Co-conversion of plastic and biomass for turquoise hydrogen
Research and innovation
Teesside University and Durham University are collaborating with a consortium of industrial partners – including Stuff4Life, G-NRGY, Pyrol Group, Sylatech, ApChemi, Take Root Bio and Health Innovation North East and Cumbria – to advance waste valorisation and develop sustainable energy solutions. Running from March 2025 to April 2027, the project aims to demonstrate how waste plastics and biomass can be co-converted into turquoise hydrogen and valuable by-products, contributing to the UK’s transition toward a circular and low-carbon economy.
The collaboration involves securing representative waste samples from major industrial producers and consumers, leveraging institutional expertise in policy and sustainability, and hosting industry engagement seminars to explore opportunities in material valorisation.
Challenge
Plastic and industrial waste are major contributors to environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, with each kilogram of plastic production generating approximately 2.9kg of CO2. Traditional waste management methods often result in significant landfill use and limited recycling efficiency.
This project seeks to address the dual challenges of plastic and agricultural waste pollution, and rising greenhouse gas emissions by developing a sustainable alternative to conventional disposal methods. The work aligns with national sustainability goals, including the UK Plastics Pact.
Solution
The project provides an innovative technological solution through the co-conversion of plastic and biomass waste into turquoise hydrogen, a clean energy source, alongside biochar and bio-oil. Using advanced pyrolysis and gasification processes, this approach transforms mixed waste materials into valuable energy products while minimising landfill use and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The research combines expertise in chemical engineering, environmental science and sustainable energy systems. It uses state-of-the-art facilities such as process simulation software, analytical laboratories equipped with TGA, CHNS analysers and X-ray fluorescence instrumentation, as well as pyrolysis experimental rigs for validation. Real-world scalability testing will take place at G-NRGY’s demonstration site in Shetland.
Impact
The project is expected to deliver substantial economic, environmental, and regional benefits, including:
- economic growth: enhancing innovation capacity among local businesses such as Pyrol Group and Stuff4Life, generating new commercial opportunities and supporting job creation in the waste-to-energy sector
- environmental sustainability: reducing plastic and biomass waste while producing low-carbon hydrogen, directly contributing to the UK’s net zero 2050 target
- regional leadership: positioning the Tees Valley as a centre of excellence for hydrogen innovation and circular economy practices, utilising local waste streams to drive sustainable growth.
The project is led by Professor David Hughes and Professor Nashwan Dawood, with co-investigators Dr Muhammad Shahbaz (Lead Research Fellow), Dr Chris Ennis, Dr Ellis Marshall, Vijayalakshmi Shivaprasad K., Yaodong Wang, and Project Manager Simon Bradshaw. The academic team works closely with industrial collaborators including Stuff4Life, G-NRGY, Pyrol Group and Sylatech.
This research introduces an innovative approach to tackling plastic waste and greenhouse gas emissions by investigating the co-processing of plastic and biomass waste for the production of turquoise hydrogen. The project aims to contribute meaningfully to the development of the hydrogen economy and support global efforts toward achieving net zero emissions.