Student Profile - Q&A with Niccolo (MSc Sustainable Energy Futures)

Niccolo Bitossi recently graduated from the MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures in Imperial College run by the Energy Futures Lab.

We talked to him about the course, his thesis and what he plans to do next.

Where were you before the MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures?

I did an Energy Engineering Degree and Masters in the University of Pisa, Italy which mixed the three key engineering domains (mechanical, chemical and electrical). I also specialised in energy (Computational Fluid Dynamics) during my Master’s thesis. It was a project carried out with Enel Green Power (first renewable energy Italian supplier) on one of their hybrid power plants integrating biomass and geothermal power. The aim of the research programme was to build a computational model of the boiler in order to test different boiler configurations.

After my Masters, I did a short internship at an energy service company (Innowatio Group headquartered in Bergamo, near Milan) where I looked at the energy efficiency of schools and hospitals.

So why did you chose this particular course?

During my undergraduate and masters, I became passionate about energy. However when I looked at my skills, I realised that although I was a good engineer, I had no idea about markets, business and policy. I also recognised that although you can be the best engineer in the world and have an excellent idea or have even developed an amazing technology, to have any kind of impact you have to understand how the markets work. Therefore, I thought it would be sensible for me to acquire this kind of knowledge (i.e. of the economy, business, and policy mechanisms). The MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures at Imperial College is a perfect fit as it’s technical but it also covers these aspects as well.

So did you enjoy the course?

Yes, I really did. I especially enjoyed the overarching systemic approach of the Masters as it covered conventional fossil fuels, power generation and a wide range of renewable technologies. We looked at the merits of each, their economic potential, and the business case, and we also examined factors such as social acceptance. During the Masters, we also developed a lot of soft skills (the entrepreneurial side) that will come in handy. I also really liked the group projects, which are definitely useful for when you enter the job market as it’s all about teamwork.

What was the project at the Sustainable Gas Institute?

The essence of my project was to investigate how technology learning process can impact the future of the carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the industrial sector. We are still very much reliant on fossil fuels especially for industry; around 60% of its energy consumption is from oil, coal and gas. Industrial decarbonisation is an enormous challenge. CCS is a suite of key technologies that could deliver deep decarbonisation but there is a very high capacity and operational cost.

We looked at how the technology learning process can bring significant cost reductions to CCS. This is a process through which the cost of technology decreases over time thanks to improvements in technology manufacturing, operation, and financing. The learning process can be driven by multiple factors such as technology deployment, R&D, knowledge spillovers across different sectors and different countries. We considered three different carbon price trajectories and looked at the influence of tech learning on CCS uptake.

What were your findings?

We found that the main driver for the uptake of CCS was carbon pricing or a policy commitment. However, technology learning still plays a significant role. In low carbon price contexts, tech learning can be accountable for achieving 70% larger CCS capacity in 2050, compared to no-learning scenarios.

Why did you use the MUSE model for your project?

Yes, I used the integrated assessment model, MUSE developed by the Sustainable Gas Institute (SGI). MUSE was used to stimulate the evolution of the US industrial sector from 2010 to 2100. As MUSE is module it enables a very tailored analysis on specific sectors and specific countries [read about MUSE on the Sustainable Gas Institute website].

What aspects did you enjoy about the project? What did you learn?

I found it a really interesting research project – and it was a truly great experience for me to work on developing my energy modelling skills with the MUSE energy team led by Dr Adam Hawkes, Dr Sara Budinis and Dr Julia Sachs, who were a great help. It was also great to have the opportunity to carry out a systemic review which is a valuable skill for working in the energy sector. I also used my new-found knowledge in policy and economics. The project was also beneficial in other ways as I was also interested in learning more about CCS and its potential. I also improved my programming skills – for example, I didn’t know the coding language, Python, beforehand.

What are your future plans?

The great news is that I have found work already. I am going to work as a sustainable energy consultant at a company which looks into three main areas (hydrogen and fuel cells, biofuels and low carbon transport). The company is called E4Tech – fortunately, there are a number of alumni from the course so I’m hoping it will be a smooth transition. I’m looking to acquire good professional skills to add to my theoretical knowledge.

What area of energy research would you like to work in?

I’d like to work in the hydrogen sector as I feel there is a lot of potential here. Hydrogen technology has a long history. The idea has been around since the beginning of the last century and continuously had cycles of success and failure. However, in the last 10 years it has regained momentum due to the increased urgency of an energy transition towards a low-carbon future. Making hydrogen sustainable both from an environmental and economic point of view is still a challenge. However, it constitutes one of the few options to decarbonise very high energy density uses in industry and the transport sector. I believe that the switch to hydrogen represents an interesting opportunity for Oil and Gas majors trying to lead the transition instead of lagging behind. They can leverage on already established know-how in natural gas industry and the availability of large capital.