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Indian-origin scientists develop microreactor to produce sustainable fuel
PRIME-Fuel is anticipated to play a critical role in transitioning to sustainable energy solutions.
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Researchers Rahul Pandey, senior scientist with SRI and principal investigator (L), and Praveen Bollini (R), a University of Houston chemical engineering faculty, are key contributors to the microreactor project. / Image - University of Houston
A microreactor developed by Indian-origin scientists has been awarded a $3.6 million as part of U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) grant.
The project to develop a microreactor for converting carbon dioxide into methanol using renewable energy was spearheaded by Rahul Pandey, a senior scientist at SRI and principal investigator, as well as Praveen Bollini and Vemuri Balakotaiah, professors of chemical engineering at University of Houston’s William A. Brookshire Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
The project, “Printed Microreactor for Renewable Energy Enabled Fuel Production” (PRIME-Fuel), is part of ARPA-E’s $41 million GREENWELLS program, which funds technologies that harness renewable energy sources such as wind and solar to produce sustainable liquid fuels. These fuels offer cleaner alternatives for transportation and long-term energy storage.
Using cutting-edge modeling and SRI’s proprietary co-extrusion printing technology, the microreactor will be designed to operate efficiently even during dips in renewable energy supply. “The technology developed here will provide a means for the distributed, low-cost production of methanol using stranded renewable sources of energy, including those in underdeveloped countries,” said Bollini.
Methanol, a versatile energy carrier and feedstock for various industries, can help replace fossil fuels while reducing emissions. The PRIME-Fuel prototype aims to produce 30 MJe/day of methanol. When scaled up, a 100 MW electricity plant could produce 225 tons of methanol daily, cutting emissions by 88 percent.
Pandey, a UH alumnus, emphasized the project’s potential stating, “We believe that PRIME-Fuel will play a critical role in the transition to sustainable energy solution. By harnessing renewable energy to produce methanol, we can help combat climate change while providing valuable resources for various industries by leading to cost-effective and sustainable methanol production.”
The three-year initiative includes scaling and commercialization plans, with market availability projected within five years. Researchers are optimistic about the project’s role in advancing renewable energy and achieving sustainability goals.
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