Electrocatalysis for energy storage - the circular fuel economy

Ten new projects have just been announced by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) as being granted funds for development. UKRI is a public body sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS). UKRI provides funding for projects across the UK and the announced project covers a variety of approaches for achieving a sustainable, cost-effective transition to net zero.

While electrolysis has gained wider publicity in the context of hydrogen production as hydrogen, one of the projects explores how carbon dioxide could be converted into hydrocarbons for energy use through plasma electrocatalysis. This project is from the Schools of Natural & Computing Sciences and Engineering at the University of Aberdeen. The process being explored would apply a voltage between two electrodes in a weakly ionised gas to create an electrochemical reaction that could reduce carbon dioxide present and oxidise hydrogen. The team of researchers is looking to build a prototype device that could be used for energy storage or to decarbonise industrial processes such as steel or cement production. 

While technical challenges still need to be overcome before such technology is commercially viable, the potential to build a device that could form a crucial part of the circular fuel economy is an exciting prospect.