DERMOT RODDY, Science City Professor of Energy, Newcastle University
Biofuels - Environmental Friend or Foe
Date/Time: 10th February 2009, 17:30
To hear a recording of this lecture:
Biofuel – the saviour of the planet or the cause of all the world’s evils? Press coverage is bewildering. Find out about the facts and some exciting future plans.
North East England is home to the world’s biggest biodiesel plant, and the biggest bioethanol plant in Europe is currently under construction here. Until about a year ago the biofuels industry was widely acclaimed as the ultimate panacea for addressing climate change. More recently it has been blamed for many of the world’s ills: rising food prices, deforestation in the Tropics, loss of habitat for endangered species and many more. What do the facts say? Are there “good” biofuels and “bad” biofuels? How do we supply the world’s needs for fuel and food and animal feed whilst addressing climate change? Professor Roddy will tackle these questions and many more, and outline some exciting new plans for sustainable development in the biofuels sector.
Dermot Roddy joined Newcastle University as Science City Professor of Energy in 2008 after a period of some 20 years in the energy industry and petrochemical sectors. He is also Director of the Sir Joseph Swan Institute for Energy Research, which integrates energy research across Newcastle University and links with a powerful external industrial base in the energy sector. Outside of the university he is Chairman of North East Biofuels, Finance Director of the UK Hydrogen Association and Vice President of the Northern England Electricity Supply Companies Association. Prior to coming to Newcastle University he was Chief Executive of Renew Tees Valley Ltd – a company which he set up in 2003 to create a viable and vibrant economy in the Tees Valley based on renewable energy and recycling – where he was instrumental in a wide range of major renewable energy and low-carbon projects relating to biomass, biofuels, hydrogen, carbon capture & storage, wind and advanced waste processing technologies. From 1998 to 2002 he ran the crude oil refinery on Teesside as site director for a $5 bn-turnover facility before moving to the Netherlands to work on Petroplus’ international growth plans. Dermot’s experience in the petrochemical industry began in 1985, involving a variety of UK and international roles in operations, engineering and technology with ICI and others. Prior to that he developed leading-edge technology at Queen’s University, Belfast, for optimisation and control in aerospace applications.