Then and Now: 120 Bioeconomy Pioneers look at yesterday, today, inspirations and challenges

Paul Dorrington

Then: Starting to build Aquaflow/Next Gen Fuels Waste water/ Algal culture& water remediation/hydrothermal conversion of algae and other biomass to liquid fuels. Partnering on projects with advanced thermo-catalytic hydrogenation to gasoline/diesel/jet.

Project feasibilities for 300 to 1000 TPD woody/MSW/other biomass to liquid fuels.”

Now: “Started own business – Energy and Extracts Ltd.

1. still developing opportunities in thermochemical conversion of biomass to advanced liquid fuels

2.Hydrogen opportunity for several routes to adv. liquid fuels.

3. design/build supercritical CO2 extraction plants

4.Still working with algae – currently scale up on a high value pharmaceutical pain relief drug project with partners – end to end culture to mg dosages.

5. Developing energy futures project for major dairy industry co. with partner – renewable electricity & advanced liquid fuels for carbon neutrality.

Inspirations: “It’s ALL about the environment and future of the plant – for us, our descendants and the wider biodiversity of the planet. However it’s great as a direction for new innovation and satisfying/rewarding work for many people.” “We need a change both at the global policy level and within the market itself. Economics is a man made phenomenon and it is only the rule that are made that we play by and how “”the market”” i.e. you and I respond and spend our cash. The economic model needs to change so that we are not driven by the “”never ending growth”” model but one based on””equilibrium”” = sustainability (and in reality a period of shrinkage of the world population and balancing of consumption with physical supply – constrained by the ability to fully recycle … ) … or the circular bio-economy.

Challenges:  Uptake in the market requires true buy in from the  leaders of all companies – especially those with the largest impacts  …. breaking through existing channels is a challenge. ducation and promotion of the issues and proper factual information about the new alternatives needs to be delivered to both young and old in the broadest way possible.”