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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/Y035127/1
Title: EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Negative Emission Technologies for Net Zero (NET2ZERO)
Principal Investigator: Thornley, Professor EP
Other Investigators:
Gu, Professor S Wu, Dr C Binner, Dr E R
Granollers-Mesa, Dr M LIU, Professor H Rooney, Professor D
Robinson, Dr P Rebrov, Professor E Onwudili, Dr JA
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Aggregate Industries UK Limited Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy Cirevo
CO2RE Hub Coal Products Limited CPL CSP Consulting
Dept of Agri, Env & Rural Affairs DAERA Drax Power Limited Eblana Photonics Ltd
Energy Research Accelerator Energy Systems Catapult Green Gas Catalysts Ltd
Halocycle Limited ICMEA INOV8 Solutions Ltd
Kew Technology Marks and Clerk LLP Mitsubishi Chemical UK Limited
Oxccu Tech Ltd PyroGenesys Ltd Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE)
Stoli Chem Surface Measurement Systems UK Water Industry Research Ltd (UKWIR)
Waring Waste Ltd Wase Ltd Wastewater Fuels
Department: College of Engineering and Physical Sci
Organisation: Aston University
Scheme: Centre for Doctoral Training
Starts: 01 April 2024 Ends: 30 September 2032 Value (£): 8,247,489
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Bioenergy Carbon Capture & Storage
Materials Processing
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Environment Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
20 Nov 2023 EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training Interview Panel B November 2023 Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
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

Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Summary
Date Materialised
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Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.aston.ac.uk