Bauer Resources signs up as Masdar consortium partner

Bauer Resources, one of the leading specialists in site remediation, soil remediation and waste disposal based in Germany, has joined the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC) as a Tier-1 partner. The SBRC is a non-profit entity established by Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, a part of Khalifa University of Science and Technology, with the backing from Etihad Airways, The Boeing Company, Adnoc Refining, Safran and General Electric. Bauer Resources will bring expertise to the SBRC related to engineering design, construction, and operation of large scale water treatment facilities, which will help the SBRC in the ultimate goal of scaling-up the SEAS technology under development. Etihad Airways and Adnoc Refining are the other Tier-1 partners in the consortium already contributing to various activities of the SBRC. Founded by Masdar Institute with a number of the other current members, the consortium aims to develop and support technologies and approaches for producing sustainable bioenergy. In September 2017, the consortium’s flagship Seawater Energy and Agriculture System (SEAS) project reached a critical milestone in its development of sustainable aviation biofuels through the first harvest of biofuel feedstock. The SBRC team, comprising Masdar Institute researchers, harvested the first crop of Salicornia, the salt-tolerant and oil-rich plant. This development took place at the two-hectare SEAS pilot facility in Masdar City, where seafood and sustainable biomass are being cultivated using saltwater and desert land, thus contributing to the UAE’s sustainable food and fuel security. Dr Steve Griffiths, the interim VP for Research, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, said: "The addition of Bauer Resources as a Tier-1 member underscores the growing value and potential of the system being piloted by the SEAS." "As the world’s population increases and resources become more scarce, food and energy solutions that address the challenges of water and arable land insecurity will play a critical role in meeting mankind’s rising food, energy and water needs," he stated. Dr Roman Breuer, a member of the management board of Bauer Resources, said: "We are very excited to join this idea of combining food production, waste water treatment and production of sustainable biomass." "We are at the forefront of implementing natural water treatment systems in the region and we were experimenting on biomass generation, but the cooperation with SBRC will bring our efforts to the next level. We hope that our experience and contribution will help the SEAS to become a significant element of sustainability in the UAE and abroad," he added. Etiohad Airways CEO Peter Baumgartner said: "The success of the SBRC in enabling a future supply of sustainable aviation fuel is reliant on extensive collaboration. The addition of Bauer Resources to our team, and the strong technical expertise they bring, will be of tremendous help in driving this important initiative forward." Boeing's President (Mena and Turkey) Bernard Dunn said: "As founding members, we are excited to see the growing interest in the SBRC and the addition of Bauer Resources as a Tier-1 member." Dr Mikael Berthod, the VP for Adnoc Refining Research Center, said: "We are very happy to welcome BAUER Resources GmbH as a Tier-1 member partner. Their contribution will definitely support the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium’s effort to develop the SEAS project." "We are seeing the involvement of Bauer Resources as a great opportunity to expand our biofuel approach at a larger scale," he added. The regionally organised Bauer Resources is aligned to projects around the world with its subsidiaries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and South America and has extensive expertise in the areas of water, environment and natural resources. With over 25 years of experience, the company is an expert in pollution reduction. Its water division, Bauer Water, is a leader in the area of water treatment and boasts many years of experience in the areas of drinking water, process water, waste water and decontamination.-