It is hoped that 35 jobs will be directly created and over 1,000 indirect jobs may be formed as a result of the development of a bioenergy product at Aston University.

The product, called a Pyroformer, uses sewage and other waste to generate cost-effective heat and power. It was developed by Professor Andreas Hornung, head of the European Bioenergy Research Institute (EBRI) at the university.

Unlike other bioenergy plants, the Pyroformer has no negative environmental or food security impacts.

Many different waste sources including sewage, algae and household waste can be used by the Pyroformer and researchers at the university say the product could help reduce the global reliance on fossil fuels.

Professor Hornung said: “This is about more than energy provision. We believe this bioenergy technology could be a key stimulator of growth and jobs.”

“This Pyroformer is the first of its kind in the UK and the first industrial scale plant is now up and running at Harper Adams University College in Newport before it is permanently installed on the Aston campus later this year,” he added.