. BBSRC, NERC, ESRC and STFC).

In order to address this, the new Bioenergy Hub will be co-funded by EPSRC and BBSRC to increase the Hub’s potential and gain additionality from combining engineering, technological, biological and biotechnological research outputs. We would also expect the new Bioenergy Hub to consider social and environmental aspects, as well as integrate where appropriate with the other Supergen hubs.

Vision for the Supergen Bioenergy Hub

Bioenergy is a uniquely flexible, dispatchable renewable energy vector and Hub work has shown that there is scope for it to provide up to 45% of UK primary energy demand if we make best use of wastes and residues from crops and forestry. The Hub vision is for UK bioenergy to deliver 15-20% of primary demand across the power generation, heat, liquid fuel and product sectors; which could include 10% of base-load power, 50% of industrial heat and 20% of liquid fuel demands (focusing on aviation, shipping and mobile/heavy-duty plant). This would not only reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions, but also grow UK industry with global export potential and benefits.

In the near term flexible heat and power would be implemented from a diverse fuel mix and UK bioenergy research and the Hub will support this with information on conversion processes, feedstock properties and process conditions to minimize pollutants and improve efficiency and availability by providing the underpinning data addressing materials and feedstock issues via pre-treatment, process control and plant design. Bioenergy will be integrated within the circular economy considering remediation, eco-system impacts, material recovery, products, upgrading and food integration via international partnerships.

In the medium term fungible hydrocarbons will be required from biomass to liquid technologies. Realizing this requires research on promising catalytic approaches and novel pre-treatment technologies to increase fermentation and anaerobic digestion yields to improve performance and efficiency. Supply chain efficiency can also be improved by boosting biomass yields e.g. with climate resilient forestry and research on modified plant metabolisms to deliver higher energy densities.

In the longer term gaseous vectors (from gasification and AD) will be more important and the Hub will link with other groups so bioenergy research supports decarbonisation of the gas grid. This benefits energy security and resilience as well as reducing carbon emissions. COP21 and subsequent nationally declared contributions indicate a need for negative emissions and research on novel technologies for biomass carbon capture and storage, especially at small scale is important to support a net negative energy future while engaging with whole systems perspectives to realistically develop the temporal, spatial and sectoral impacts of bioenergy to guide policy priorities.

Finally it is important to remember that climate change is a global challenge and the impact of UK feedstock consumption and utilization is relatively small compared to the massively inefficient consumption of fuelwood in developing countries. UK bioenergy research on challenging feedstocks and development of underpinning data on feedstock-technology performance can be used in interdisciplinary programmes with Mission Innovation, DFID and others to change this by empowering developing countries to improve conversion and trade surplus biomass while delivering holistic sustainability benefits for producers that address the millennium development goals. This will support the UK achieving its targeted GHG reductions while also showing international leadership in key areas that have potential for huge human and environmental impact.

It is critical that the new Hub facilitates integration of industry and academia to make a difference to UK bioenergy deployment. Industry, academia and government need to work together to improve deployment that delivers UK carbon reductions by connecting the best science and engineering knowledge with the industry and policy communities to facilitate greenhouse gas reductions. This requires a team with a wide skills base and experience.

The scope and structure of the Hub is illustrated in Figure 1. It includes the following key research areas:

  • Biomass & Waste
  • Pre-processing Technologies
  • Conversion Engineering
  • Energy Vectors
  • System Modelling

Further detail on the scope of each of these areas can be obtained at the consultation meetings, but they are intended to be wide-ranging, covering the full scope of RCUK interests in bioenergy across the physical, biological, natural and social sciences, and engineering.

The Hub is focused on research, but also involves engagement with and impact on a variety of stakeholders, as illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Scope and structure of the Supergen Bioenergy Hub

Consultation Process

Professor Patricia Thornley, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering at the University of Manchester has been selected to lead the Supergen Bioenergy Hub, consult the wider UK bioenergy community and build a consortium to develop a 4 year, £5M R&D strategy. During September, October and November, there will be 8 facilitated meetings where stakeholders can contribute to identifying the key research priorities for the new Hub. Attendance at all of these is free of charge and can be booked online at Eventbrite ( ) or by following the link on the consultation page on the Hub’s website (

The research challenges identified at the consultation meetings will be shared electronically with attendees and in an online discussion forum (details of this will be given at the meetings), allowing stakeholders to engage with each other about existing knowledge, the research gaps and appropriate ways to fill those gaps.

Proposed Management Structure

The Hub will be led by Prof. Thornley and will have 5 topic sub groups: Biomass & Waste, Pre-processing Technologies, Conversion Engineering, Energy Vectors and System Modelling. Each sub group will have a Topic Group Leader who will be a project Co-I responsible for developing and managing a research programme, maintaining a working knowledge of all UK and relevant international research activity in their topic area and ensuring that the community within their area remains engaged with the Hub by suggesting and organizing events, horizon scanning for new opportunities and supporting maintenance of a central database of relevant industrial and policy contacts. Topic Group Leadersare expected to be leading researchers within relevant fields, though they may not have previously taken on responsibility for the topics as framed in this structure. Each Topic Group Leaderwill work with Prof. Thornley and the other Topic Group Leaderto develop an original, imaginative and relevant programme of work for a proposal on which they will be a Co-I.

