Novel Technology May Help Combat Climate Crisis

The climate catastrophe can be combated with new technologies. Scientists have developed cutting-edge technology that can be used to combat both climate change and the world's energy crises.

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Daring Study

Dr. Shafeer Kalathil of Northumbria University is one of the academics behind the initiative, which employs a chemical process to create high-value fuels and chemicals driven by renewable energy from sunshine, water, and carbon dioxide, as explained in ScienceDaily.

The conversion may occur without the need for organic additives, the production of toxins, or the usage of electricity thanks to the utilization of bacteria grown on a synthetic semiconductor device known as a photocatalyst sheet.

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To Reduce CO2 in the Atmosphere

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The project's goals are to reduce the increase in atmospheric CO2 levels, provide vital green energy sources, and lessen the world's reliance on fossil fuels.

The team's study results were published in the academic journal Nature Catalysis.

Working on the project alongside Dr. Qian Wang, an associate professor at Nagoya University in Japan, is Erwin Reisner, a professor of energy and sustainability at the University of Cambridge, and collaborators from Newcastle University, Dr. Kalathil, the vice chancellor's senior fellow.

Dr. Kalathil said: "Several occurrences, such as the recent spike in gas prices in the UK, the escalation of conflicts and civil wars in the Middle East, and the ecological and humanitarian threat of a nuclear meltdown in Fukushima, Japan, have shown the vulnerability of the world's energy supply. Therefore, finding alternate energy sources is crucial from a global perspective."

Global Issues

The global energy issue and the effects of climate change are addressed in the study.

To tackle these enormous problems without further harming the earth we live on, we must create new technology.

Although intermittent, renewable sources like wind and solar have increased power output.

We need technology that can produce storable fuels and sustainable chemicals to fill the void when the wind isn't blowing, or the sun isn't shining.

This problem is directly addressed in the new study.

Sustainable technology may help the world move closer to net zero by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and securing more of the much-needed energy supply.

Large-Scale Research

The Expanding Excellence in England Fund helps higher education research units and departments grow and improve their activities, and money from the European Research Council, UK Research and Innovation, and Research England also supported the initiative.

The Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment (HBBE), a joint project of Northumbria and Newcastle University, was responsible for securing the Research England funding.

The HBBE has received a total of £8 million from Research England to carry out the work.

The HBBE, established in August 2019, develops biotechnologies to design green structures that can metabolize waste, lessen pollution, provide sustainable energy, and enhance human health and welfare.

Achieving the Project's Goal

Dr. Kalathil, who is heavily involved with the HBBE, stated: "The goals of the HBBE fit with what we're trying to achieve with our research - to address critical environmental issues facing our society today and in the future. This emerging field of research represents an interdisciplinary approach that combines the strengths of microbes, synthetic materials, and analytical techniques for chemical transformation. It provides an excellent platform for producing high-value, environmental products."