A PhD student at the University of Chester has presented her research on how to use grass cuttings for clean energy at an international conference.
Mubashra Latif, who is originally from Pakistan, is studying for a PhD exploring how to generate clean heat and power through using biomass. In particular, through carefully planned experiments, shehas developed a strategy to utilise garden and municipal grass clippings as a potential biomass feedstock for heat and power generation.
Latifis studying for her PhD through the Eco-Innovation Cheshire and Warrington project, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund and is partnered with Lancaster University. Latifis also being supported by local biomass CHP manufacturing company, Biogen Systems. Her research is now being tested in real conditions, using one of the commercial biomass Combined Heat and Power (CHP) units that are sold by Biogen Systems.
Latif, who is based at Thornton Science Park,presented her research at the 13thAnnual International Biomass Conference and Expo 2020, held in Nashville, Tennessee.
The conference attracted people working in all the different sectors of the biomass industry, including biomass fuel and technology providers, municipal leaders, project developers, investors, scientists, academics and policy makers. It served as a global platform to create new business opportunities, as well as to connect experts to discuss novel solutions to the challenges faced by the biomass industry, which is still relatively in its infancy.
She said: “Attending this conference gave me the opportunity to have one-to-one meetings with different biomass industry experts and exhibitors, who were most informative. It was great to learn about so many new technologies in such a short interval of time. I am very thankful to the University of Chester, which has always been a pillar of support for me and sponsored my travel to this conference for the benefit of my PhD development and future career growth.”
