By pioneering innovative technology, Professor Mercedes Maroto-Valer is helping the world tackle climate change.
The centre works on near-market technologies – such as collaborations with Rolls-Royce and E.on on compression systems for transporting CO2 – and develops entirely new ones.
Supported by EPSRC, she leads the Centre for Innovation in Carbon Capture and Storage at the University of Nottingham. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology traps CO2 at the source of emission and prevents it entering the atmosphere.
“We’re looking at some really novel approaches, such as CO2 conversion through artificial photosynthesis,” says Maroto-Valer. Just as plants convert CO2 into energy, the centre hopes to do the same – converting CO2 into usable fuel.
“CCS is an essential component in reducing CO2 emissions and meeting environmental targets. We’re bringing forward the innovation that will make it happen,” says Maroto-Valer, who won the Leverhulme Prize for engineering in 2009. “We need this research funding in CCS now before it is too late.”
“That would be the perfect energy circle and we’re actually developing the whole system from the catalysts to the reactors,” she adds.
The centre’s work is two-fold. It optimises mature technology that is relatively close to market and develops new, innovative, processes to tackle CO2 emissions.
Another innovative approach being developed at the centre is CCS mineralisation. Mimicking a natural process by which some types of rock weather, CCS mineralisation locks CO2 into a solid product that could then be used as a building material. There are currently plans to commercialise the technology in the Middle East and Europe.
MERCEDES MAROTO-VALER TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH INNOVATION
“NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WITHOUT EPSRC FUNDING. IT HAS GIVEN MY TEAM THE FLEXIBILITY TO BE CREATIVE AND TRY NEW ROUTES.”