In addition each sub group will have a Topic Representative, who willalso support strategy development, event planning, proposal review and represent the Hub externally.The Topic Representativeswill not lead Hub-funded core research but will be eligible (along with the rest of the UK research community) to apply for Hub flexible funding during the lifetime of the project. These roles would be suitable for individuals who have significant expertise in the relevant area, but already have their own independent research portfolio and so seek to link that to the new Hub rather than develop new work streams. Alternatively they would be suitable for researchers earlier in their career who do not have significant research management experience, but are keen to contribute their subject knowledge and sector enthusiasm to strengthen the Hub and its activities.

As well as its core research programme the Hub will promote wider activities around:

  • Innovation and industrial deployment
  • Early career researcher development
  • Improving equality & diversity
  • Internationalisation (including international development)
  • Dissemination, outreachand engagement

Each Topic Group Leaderand Topic Representativeis expected to also undertake responsibility for guiding the Hub’s strategy in one of these areas.

The management group will be the keydecision-making body, comprising the Topic Group Leaders, Topic Representatives, chair of the advisory board and chair of the SHARE network. It will meet physically every 6 months and virtually every quarter. The project will be supported by a full time project manager who will organize, co-ordinate, communicate and represent the Hub.

There will be an independent advisory board which will elect its own chair, who will also form part of the management board. The advisory board will comprise individuals form industry and policy communities chosen for their individual expertise as well as an RCUK representative.

Application Process

All Topic Group Leaders and Topic Representativesshould be able to demonstrate:

  • A good understanding of the research landscape and needs in the topic area
  • The ability to design, lead and manage an effective research programme
  • A willingness to work collaboratively
  • Engagement with interdisciplinary approaches
  • Aptitude for engaging with industry and policy stakeholders

Additionally Topic Group Leaders must also be able to demonstrate the ability to design, lead and manage an effective research programme.Topic Group Leaderswill incorporate in their research programme an application for funding for their own time on the project and that of the relevant researchers and research costs. Topic Representativeswill be named in the proposal and funding will be requested for their costs associated with Hub meetings and representation as well as a small allocation of their time.

To apply for a role as a Topic Group Leaderor Topic Representativeplease complete:

  • Part A (i) and (ii)
  • Part B

Please note that Part A requests personal details which will not be used in evaluation of the application.

Please send completed applications to Dr. Aysha Roohi: (0161 306 3804)by 12 noon on Wednesday 22nd November.Successful applicants will then attend a 2 day workshop in Manchester from 30thNovember to 1stDecember, during which the main content of the proposal will be developed.

Eligibility

Standard RCUK rules on eligibility of investigators and co-investigators apply and candidates should confirm that they meet these prior to submitting their application. Please see

We would particularly like to encourage applications from early career researchers. If any such researchers envisage problems meeting the eligibility criteria please contact Prof. Patricia Thornley at the earliest opportunity to discuss.

Assessment Criteria

Applications will be ranked according to the following assessment criteria:

1. Knowledge and awareness of the research landscape and sector challenges

2. Originality and excellence of proposed research programme

3. Innovative proposals for stakeholder engagement and impact

4. Aptitude for and commitment to community collaboration

5. Strategy for development of Hub wider aspects

Final selection will take into account the scoring across these criteria and balance across the investigator team.

Key Dates

12:00 on 22nd November 2017: Deadline for applications under this call

27th November 2017: Decision communicated to applicants

30th November – 1st December 2017: Two-day workshop for proposal writing

18th January 2018: Proposal submission to EPSRC

Supergen Bioenergy Hub Application Form – Part A (i)

Name
Affiliation
E-mail address

Supergen Bioenergy Hub Application Form – Part A (ii) Mark X where applicable

Gender
Male
Female
Other
Prefer not to say
Disability
Known Disability
No Known Disability
Not Disclosed
Unknown
Prefer not to say
Ethnicity
White
Mixed/Multiple
Asian
Black/African/Caribbean
Other Group
Prefer not to say
Career Level
Intern/Student
Early Career
Analyst/Associate
Manager
Senior Manager/Professor
President/CEO
Owner
Prefer not to say
Age
0-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60+

Supergen Bioenergy Hub Application Form – Part B

1. / Role applied for (delete as appropriate) / Topic Group Lead
Topic Representative
2. / Topic area (delete as appropriate) / Biomass & Waste
Pre-processing Technologies
Conversion Engineering
Energy Vectors
System Modelling
3. / Describe the key research challenges in your topic area (Biomass & Waste; Pre-processing Technologies; Conversion Engineering; Energy Vectors; System modelling)
Guideline: 250 words
4. / Describe your proposed research programme to address those research challenges (Topic Group Leaders only – applicants for Topic Representative roles leave this blank)
Guideline: 500 words
5. / Describe what elements you think are most important in management of your research topic in the Hub (Topic Group Leaders only – applicants for Topic Representative roles leave this blank)
Guideline: 250 words
6. / Describe how you would build the interdisciplinary research excellence profile of the Hub
Guideline: 250 words
7. / Describe how you would engage with external stakeholders in your topic areato develop Hub impact
Guideline: 250 words
8. / Please choose one (or more) of the Hub cross-cutting areas and describe how you would address these to strengthen the UK bioenergy community
Guideline: 250 words
9. / Identify any areas where you feel there is particular scope for collaboration between your topic area and another and describe how you would pursue this
Guideline: 250 words

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