The Bioeconomy is a rapidly expanding part of the Irish circular economy. Numerous innovative projects are currently being conducted in research institutions across Ireland. The following are just three of the many exciting research projects hoping to create products, processes and services that will become mainstream in the near future.
NXTGENWOOD
Lead Institution: Trinity College Dublin
Funding: €2,989,001
Partners: University College Dublin, National University of Ireland – Galway, University
College Cork, University of Limerick
Funder: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM)
Wood is a critical material for Ireland’s economy and particularly its circular bioeconomy. Forests are critical for sequestration of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and timber products store carbon dioxide for many years. Renewable sourced wood products can substitute for carbon intensive fossil fuel-based alternatives. NXTGENWOOD is a DAFM funded research project and network to drive new wood product and processing innovation in Ireland.
The DAFM funding of €3m enables a collaboration between Irish universities, foresters, wood processors and Irish industry in generation of high value and high (climate) impactful products. Research spans new environmentally friendly bioprocesses and materials for chemicals, energy, health, housing and plastics. This will allow the development of new materials, products and technologies as well as information on more climate friendly products. The information will help us make informed policy changes on our route to a net-zero economy.
Rural BioRefarmeries
Lead Institution: Munster Technological University
Funding: €7,349,887
Partners: University College Dublin, University of Galway, Trinity College Dublin and
Industry
Funder: EU Commission
Funded by EU’s Circular Biobased Europe Joint Undertaking, this project supports the implementation of Ireland’s first grass biorefinery & anaerobic digestion plant. Building on the work of projects like Biorefinery Glas and Farm Zero C, the project provides resources needed to operationalise a biorefinery and AD plant in a farm-based environment. The plant infrastructure was funded by DAFM in 2023 & demonstrates a small-scale green biorefinery & anaerobic digestion plant that refines additional products from grass.
From fresh grass, clover & other green biomass, a silage-like fibre pulp for cattle feed is co-produced alongside a green juice fraction containing proteins, minerals & sugars. The pulp is fed to cows, the green juice, further processed to multiple products, (protein for pigs, poultry and even human consumption). The residual brown juice can be further converted to produce fatty acids, to make flavours, antimicrobial additives, biomethane & fertilisers. The approach allows grassland farmers to enhance revenue streams from their biomass while helping to address sectoral & national emissions challenges.
CircBioCityWaste
Lead Institution: Munster Technological University
Funding: €493,670
Partners: University of Limerick and Technological University Dublin
Funder: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Environmental
Protection Agency
CircBioCityWaste is an innovative project focusing on developing and implementing a biorefinery using the cascading principle. Employing an end-of-waste approach to organic waste streams, it is producing agro-products like bio-stimulants, biofertilisers, and soil conditioners. The process utilizes sludge and/or digestates from dairy and municipal wastewater treatment plants to produce agrochemicals by employing advanced technologies such as ultrasound and microwave.
The residue is further thermochemically converted into biochar and energy. The socio-economic impact spans over farmers, dairy processors, waste management companies, and the environment, promoting circular economy principles and bio-based industrial development. Funding support from EPA and DAFM facilitated the transition from basic to applied research and proof-of-concept validation. Once mature, this technology can be adopted by wastewater treatment and anaerobic digestion facilities across the nation for bio-based agrochemical production.
To see other Innovative Projects like this, visit our publications page.
Image sources: NXTGENWOOD, Rural BioRefarmeries and CircBioCityWaste
