A CCS knowledge summit for young researchers

The ‘2019 Winter School’, a three-day workshop, held at University of Sheffield from Feb 12th to 14th provides a wonderful opportunity for young researchers from the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in CCS and Cleaner Fossil Energy and the UK CCS Research Centre to share and develop interdisciplinary knowledge in conventional power, fossil energy and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.

The workshop opened by a welcome speech from prof. Colin Snape, the director of the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in CCS and Cleaner Fossil Energy. The workshop was then started by wonderful talks on difference aspects of fossil energy and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies including shale gas resource and exploration permitting in UK, future way of CCS, and future career with a doctoral degree, activated carbon regeneration, latest carbon capture technologies, carbon capture material development, and the application of advanced X-ray computer tomography in fuel cell.

The second day of the workshop started by a visionary talk given by prof. Jon Gibbins on practical considerations for CCS deployment over the next decades, followed by an inspiring presentation on combustion by Mr. Philp Sharman, the part-time director of the International Flame Research Foundation. A broad topics in CCS were discussed which includes coal/biomass combustion, diesel engine, gas storage in salt caverns, pressure swing adsorption, new polymers, and adsorption associated geological carbon storage in coal seams and shale formations.

The third day was a unique time for researchers from the Centre for Doctoral Training in CCS and Cleaner Fossil Energy. All of them were divided into seven groups at the first day of the workshop with each group having a unique project with the them ‘where energy goes next’. Each group has two nights to prepare their projects and will battle out for the presentation prize on the third day. The group presentation ended by a concluding remarks from prof. Robin Irons, the director of the recently awarded EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training for Resilient Decarbonised Fuel Energy Systems. The prizes for the best presentation/poster and group work were awarded at the lunch banquet.