Tim Miller

Director of Engagement, Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) Aston University

Birmingham

Tim has more than 15 years board level experience in technology companies, technical and commercial management and research marketing.

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Spotlight

Apr 10, 2024

2 min

Aston University to help Saudi Arabia turn waste into energy

Energy will help power new cities in the desert Aston University is in talks about converting waste products into vital energy Its Energy and Bioproducts Institute is experienced in the waste-to-energy sector through global collaborations. Aston University researchers are to help turn waste into energy to power new cities in the desert. The University has started talks with experts from Saudi Arabia, including those who are building two sustainable cities in the desert, called NEOM and The Line. They are to collaborate with Aston University and its Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) to explore how they can convert waste products into vital energy. The scientists and engineers are to apply their expertise to help Saudi Arabia create technology to convert discarded matter into a source of energy and other innovations such as using date palm waste to transform desert sand to allow it to retain water and grow crops. Aston University also hosted a two-day conference in March to discuss how to develop and apply the technology. The event is a key element of the UK-KSA Waste2Energy project supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office under the Gulf Strategy Fund (GSF) programme and is led by senior lecturer in mechanical, biomedical and design engineering Dr Muhammad Imran. More than 70 delegates attended the conference, including representatives from King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), King AbdulAziz University, The National Research and Development Center for Sustainable Agriculture and the Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC). Professor Patricia Thornley, director of Energy & Bioproducts Research Institute, said: “The delegation chose to collaborate with and visit EBRI because we have common research goals, but some complementarity facilities and skills. We are looking forward to working together to develop some the shared priorities we have identified.” Tim Miller, EBRI director of engagement, added: “Aston University has extensive engagement in the waste-to-energy sector through substantial industrial and academic collaborations globally. Advancements made by institutes like EBRI in waste-to-energy technologies are continually contributing to sustainable energy development.” “The meeting provided an insightful overview of the project, emphasising the significant opportunities it offers to UK industries and academia for funding, collaboration and PhD opportunities. “Our special appreciation is extended to Naif Makki from the Ministry of Energy, Saudi Arabia and his colleagues for their valuable participation.” The event ended with a tour of the EBRI lab and biochar demonstrator plant and a visit to Kew Technology’s Sustainable Energy Centre in Wednesbury.

Jun 9, 2023

2 min

Aston University wins £1.8m to boost West Midlands low carbon markets

Aston University and local industry to develop technology to convert organic material into commercially valuable products Sawdust, diseased trees and dried chicken litter among what can be transformed into sustainable bioproducts West Midlands companies are invited to join a cluster to develop new low carbon products for growing markets. Aston University is to receive £1.8 million to transform the West Midlands into a powerhouse of low-carbon product development and commercialisation. The University will be building on its existing research facilities to lead the region’s Biochar CleanTech Accelerator as part of the West Midlands Innovation Accelerator. The project was set up with the aim to secure export contracts for low carbon products worth over £200 million, to be made by a regional industrial cluster. It is hoped that the development of a low-carbon business cluster in the West Midlands will open up new domestic and export markets to help rebuild the region’s engineering and manufacturing status. Biochar, a sustainable form of charcoal, can be used as a soil and plant growth enhancer. It stores carbon in the ground, so there are fewer greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Other products such as oils can be used as low carbon fuels for boilers and engines and the liquid by-product can be used for low carbon weedkiller, fungicide and plant growth. Aston University’s innovative technology is installed at its urban biochar demonstrator in south Birmingham. The project is based on the strengths of the University’s Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) and its Centre for the Circular Economy and Advanced Sustainability (CEAS). Tim Miller, director of engagement at EBRI, said: “This new development has the potential to rebuild product development, engineering and manufacturing in our region. “The project aims to commercialise knowledge, facilities and the results of long-term university research for the benefit of the environment and our regional economy. “Using the University’s existing expertise and facilities we have the potential to launch new technology-based opportunities as they emerge and mature, The Biochar CleanTech Accelerator is part of the West Midlands Innovation Accelerator which was first announced in the government’s 2022 Levelling up White Paper and started this spring. It is funded through a share of a £100m from Innovate UK, to be divided by three regional innovation accelerators over the next two years. Launched by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) in March 2023, it will target investment on projects enabling new solutions around Medical and Clean Technologies, to further reinforce the region’s position at the frontier of the UK innovation revolution. The University will also play a key role in two other projects in the West Midlands Innovation Accelerator. Companies interested in joining the cluster can get further information at https://www.aston.ac.uk/biochar-cleantech-accelerator or emailing biochar@aston.ac.uk

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Biography

Tim Miller has worked alongside top academic and research teams to set up and develop the Energy and Bio-products Research Institute (EBRI) at Aston University. This included contract and funding compliance, procurement, marketing and research engagement. Tim has supported the work of the institute through a programme of externally funded projects to accelerate sustainable business innovation.

He has over 15 years senior and board level experience in technology companies, technical and commercial management, research marketing and consultancy.

He has experience contracting in the corporate energy sector for clients such as British Gas, BP, Shell, Texas Eastern North Sea and ICI.

He has founded and managed university related start-up companies in the telecoms sector as CEO, executive or non-executive director.

Tim worked in place based economic development with Nottingham City Council and with regional development agencies on innovation driven growth, business cluster and network development.

He has taken a lead on science park growth and development at Nottingham City Council, with the University of Nottingham and nationally through board membership of UK Science Parks Association.

His track record includes winning high value tenders and technology projects in the public and private sectors as well as setting up multi stakeholder teams to manage and deliver results.

Areas of Expertise

Business Development

Business Strategy

Program Management

Management Consulting

Stakeholder Management

Place Based Innovation

Sustainable Growth

Cluster Development

Science Parks

Education

The Manchester Metropolitan University

Environmental Studies

1984

Media Appearances

Technology installed by Aston Uni to combat climate change

The Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership online

2021-12-15

Tim Miller, director of engagement at EBRI, said it was an important landmark project for the city and they would be looking soon to businesses within the area who could benefit from using the biochar product.

He added:

“It's exciting to see our urban biochar demonstrator now in place at Cofton Nursery and we are working with local and UK companies to deliver the project. Over the coming weeks we will be announcing more about how biochar can make a difference to both the environment and the economy of our cities and towns, and how local organisations can benefit from becoming involved.

Waste to Energy Pyrolysis System Wins Award for Aston University

Waste to Energy International online

2013-03-21

Tim Miller, director of operations at the EBRI at Aston University, commented: “The Pyroformer is about more than just sustainable energy provision. We believe this technology could be a key stimulator of growth and jobs and the reaction of the business community so far has been very positive.”

Articles

A model for partner selection criteria in Energy from Waste projects

Journal of Cleaner Production

2021

Energy from Waste is being deployed in both developed and developing economies as a route to reduce dependency on fossil fuels whilst making positive use of resources which might otherwise be landfilled. Energy from Waste supply chains are complex, with a rich diversity of partners and stakeholders involved. For this purpose, the selection of appropriate criteria to guide supply chain design, and in particular the selection of suppliers, is critical for success. In this study, a three-stage process was conducted to identify, refine and validate an evidence-based model. The evidence based model proposed comprises seven categories of criteria used in the design of these supply chains, namely Economic, Environmental, Location, Operations management, which has a sub-category of Plant operation, Political/Legal and Social. The work reported here supports practitioners and researchers involved in supply chain partner selection to systematise their thinking in relation to the criteria that may impact their study or project.