May 29, 2009
A £1 million project aims to develop a commercially-viable method of producing biofuel from perennial ryegrass, the most common in the UK.
Welsh scientists working on the Grassohol project are looking into a distillation process to convert the grass into ethanol, which could be used to power microgenerators in people´s homes.
Led by the Institute of Biological Environmental and Rural Sciences (IBERS) at Aberystwyth University, the project involves the creation of electrical generators the size of wine co-operatives to be installed at a local level.
Ieuan Wyn Jones, minister for economy and transport in Wales, said the programme "is designed to bring about real economic benefits through increasing collaboration between academia and industry and is promoting, supporting and funding a wide range of highly innovative collaborative projects".
A Devon school recently announced it is to install a £60,000 biomass microgeneration system in a bid to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions and energy efficiency.
Rapid Electronics are a leading UK supplier of electronic components, electrical products and industrial equipment to the Electrical Contractors sector.

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