Scientists from the University of Wolverhampton are supporting a West Midlands start-up that is investigating the use of advanced thermal technologies to turn waste into renewable heat and electricity. It is being funded by the university’s Smart Concept Fund designed to support the commercialisation of new technologies.

Birmingham-based PyroGenesys, a bio-renewables technology developer established in 2017, has been helped through the tender for the production of a prototype, and the development of a business plan, which has led to further funding opportunities and continued growth for the company.

The company has built a pyrolysis reactor that can be installed in factories that produce waste biomass; which its prototype can convert to renewable heat, electricity and biofuels.

Simon Ighofose, PyroGenesysco-founder and CEO, said: “The Smart Concept Fund supported us to develop an EU compliant tender and conduct a procurement exercise to appoint the services of a reputable prototype developer. In addition, we believe that the resources secured along with the detailed business plan, which the university helped us to develop, played a significant role in leveraging our first-ever Innovate UK grant.”