Technology that converts household waste into green gas to heat UK homes wins big at IChemE Awards

Technology that converts household waste into green gas to heat UK homes wins big at IChemE Awards

1st November 2018

A new technology that converts solid household waste into a sustainable bio-energy has won the top prize at the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Global Awards 2018, tonight in Manchester, UK.

Converting Waste to BioSNG, the innovation by Advanced Plasma Power, University College London, Cadent Gas and Progressive Energy, all based in the UK, uses a unique gasification and catalytic process to turn household waste into Bio Synthetic Natural Gas (BioSNG); a low-carbon, renewable gas. The team have launched the world's first commercial demonstration plant to produce the gas; used to heat homes across the UK and power heavy-duty vehicles and buses.  

The joint entry triumphed earlier in the night, winning the Energy Award and Sustainability Award. It went on to be crowned the overall winner and was presented with IChemE’s coveted Outstanding Achievement Award, sponsored by ExxonMobil.

More than 100 entries made it to the final of the Awards this year, which were held in association with Johnson Matthey.

Woodside Energy was crowned the winner of the Process Safety Award for its data-driven decision-making robot, Watson. Watson can search through more than 500,000 historical data records within hours instead of days, boosting Woodside’s accuracy of risk assessment and hazard identification. 

Two new Awards were presented this year; the Diversity & Inclusion Award and the Pharma Award.

The Environment Agency have created an inclusive workplace that values and embraces difference; allowing employees to bring their whole self to work, progress their career, and feel their uniqueness is valued. It scooped the Diversity & Inclusion Award.

GSK, PM Group, Suncombe and ITT won the Pharma Award for designing a fully automated sterile filtration unit. It has eliminated the risk of contamination, which can happen before or after sterilisation within a manual process.

Young chemical engineer Donal Finegan of DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory, US, has become renowned in the international battery community for his rigorous investigations into battery failure. His insights have driven the design of the latest Li-ion batteries and used in NASA's manned space applications. Tonight, he won the Young Researcher Award.

The Water Award went to University of Malaya and Berqat Mechanic Engineering, for their solar-power enabled self-cleaning filtration system. The novel technology cleans water from rivers, underground and springs without using chemicals. The process is currently providing cheap, clean water to remote villages in Malaysia.

Green technology companies Enerkem, in Canada, and Green Lizard Technologies, UK, won the Biotechnology Award and Business Start-Up Award respectively. Furthermore, Stora Enso in Finland was presented with the Innovative Product Award for creating a new bio-based, sustainable material to replace fossil-fuels; used in coatings and adhesives.

Sellafield Ltd triumphed in two Award categories. It won the Team Award with Progressive Alliance and AXIOM for developing a new facility that allows the safe, long-term storage of plutonium. The Young Industrialist Award went to Rojiar Ferschy, who is currently developing solutions to support Sellafield’s plant operations responding to global nuclear challenges. She is a passionate advocate of chemical engineering and volunteers her free time to mentoring aspiring engineers and teaching English to Kurdish refugees at camps in Iran and Turkey.

Rolls-Royce walked away with the Industry Project Award for successfully constructing a new, complex manufacturing facility. The Food & Drink Award went to Monash University in Australia for its spray-drying technology for the dairy industry. The first of its kind, it has improved energy efficiency and reduced waste for its commercial partners who produce around 70% of Australia’s milk.

Johnson Matthey, US, won the Oil & Gas Award for its project CATACEL SSR: Structured Steam Reforming Catalyst. Meanwhile, the Research Project Award went to Imperial College London, UK for its Next-Generation Hybrid Solar Systems. Energus was crowned the winner of the Training and Development Award for its nucleargraduates programme, which is successfully and cost-effectively attracting and training new, young engineering talent the nuclear sector.

IChemE President Ken Rivers said:

“The IChemE Global Awards are a clear demonstration of the contribution chemical engineers are making worldwide for the benefit of society. Every finalist is living proof that chemical engineering matters. 

“Thank you to our judging panel, which every year has the significant task of reviewing each entry - and they do so on a completely voluntary basis. For our winners, this peer-review is what makes an IChemE Award so special.

“As President of the Institution, I’m so proud to have seen first-hand the fantastic work that our professional chemical engineering community are doing. Congratulations to all our deserving winners.”

