EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Negative Emission Technologies for Net Zero (NET2ZERO)

Lead Research Organisation: Aston University
Department Name: College of Engineering and Physical Sci

Abstract

The centre will focus on negative emission technologies. Most climate policy specialists in the UK and around the world consider these will be essential to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change. At present the Supergen Bioenergy hub has 2 research projects on BECCS (focused on gasification), the Oxford based greenhouse removal hub works with 4 demonstrators (on biochar, peatlands, enhanced weathering and afforestation), all focused on academic research in UK institutes.
This project will work with both Supergen and the GGR Hub (as well as the dmonstrators which have Nottingham and Aston leadership and participation) to expand the research to the currently neglected areas of engineered GGR solutions. The scale and level of activity often makes it difficult for individual universiteis to engage fully in the needs of the sector and so the CDT will address that by providing a wide pool of supervisors, facilities and disciplinary perspectives. No other centre currently does this for PhD students. No other centre has or is planned to address the future skills need with the huge anticipated expansion of this centre.
The main technological themes are:
Direct air capture and CO2 storage
Direct air capture and CO2 utilization
Biochar synthesis and utilisation
Biomass to materials and chemicals
CO2 Utilization
Biomass to energy with carbon capture and storage

Publications

10 25 50

Studentship Projects

Project Reference Relationship Related To Start End Student Name
EP/Y035127/1 31/03/2024 29/09/2032
2924937 Studentship EP/Y035127/1 29/09/2024 29/09/2028 Manav Patel
2942632 Studentship EP/Y035127/1 01/02/2025 31/01/2029 Carmen Van Poelgeest