At the Institute for Future Fuels, you work on solar fuels such as methanol and collaborate internationally — including partners in Australia and Japan. What makes methanol such a promising candidate for future energy systems, and what role does solar energy play in this?
Methanol is a highly versatile chemical and plays a very important role in the chemical and energy industries. Methanol can be converted into a wide range of other chemicals and can also be used as a fuel e.g. for shipping. In particular, we are interested in the production of green methanol — methanol generated using renewable energy sources like solar electricity and solar heat. In projects such as SolMeth24, we are working with Australian partners to achieve this. Australia offers ideal conditions for solar energy production. The main challenge is finding partners willing to buy green methanol despite the costs, since today methanol produced using fossil energy is still cheaper.
You also evaluate such technologies in terms of their economic, ecological and, increasingly, social impact. But how can you measure whether a technology is efficient, socially acceptable and fair?
That is definitely a very challenging aspect. Economic and ecological assessments are relatively well established — we developed specific models and tools for the new technologies we are researching and we do process simulations, cost evaluations, life cycle assessments (LCA), and carbon footprint analyses. Concerning the socio-economic impacts, methodologies still need to be developed further. The aim is to look at issues like: Where do the raw materials come from? Are there e.g. concerns about child labour? And how are these technologies received by the public: Are they accepted, understood — or met with skepticism? These questions are harder to quantify, but they are essential if we want truly sustainable solutions. We are just starting to build expertise in this field.
Your department employs people from various different countries, making it a truly international team. In what ways does this diversity influence your research and the development of global solutions?
Very positively! I love this international atmosphere. Our team of 15 includes people from nine countries, which brings together a variety of perspectives and ways of thinking. Of course, you need to learn to communicate effectively and understand cultural nuances. But that is what makes the work so enriching. I also believe that if we want to solve global challenges such as climate change, we also have to work together globally — and that starts within our team.
Finally, what personally motivates you to continue working in such a complex, long-term research field?
It is the sense of doing something meaningful for the future. Sure, it is not always easy. Our projects often take years, we face political and financial challenges, and success is not guaranteed. But I feel we are contributing to something that really matters — technologies that could play a crucial role in the next years. I see my work as an investment in the future, and this motivates me every day.