The annual IChemE Global Awards celebrates the achievements and innovations of chemical engineers around the world. The 2018 Awards were hosted by comedian Alun Cochrane at The Principal, Manchester, UK on 1 November 2018.

Official winners of the 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

Summary of winning entry:

This consortium has developed an innovative and highly-competitive process to convert biomass and municipal solid waste into BioSNG, a sustainable, drop-in replacement for natural gas that can be used to heat homes and power heavy-duty vehicles. The patented process design, which has been demonstrated at pilot scale, includes a two-stage gasification process and a simplified catalytic train, which helps maximise yield and minimises residues and effluents from the process. The project led to the realisation of the world's first commercial demonstration plant to produce renewable, low-carbon BioSNG by gasification of household waste.

Biotechnology Award sponsored by WSP

Winner: Enerkem, Canada - From Waste to Biofuels: Enerkem's Disruptive Biotechnology

Highly Commended:

  • Centre of Sustainable Palm Oil Research (CESPOR), University of Nottingham, Havys Oil Mill Sdn. Bhd., Eureka Synergy Sdn. Bhd., Nottingham Green Technologies Sdn. Bhd., Malaysia - A New Bioreactor for Biogas Production from POME 
  • Imperial College London, UK - DMSO-Free Preservation of Therapeutic Cell

Summary of winning entry:

Enerkem produces advanced biofuels and renewable chemicals from waste. Its disruptive proprietary technology converts non-recyclable, non-compostable municipal solid waste into methanol, ethanol and other widely-used chemicals. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Enerkem operates a full-scale commercial facility in Alberta as well as an innovation centre in Quebec. Enerkem's facilities are built as prefabricated systems based on the company's modular manufacturing infrastructure that can be deployed globally. 

Enerkem's technology is a prime example of how a true circular economy can be achieved by diversifying the energy mix and by making everyday products greener while offering a smart, sustainable alternative to landfilling and incineration.

Business Start-Up sponsored by Bouygues Energies and Services 

Winner: Green Lizard Technologies, UK - GLT’s Journey from Creation to Commercialisation

Highly Commended:

  • Mint Innovation, New Zealand - Recovering Gold from Waste Using Microbes 
  • MKPro Engineering, Australia - Start-Up Award: MKPro Engineering

Summary of winning entry:

Green Lizard Technologies (GLT) is a spin-out company with expertise in the Chemical, Energy, and Recycling Industries. It applies a distinctive problem-solving capability to develop a succession of defensible technologies that are differentiated by virtue of being ‘cheaper, greener, cleaner, and safer’.  Each technology is specifically designed to address large and impactful market opportunities. GLT has a proven track record of taking technologies from bench to pilot to commercial scale using a unique fast-track methodology. GLT is fast building an excellent reputation along with international consortia tackling many environmental and societal problems, such as emissions reduction and plastics recycling.

Diversity and Inclusion sponsored by BP

Winner: Environment Agency, UK - Diversity: It's in Our Nature

Highly Commended:

  • InterEngineering, UK - Connecting, Informing and Empowering LGBT+ Engineers
  • Rolls-Royce, UK - Inclusive Engineering for the LGBT+ Community

Summary of winning entry:

The Environment Agency aims to create a “life-enhancing” working environment that values and embraces difference. It fosters an inclusive workplace culture where colleagues from all backgrounds can bring their whole self to work, progress their career, and feel their uniqueness is valued. The company aims to create a diverse workforce that reflects the communities that it serves by being visible and engaging with its communities.

Energy Award sponsored by Rolls-Royce

Winner: Advanced Plasma Power, University College London, Cadent Gas, Progressive Energy, UK - Converting Waste to BioSNG

Highly Commended:

  • Hong Kong Productivity Council, China - Food Waste Total Recycling Process
  • Imperial College London, UK - Next-Generation Hybrid Solar Systems

Summary of winning entry:

This consortium has developed an innovative and highly-competitive process to convert biomass and municipal solid waste into BioSNG, a sustainable, drop-in replacement for natural gas that can be used to heat homes and power heavy-duty vehicles. The patented process design, which has been demonstrated at pilot scale, includes a two-stage gasification process and a simplified catalytic train, which helps maximise yield and minimises residues and effluents from the process. The project led to the realisation of the world's first commercial demonstration plant to produce renewable, low-carbon BioSNG by gasification of household waste.

