Columnist

Courtney McKay Sync NI

Nuada Pilots its Next-Generation Carbon Capture Technology in Waste-to-Energy

Carbon capture company Nuada announces the launch of a £1m project in collaboration with the Translational Energy Research Centre (TERC), a national pilot-testing research facility at the University of Sheffield. The project is funded by the £20 million Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) Innovation 2.0 programme which aims to accelerate the deployment of next-generation CCUS technology in the UK, as part of the £1 billion Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP) from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

Nuada has developed ultra-energy efficient CO2 filtration machines for point-source carbon capture by combining advanced solid sorbents called MOFs with mature vacuum swing technology. This combination represents a step change in carbon capture innovation and yields a “heatless” and “solvent-free” carbon capture process that slashes the associated energy penalty and cost of capture.

In this project, Nuada will pilot its advanced capture technology at TERC’s state-of-the-art CCUS testing facilities to showcase its unmatched CO2 removal efficiency from waste-to-energy (WtE) real flue gas streams. The WtE sector in the UK currently contributes a significant portion of CO2 emissions, and without carbon capture implementation, it is expected to account for 15% of total UK CO2 emissions by 2030. Dr Conor Hamill, co-CEO of Nuada, said: “We have identified the WtE industry as a critical sector to decarbonise through our technology. Current amine solvent solutions present high parasitic loads, complex process integration, and operational challenges. Our breakthrough innovation overcomes these deployment barriers and provides the industry with the much-needed nextgeneration solution to achieve net zero.”

Prof Mohamed Pourkashanian, managing director of the TERC, said: “We are thrilled to be involved in this truly innovative carbon capture project and look forward to working with Nuada. The technology available at the TERC is really at the cutting edge of the low-carbon solutions we have available and using it in projects such as this means we can help to drive forward the availability of costeffective, clean energy generation solutions, which is much needed if we are to meet the net-zero goals in UK and globally.”

More than 650 young people across Northern Ireland have taken part in Catalyst’s innovative work experience programme, Generation Innovation, gaining exposure to some of the region’s most innovative employers.

Generation Innovation is a unique, future-focused work experience programme for 17 to 18-year-olds designed to empower, enable and upskill them for the workplace of tomorrow and set them up to thrive as new leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs.

Through Generation Innovation, young people gain real-world working experience with some of the best-known and most exciting companies in Northern Ireland, which this year included the likes of FinTrU, Automated Intelligence, Citi and Artemis Technologies. The programme saw over 650 young people take part across Belfast, Derry-Londonderry and Dungannon, the highest number of participants since Generation Innovation was established in 2018.

Over the course of four-day or five-day programmes, young people had to work together to solve a real-life company challenge, develop a solution and pitch the idea to the partner company and their peers.

Some innovative ideas from this year include a new helmet product line using Vikela Armour’s defense systems body armour material, an app to enhance staff wellbeing and community in a hybrid working environment, and a close contact sustainability rewards system to reduce lab waste.

Judith Camblin, Generation Innovation programme manager at Catalyst, said: “Since the beginning of Generation Innovation five years ago, we have never had so many young people eager to take part in this unique programme. The standard of applicants was extremely high this year and the ideas generated showed real innovation and creativity.

“The teams across all locations were keen to learn new skills, work together and create solutions to real-life problems which was thrilling to see. The feedback we have received so far has been very positive with new friends and connections made, while also learning valuable skills for the future.”

Generation Innovation was supported by 38 partners this year, including headline partners EY, Bank of Ireland and Dawson Andrews. The partner companies helped young people discover new career opportunities and set them challenges to solve complex problems.