Engineering the Bio-energy Business Opportunity (EBEBO) SIG (2010)

EBEBO is a Special Interest Group (SIG) for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire engineering businesses interested in diversifying into the emerging bio-energy market.

Introduction

The core objective of this SIG will be to support businesses in the process engineering sector to improve business sustainability, growth and prosperity by diversifying or expanding into the emerging bio-energy market. The SIG will consist of two sub-groups – one for Professional and Technical Services and another for Engineering and Manufacturing. The Professional and Technical Services group will cover topics such as financial and legal issues, planning and development, while the Engineering and Manufacturing group will focus on design and manufacture, component supply, production services and R&D. More information can be found in the flyer.

Other activities of the proposed SIG will include:

• Knowledge dissemination about the bio-energy industry
• Supply chain needs
• Procurement routes
• Market activity
• Accreditations, etc

The full range of activities will be collectively agreed by its members at an inaugural meeting.

This SIG will be of interest to number of engineering businesses including process engineers, precision engineers, sheet metal and steel fabricators, engineering machine shops, and ceramic process engineers in the West Midlands.

Drivers / Trends

Emerging UK bio-energy supply markets which include Anaerobic Digestion, Pyrolysis, and Waste-derived energy processing, is widely reported to have an investment value of approximately £5 billion over the next 10 years and will span very diverse supply opportunities for primary process plant, component manufacture, built infrastructure, professional and trade services and general operational products and equipment.

European and global bio-energy markets are well established and supply chains are significantly more mature than those in the UK.    Although European bio-energy technology suppliers are actively pursuing (and supplying) the UK bio-energy industry, it is estimated that 80% of the value of a typical large scale bio-energy/waste processing facility will be procured from within the UK supply chain.

Although the recent impact of political and economic changes in the UK has generally slowed the predicted growth of the bio-energy market, for companies seeking to diversify and enter the market this provides a window of opportunity – a period during which businesses can accumulate new knowledge, establish new relationships and a presence in the market with time to develop products, services and capacity.

Download EBEBO SIG flyer here

Date and venue to be finalised

By:

RESCO | 26 October 2010

In:

Bioenergy, Special Interest Groups [2010]