Food and Drink Award sponsored by adi Group

Winner: Monash University, Australia - Collaborative Food and Dairy Research

Highly Commended:

  • WSP and Quorn Foods, UK - Belasis Quorn Production Facility

Summary of winning entry:

Building on a world-first microfluidic spray-drying technology (used to create, for example, milk powders), the Monash Program of Collaborative Research for the Food & Dairy Industry has enabled its commercial partners – a group which processes >70% of Australia’s milk – to more precisely predict and control processing outcomes, improving energy efficiency and reducing waste. 

Joining forces with research partners across the globe, particularly in China where demand in the food and dairy sector is booming, this large-scale internationally collaborative research program is revolutionising the industry. 

The Program also strengthens industry workforces by training industry-ready postgraduates and linking them with partners. 

Industry Project Award sponsored by Sellafield Ltd

Winner: Rolls-Royce, UK - Delivering a New Nuclear Manufacturing Facility

Highly Commended:

  • Sellafield Ltd, UK - Working Together to Commission Evaporator D
  • University of Malaya and Berqat Mechanic Engineering, Malaysia - Self-Cleaning Ultrafiltration System Producing Clean Water

Summary of winning entry:

Rolls-Royce has successfully designed and constructed a new, highly complex, manufacturing facility for its Raynesway site. The new facility replaces the existing, ageing plant and secures the company's ability to deliver on customer commitments, now and in the future. 

Rolls-Royce created a collaborative environment enabling the project team to manage interactions between the customer, contract organisations and regulatory bodies. The project followed strict engineering controls to ensure the design met regulatory requirements, as well as operational targets.

In delivering this project, Rolls-Royce has demonstrated its ability to manage a complex engineering project in tight timescales and a challenging economic climate.

Innovative Product Award sponsored by Loss Prevention Bulletin

Winner: Stora Enso, Finland - Renewable Lignin Replaces Fossil-Based Materials

Highly Commended:

  • Dow, US - EVOLV3D™ Universal Support Material
  • WorleyParsons, Australia, Reactor Services International, US, and Mecfor, Canada - CAROL (Catalyst Removal Amphirol)

Summary of winning entry:

Traditionally discarded by the pulp and paper industry, Stora Enso has been focusing on repurposing lignin, a versatile raw material which can replace fossil-based materials in a range of applications. 

Lineo™ by Stora Enso is a more sustainable, non-toxic alternative launched earlier this year and it is already replacing phenols in coatings and adhesives. 

This is an important step on the way to replacing fossil-based materials with renewable solutions and the innovative product is available to any company seeking more sustainable, bio-based alternatives. In the future, Lineo™ could also be developed into carbon fibre and material for energy storage applications.

Oil and Gas Award sponsored by Jacobs

Winner: Johnson Matthey, US - CATACEL SSR: Structured Steam Reforming Catalyst 

Highly Commended:

  • NGLTech and Vestigo Petroleum Sdn Bhd, Malaysia - Low-Pressure Condensate Recovery (LP-CRS) System
  • Northern Gas Networks, UK - The H21 Project

Summary of winning entry:

CATACEL SSR is a coated, metal-foil-based, engineered alternative to the catalyst-impregnated ceramic pellet used in steam methane reforming. 

For many years, the pellet has driven reforming reactions in hydrogen, methanol and ammonia plants. Catalyst design is a balance between many competing requirements such as strength, heat transfer, activity and pressure drop. 

The engineered structure of CATACEL SSR enables it to stretch many of the limitations imposed by the use of ceramic pellets. It exhibits higher activity, improved heat transfer, and lower pressure drop all at the same time. 

Pharma Award sponsored by PM Group

Winner: GSK, PM Group, Suncombe and ITT, UK - Fully Integrated Sterile Filtration Unit

Highly Commended:

  • AstraZeneca, UK - Accelerated Drug Launch
  • Micropore Technologies, UK - Monodisperse Particle and Emulsion Manufacturing Equipment

Summary of winning entry:

Filter Integrity testing typically involves a number of manual operations (moving filters, connecting pipework and so forth) and relies on a path to atmosphere to allow integrity to be tested. This project aimed to optimise the filtration process and eliminate risks involved with manual operations, and potential routes for contamination, to allow sterile filters to be operated and integrity tested with no quality risks.

