NUI Galway gets €2m grant for biofuel research

NUI Galway has received a grant of more than €2 million for a seven-year biofuel research project.

A total of 20 new postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers will be recruited by the Microbial Bioenergy Group at the university's Environmental Change Institute to run the project.

The team is planning to produce improved biofuels from organic waste such as domestic sewage. It will also research certain microbial and biofuel cells that produce electricity through the action of their naturally occurring bacteria.

The power outputs reported from microbial fuel cells are usually small, but this is expected to change in the coming years as research continues.

The project co-ordinator, Dr Vincent O'Flaherty, said these new technologies had the potential to accomplish large-scale wastewater treatment and electricity generation.

They would have sanitation and energy benefits for both developed and developing countries.

"There is a particular and urgent need for research into producing viable alternative energy sources to tackle Ireland's reliance on fossil fuels," he said.

"This injection of funding will enable the university to put highly skilled fourth-level graduates to work at addressing some of the most pressing energy issues facing Ireland today."

The grant was awarded by the new Charles Parsons Research Funding Awards scheme, which is run by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources.

It is named after the Irishman who invented the steam turbine in 1884.