Techno-economic Feasibility of Power to X Pathway in Australia

The great renewables potential of Australia presents the country with great opportunity to take advantage of utilizing sunshine to valuable fuel and feedstocks at scale and low-cost. This ‘excess’ solar capacity can be used to power technologies that are capable of converting waste CO₂ to methane, syngas, oxyhydrocarbons; waste-water/seawater into hydrogen; air into hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and ammonia. This open PhD project will investigate the economics and sustainability of generating these valuable products using renewable power and determine strategies and policies needed to facilitate commercialization of these technologies. A component of the project would be carried out in collaboration with industry. 

Key techniques: technoeconomic modelling, life cycle assessment, process design, system optimization, integration of gas and electricity market.

Environment: The students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, mentoring opportunities and fun and nurturing working environment to gain necessary expertise facilitating their career in industry or academic research. The project will be based at Particles and Catalysis Research Laboratories (www.pcrg.unsw.edu.au) in the School of Chemical Engineering