Latest news: Unique biorenewable centre opened in UK

A facility designed to make the UK a major competitor in green chemistry has opened at the University of York. 09/07/2012

The Biorenewables Development Centre (BDC)  plans to bridge the current gap between laboratories and the chemicals industry, helping academics and companies test and optimise the efficiency of biorefining processes.

One of the key features of the facility is that it can make use of molecular breeding to improve plants and microbes as raw materials for biorefining, which creates the potential to obtain high-value chemicals by developing new crops of plants or improving those already in use.

This is particularly important as chemicals sourced from plants are expected to replace non-renewable energy supplies, such as oil, as they continue to decline.

Expansion of the BDC, which was opened by business secretary Vince Cable, has been supplemented by £2.5million from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) .

Cable said, 'This new centre will strengthen the UK's position as a leader in the exploitation of high-value chemicals from renewable sources. It will also help UK companies to access and capitalise on the global growth potential from these new technologies and products.'

Professor Brian Cantor, vice-chancellor of the University of York, added, 'The BDC illustrates how world-class research undertaken at the university can help to generate new and sustainable products, processes, jobs and businesses.'