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ENERGY 2005, November 21   IUT pores over biofuels     At the behest of the Region, the thermal engineering and energy department of the Poitiers IUT (university technology institute) is presently poring over biofuels… The objective consists in determining whether or not agricultural products may be used for heating. The answer is awaited in 2006. Sky-high prices for the usual combustible fuels, uncertainty as to how long they will wind up lasting… For the Region, as is the case elsewhere, today’s energy crisis is a cause for concern. And so, after having launched two large-scale work projects on the themes of biofuels and eco-energies, the authorities have ordered a new study by Valagro (*) on combustible biofuels. How might be possible, in other words, to heat public buildings (and that’s just the beginning!) with products derived from regional agriculture? At the outset, it will nevertheless be necessary to proceed to different studies in order to learn “how to use the canola seed or the sunflower, in solid or liquid form”. And it is with this in mind that the thermal engineering and energy department of the Poitiers IUT comes into play. “Valagro has commissioned us to perform several studies”, confirms Jean-Luc Demenet, the department chairman. In this respect, the university institute is called upon to measure the energy quality (in other words, the calorific power) as well as the viscosity of the products. Pollution studies are sure to ensue. Results awaited in June 2006 Will liquid from the canola soon permeate our boilers? As of now, it’s anything but a safe bet! “It will first be necessary to see how combustible fuels actually burn in traditional boilers”, recommends a cautious Alain Teillet, a teacher and thermal specialist at the Poitiers IUT. And in order to go through with the entire process, the establishment will need to invest in new materials – such as a boiler with granules of wood. An application has been filed with the Region. As regards human resources, on the other hand, the IUT is decidedly … resourceful. Five professors have been poring over the “biofuel” file, as is a group of third-year students close to a degree in the “valorizing of renewable energies and energy techniques” (the French VERTE). “In a way, this project has come in the nick of time, and is rewarding the work we’ve furnished”, posits a proud Jean-Luc Demenet. As of now, in all likelihood the results of today’s sundry studies are due for June 2006 “at the latest”. (*) The unit valorizing agro-resources Contact: Jean-Luc Demenet at 05 49 45 34 12 The Biopole en masse at Eurobio 2008 Read ...   Water information days (September 23 – September 25) Read ...   The rose and its genetic transformation Read ...   Christian Huyghe aims for “excellence” read...   Creating “medical branches” read...   A neuro-cardio-vascular pole is taking root read...   Valagro on the horticulture market read...   ERM, the winning spin-off read...   GMOs under debate in Poitiers read...   Isabelle Cameleyre, new representative read...   Cystic fibrosis: The molecule of hope read...   Irfaq, a manufacturer of innovations read...   CHU: State-of-the-art quality read...   Soil organic matter under examination read...   Parexel: The Cap provides its support read...   Philippe Michonneau: “The Biopole, fertile soil” read...   Painless monitoring of hepatitis read...   The Biopole structured as an association read...   Futuramat steps up the pace read...   Technova, or life in 3D read...   B Braun burnishes its image read...   Proteomics platform: The CHU strides ahead read...   The three missions of the University Botanical Garden read...   Clinsight in the big leagues read...   Natural energies for an autonomous building read...   Aster-Cephac turns into SGS Cephac read...   The previously unseen heart read...   BIOalternatives diversifies its markets read...   Two Poitiers-based projects awarded read...   IUT pores over biofuels read...   Poitiers, the biotechnology capital read...   PAREXEL wagers on the human factor read...   Saunier and associates wish to diversify read...   Biocydex and BioXtract move forward hand in hand read...   The grass of champions read...   Ianesco steadfastly believes in its future read...   A tumorotheque, what is the purpose it serves? read...   TechnAvOx has turned the corner read...   Larime is aiming for 40 beds in Poitiers read...   Poitiers is out to promote its research read...   A true Biopole milestone read...   A regional cancerology pole in the pipeline for 2007 read...   Nobel prize winners in Poitiers read...   A platform offering numerous advantages read...   @rtMolecule fashions in its own way read...   It’s plastic, it’s fantastic read...   The Poitiers hospital (CHU) stakes its claim read...   BIOalternatives exports its know-how read...   The physiological and computer science engineering program turns 30 read...   The Biopole takes center stage at Investiga read...           Legal mentions