Teesside University secures funding for groundbreaking research in waste-to-energy

Two Teesside University academics have received funding for groundbreaking research investigating how to reduce the carbon footprint from waste-to-energy plants.

Professor Dawid Hanak, in collaboration with Professor Kumar Patchigolla, has been granted funding from the UK Carbon Capture and Storage Research Community’s (UKCCSRC) Flexible Funding call to look at how carbon capture technology can be used alongside waste-to-energy (WtE) plants.

The research will address a critical need for the East Coast Cluster by assessing the techno-economic and carbon footprint of advanced WtE with carbon capture and storage (CCS).

The East Coast Cluster aims to remove nearly 50% of the UK’s industrial emissions. To achieve this, there is a need for innovative solutions like CCS retrofits to WtE plants.

The WtE sector is projected to contribute up to an estimated 20 million tonnes of CO2 per annum in the UK and requires low-carbon alternatives to mitigate its environmental impact.

The two academics are based at Teesside University’s Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre (NZIIC), a £13.1m national centre of excellence for net zero technologies, which is playing a key role in positioning the Tees Valley at the heart of the UK’s green industrial revolution.

Their research project will comprehensively assess an advanced WtE plant based on calcium looping combustion (CaLC), which uses a compound of the mineral as a chemical sorbent to capture carbon dioxide emissions.

Previous work indicates that CaLC technology offers cost-effective CO2 capture compared to conventional methods, potentially making WtE more competitive in the energy and waste management sectors.

The research will involve the following work packages:

• Process Modelling and Validation: Developing models for different WtE designs.
• Feasibility Assessment: Comparing techno-economic and environmental performance.
• Engagement and Impact: Building relationships with stakeholders in the East Coast Cluster.

The outcomes of this research project include a comprehensive assessment of the advanced WtE plant, an industrial roadmap for CaLC development, and a technical report highlighting the potential of WtE to provide negative emissions.

Professor Hanak said: "Our research is a pivotal step in providing viable solutions for the East Coast Cluster's decarbonisation efforts."

Professor Patchigolla added: "This research progresses our understanding of advanced WtE with CCS and establishes crucial collaborations between the University and the CCUS and WtE industries in the East Coast Cluster.”

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