Bioenergy is produced from plant and animal materials such as wood, energy crops, and manure from livestock. Biomass can be used to generate electricity, light, heat, motion and fuel. Converting biomass energy into useable energy has many environmental benefits. Fuels such as ethanol can be made from biomass and used as an alternative to petrol to power vehicles.
Bioenergy Research at the Ryan Institute is a well-established and highly successful area, supported by long-term recurrent research funding and an excellent track record of outputs. Key ongoing research topics include microbial fermentations and digestion of organic feedstocks, biocatalytic fuel cells and combustion chemistry.
People
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Dr. Florence Abram Microbiology Phone: (091) 492390; Email: florence.abram@nuigalway.ie ——— Dr Florence Abram is the director of the Functional Environmental Microbiology laboratory, which focuses primarily on microbial adaptation to ecological niches. Her expertise lies in the application of proteomics and metaproteomics to investigate microbial behaviour within their natural ecosystem. |
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Dr. Gavin Collins Microbiology Tel: (091) 49 2390 ; Email: gavin.collins@nuigalway.ie ——— Dr. Collins is Director of the Microbial Ecophysiology Research Group, which is concerned with linking the identity (ecology) and in situ function (physiology) of yet-to-be cultivated microbes. Focus is on populations from natural systems and from engineered biofilms, by adopting a Systems Biology approach. One of his main research interests is the microbial populations underpinning waste-to-bioenergy systems. |
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Dr. Henry Curran Chemistry Tel: (091) 49 3856; Email: henry.curran@nuigalway.ie ——— Dr. Curran is the Director of the Combustion Chemistry Centre, which is engaged in fundamental research on the combustion of fossil and biofuels. Research interests include the application of combustion research to the design of energy-efficient engine and gas turbine combustion systems and the impact of their use on toxic and greenhouse gas emissions. |
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Dr. Dónal Leech Chemistry Tel: (091) 49 3563; Email: donal.leech@nuigalway.ie ——— Dr. Leech is the Director of the Biomolecular Electronics Research Laboratory. Research in the laboratory focuses on the preparation and characterisation of electron-transfer catalysts and modified electrode surfaces. Environmental areas of research include biofuel cell prototypes, bio- and electrochemical bleaching methodologies, and trace metal monitoring systems in ocean environments. |
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Professor Vincent O’Flaherty Head of Microbiology and Director of the Energy Research Centre Phone: (091) 49 3734; Email: vincent.oflaherty@nuigalway.ie ——— Prof. O’Flaherty is the director of the Microbial Ecology Laboratory. Main interests are in the areas of anaerobic biofilm and microbial ecology research, focused on: anaerobic biofilm reactor technology for energy production and wastewater treatment; and the microbial ecology of anaerobic biofilms and soil ecosystems. |
Some Active Bioenergy Projects
- EN-2009-2: Metaproteomic analysis of anaerobic methanogenic consortia at low temperature
- EN-2009-3: Low-temperature biogas production using perennial grass as feedstock
- EN-2009-5: Anaerobic digestion of carbohydrate rich wastewater
- EN-2009-8: Development of microbial and enzymatic fuel cells for electricity generation from renewable fuel sources
- EN-2008-3: Integration of Enzymes, Redox Mediators and Structured Materials to Provide Bioelectrochemical Fuel Cells
- EN-2008-10: Computational Chemistry Applied to Reactions of a Biofuel
- EN-2008-14: Investigation of carbon release from woodchip