Therefore, we have designed a fully automated, fully clean-in-place (CIP) and sterilise-in-place (SIPable), sterile filtration unit, with hard-piped, in-situ integrity testing, with no potential routes for contamination during post-sterilisation, pre-use, integrity testing. Only the filter change element is a manual operation.

Process Safety Award sponsored by ioMosaic

Winner: Woodside Energy, Australia - Watson for HSEQ - Learning from History

Highly Commended:

  • Esso Petroleum Company (ExxonMobil), UK - ExxonMobil Fired Heater Critical Operating Parameter
  • Fluor, UK - Absorption Technology for Ultra-Sour Gas

Summary of winning entry:

In 2017, Woodside delivered Watson for HSEQ. This intelligent research assistant builds on developments in data analytics and cognitive computing. 

Watson for HSEQ is a cognitive search and analysis platform that is available to all Woodside personnel. It allows each user to search multiple data sets, tapping into historical corporate knowledge, surfacing valuable insights from multiple different internal and external systems encompassing over 500,000 records. 

Watson for HSEQ has enabled a step-change in how Woodside learns from events as part of its focus on HSEQ performance improvement, supported by its process safety management framework.

Research Project Award sponsored by Otto Simon

Winner: Imperial College London, UK - Next-Generation Hybrid Solar Systems

Highly Commended:

  • Fluor, UK - Absorption Technology for Ultra-Sour Gas
  • University of Oxford, UK - Engineered 3D-Microtumours for Personalised Cancer Therapy 

Summary of winning entry:

The Clean Energy Processes (CEP) Lab at Imperial College has developed a novel integrated PV and solar-thermal (PVT) hybrid panel technology that breaks entirely from the optical and thermal design principles employed in all current PVT panels.  

The technology can deliver up to 3-4 times more useful energy (electricity plus heat) than standard PV panels and up to 1.5-2 times more energy than conventional hybrid PVT panels from the same area. It is also cost-competitive with low-cost/low-end panels.

A patent has been filed and the CEP Lab is now working with spin-out company Solar Flow, investors and original equipment manufacturers on a full-scale demonstration project funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.  

Sustainability Award sponsored by Unilever

Winner: Advanced Plasma Power, University College London, Cadent Gas, Progressive Energy, UK - Converting Waste to BioSNG

Highly Commended:

  • Hong Kong Productivity Council, China - Food Waste Total Recycling Process
  • Lehigh Technologies and Michelin, US - Making Tire Production Fully Circular 

Summary of winning entry:

This consortium has developed an innovative and highly-competitive process to convert biomass and municipal solid waste into BioSNG, a sustainable, drop-in replacement for natural gas that can be used to heat homes and power heavy-duty vehicles. The patented process design, which has been demonstrated at pilot scale, includes a two-stage gasification process and a simplified catalytic train, which helps maximise yield and minimises residues and effluents from the process. The project led to the realisation of the world's first commercial demonstration plant to produce renewable, low-carbon BioSNG by gasification of household waste.

Team Award sponsored by BakerHicks

Winner: Sellafield Ltd, Progressive Alliance, AXIOM, UK - Collaborative Working Enables Major Project Delivery

Highly Commended:

  • Jacobs, Atkins and Sellafield Ltd, UK - Integrated Team delivery of Critical Risk Reduction Mission
  • Sellafield Ltd, UK - Working Together to Commission Evaporator D 

Summary of winning entry:

The Sellafield Product and Residues Store (SPRS) Retreatment Plant project is to deliver a new facility to enable long term storage of plutonium at the Sellafield site. Through collaborative working and effective integration of supply chain partners, the preliminary design for this £600m nuclear new build project was accelerated to deliver in a 12-month timescale. 

The collaborative behaviours and ways of working enabled the project team to deliver a quality facility on time and on budget, in a highly pressured and scrutinised environment. It has also provided a blueprint for successful project delivery at Sellafield, which is to be rolled out to all future major projects.

Training and Development Award sponsored by The Chemical Engineer

Winner: Energus, UK - Addressing the Skills Gap

Highly Commended:

  • Imperial College London (entry on behalf of eighteen partners of the project consortium), UK - Integrated Process Operations
  • Syngenta, UK - Syngenta Process Engineering Training Scheme Success

Summary of winning entry:

The UK’s nuclear industry is facing its biggest challenge in decades. Decommissioning and new build projects mean the need for suitably skilled graduates from the UK is greater than ever.

