The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) has awarded “Converting Waste to BioSNG” the top prize at the IChemE Global Awards.
The wards took place at The Principal, Manchester on November 1st and celebrated achievements and innovations of chemical engineers around the globe.
The annual IChemE Global Awards were hosted this year by comedian Alun Cochrane
In total more than 100 entries from around the world have made this years shortlist. However, an innovative and possibly game-changing technology which converts solid household waste into sustainable bio-energy won the top prize.
“I am extremely delighted that our work on Waste to BioSNG was recognised at the IChemE Global Awards with three first prizes. These awards are the icing on the cake for a project which started more than six years ago, and which has been a fantastic engineering journey.” Massimiliano Materazzi, senior research fellow in the chemical engineering department at University College London
The entry – titled ‘Converting Waste to BioSNG’ – was put together by a consoritum of UK companies (Advanced Plasma Power, University College London, Cadent Gas and Progressive Energy). The process uses a unique catalytic process and gasification to create a low-carbon, renewable gas called Bio Synthetic Natural Gas (BioSNG).
The consortium have just launched a commercial demonstration plant to produce the gas which can then used to heat homes across the UK and power heavy-duty vehicles and buses. The demonstration plant is a world first.
The consortiums new tech could be a key component to future environmental and energy policy as it would dramatically reduce the volume of waste to landfill while decarbonising both heat and heavy goods transport. These are sectors which, up to now, have been difficult to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for.
The joint entry also won the Energy Award and Sustainability Award before going on to be crowned the overall winner and was presented with IChemE’s coveted Outstanding Achievement Award, sponsored by ExxonMobil.
The Full list of IChemE Global Awards 2018
Outstanding Achievement in Chemical and Process Engineering Award sponsored by ExxonMobil
Winner: Advanced Plasma Power, University College London, Cadent Gas, Progressive Energy, UK – Converting Waste to BioSNG
Biotechnology Award sponsored by WSP
Winner: Enerkem, Canada – From Waste to Biofuels: Enerkem’s Disruptive Biotechnology
Business Start-Up sponsored by Bouygues Energies and Services
Winner: Green Lizard Technologies, UK – GLT’s Journey from Creation to Commercialisation
Diversity and Inclusion sponsored by BP
Winner: Environment Agency, UK – Diversity: It’s in Our Nature
Energy Award sponsored by Rolls-Royce
Winner: Advanced Plasma Power, University College London, Cadent Gas, Progressive Energy, UK – Converting Waste to BioSNG
Food and Drink Award sponsored by adi Group
Winner: Monash University, Australia – Collaborative Food and Dairy Research
Industry Project Award sponsored by Sellafield Ltd
Winner: Rolls-Royce, UK – Delivering a New Nuclear Manufacturing Facility
Innovative Product Award sponsored by Loss Prevention Bulletin
Winner: Stora Enso, Finland – Renewable Lignin Replaces Fossil-Based Materials
Oil and Gas Award sponsored by Jacobs
Winner: Johnson Matthey, US – CATACEL SSR: Structured Steam Reforming Catalyst
Pharma Award sponsored by PM Group
Winner: GSK, PM Group, Suncombe and ITT, UK – Fully Integrated Sterile Filtration Unit
Process Safety Award sponsored by ioMosaic
Winner: Woodside Energy, Australia – Watson for HSEQ – Learning from History
Research Project Award sponsored by Otto Simon
Winner: Imperial College London, UK – Next-Generation Hybrid Solar Systems
Sustainability Award sponsored by Unilever
Winner: Advanced Plasma Power, University College London, Cadent Gas, Progressive Energy, UK – Converting Waste to BioSNG
Team Award sponsored by BakerHicks
Winner: Sellafield Ltd, Progressive Alliance, AXIOM, UK – Collaborative Working Enables Major Project Delivery
Training and Development Award sponsored by The Chemical Engineer
Winner: Energus, UK – Addressing the Skills Gap
Water Award sponsored by GHD
Winner: University of Malaya and Berqat Mechanic Engineering, Malaysia – Self-Cleaning Ultrafiltration System Producing Clean Water
Young Industrialist Award sponsored by GSK
Winner: Sellafield, UK – Rojiar Ferschy
Young Researcher Award sponsored by BPE
Winner: DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory, US – Donal Finegan
A full list of the projects and highly commended entries can be found at icheme.org