Energus runs the nucleargraduates programme, under licence to the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. It was established to bring together organisations from across the industry to attract the next generation of graduates in a strategic, yet cost-effective, manner. 

Recruitment, employment, development and delivery of the graduates are carried out by their sponsoring organisations. The nucleargraduates programme is delivered to be adaptable and bespoke to a wide variety of companies and graduates.

Water Award sponsored by GHD

Winner: University of Malaya and Berqat Mechanic Engineering, Malaysia - Self-Cleaning Ultrafiltration System Producing Clean Water

Highly Commended:

  • Ecolab, UK - Ecolab 3DTRASAR™ Technology Drives Sustainability
  • University of Bath, UK and Universidad de Los Andes, Colombia - AquaSens

Summary of winning entry:

This project involves the development of an automated self-cleaning mobile ultrafiltration system to produce clean water from various sources, including river water, underground water and spring water.

It incorporates a self-cleaning smart backwash system eliminating the use of chemicals. It can also be driven by solar power and can be easily transported to rural areas whenever needed. It is a green system with high socio-economic impact addressing clean water security goal (SDG6). The system has been installed in many remote villages in Malaysia and can produce clean water at a cost less than MYR 0.20 (£0.10) per m³.

Young Industrialist Award sponsored by GSK

Winner: Sellafield, UK - Rojiar Ferschy

Highly Commended:

  • Catalytic Innovations, US - Stafford Wheeler Sheehan
  • GSK, UK - Sophie Duffield

Summary of winning entry:

Rojiar Ferschy is a talented communicator and multi-faceted professional, who has worked against great adversity as a displaced person to accomplish her numerous achievements.  

She continually proves herself through her dedication to her professional work and her voluntary activism.  Her story is extraordinary and serves as an inspiration to engineers worldwide. Her potential is boundless, and it would be a difficult task to overstate her current accomplishments.  

There is no one more deserving of this award than Rojiar; a professional engineer with an attitude that has nurtured positivity and hard work, she is an exceptional candidate for the Young Industrialist Award. 

Young Researcher Award sponsored by BPE

Winner: DOE National Renewable Energy Laboratory, US - Donal Finegan 

Highly Commended:

  • Green Lizard Technologies and Queen's University Belfast, UK - Joshua McCann
  • Xiamen University Malaysia, Malaysia - Ong Wee Jun

Summary of winning entry:

The synergy of Dr Donal Finegan’s positive approach to problem solving and collaborative spirit has led to a tremendously productive and impactful early career. His name is widely known among the international battery community for leading high-impact, practical, and rigorous investigations into battery failure. His innovation and insights have had direct positive impacts on the design of next generation Li-ion batteries as well as advanced energy systems, including some of NASA’s manned space applications. Combined with his outstanding track record and talent in communicating his research to a broad audience, he stands out as an exemplary researcher and engineer.

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Contact

For more information please contact:

Tara Wilson, Head of Communications, IChemE
t: +44 (0) 1788 534454
e: twilson@icheme.org 

Rachael Fraser, PR and Communications Executive, IChemE
t: +44 (0) 1788 534435
e: rfraser@icheme.org

What is chemical engineering?

Chemical, biochemical and process engineering is the application of science, maths and economics in the process of turning raw materials into everyday, and more specialist, products. Professional chemical engineers design, construct and manage process operations all over the world. Oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, food and drink, synthetic fibres and clean drinking water are just some of the products where chemical engineering plays a central role.

IChemE: www.icheme.org

With an international membership exceeding 40,000 in around 100 countries, the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) aims to be the organisation of choice for chemical engineers. It promotes competence and a commitment to best practice, advances the discipline for the benefit of society and supports the professional development of its members.

IChemE is the only organisation to award Chartered Chemical Engineer and Professional Process Safety Engineer status.

IChemE Awards: www.icheme.org/awards

The IChemE Awards celebrate excellence, innovation and achievement in the chemical, biochemical and process industries.

The first IChemE Awards – originally called the Excellence in Safety and Environment Awards – were held on 23 March 1994 at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, UK. The IChemE Singapore Awards were established in 2010, followed by the IChemE Malaysia Awards in 2013. The IChemE Awards were re-named the IChemE Global Awards in 2013 in response to growing international interest.

The IChemE Singapore Awards were not held in 2018.

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