Imperial has opened a research centre in partnership with PETRONAS that will help the energy company introduce new green technologies.

The PETRONAS Centre for Engineering of Multiphase Systems (PETCEMS), led by Imperial’s Department of Chemical Engineering in collaboration with the Departments of Chemistry, and Earth Science and Engineering, will use computational modelling coupled with advanced experiments and chemical synthesis to address the company’s challenges and help it to become more sustainable.

The Centre extends a strategic partnership between Imperial and PETRONAS, Malaysia’s state energy company, that was launched in 2013 to advance new solutions to challenges in the energy industry.

Professor Omar Matar, Vice-Dean (Education) for the Faculty of Engineering and Director of PETCEMS, said: “PETCEMS will address key challenges involving the engineering of multiphase systems in the energy industry, will generate impact on the industrial and academic communities globally, and will help accelerate the sector on the journey towards zero pollution.”

The Centre extends a strategic partnership between Imperial and PETRONAS, Malaysia’s state energy company, that was launched in 2013 to advance new solutions to challenges in the energy industry.

Mr Tengku Muhammad Taufik, PETRONAS President and Group CEO, said: “The partnership underlines PETRONAS’ commitment towards pursuing technological advances to address energy transition responsibly. We are pleased that our shared ambition has enabled PETRONAS to intensify its forays into technologies that deliver energy solutions centered on positive social and environmental considerations. In line with our Statement of Purpose, we look forward to charting new frontiers in technology and innovation with both institutions to bring forth a sustainable energy future.”

Toward a sustainable energy system

Last year, PETRONAS announced an ambition to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. In the same year, Imperial introduced a major College-wide initiative, Transition to Zero Pollution, which aims to help enable the radical shift in industrial systems, technologies, and business models required to realise a sustainable and pollution-free future.

The research will continue to combine Imperial’s expertise in understanding and engineering the flow of solids, gases, and liquids flow in multi-phase systems with advanced computational modelling, experiments, and chemical synthesis, allowing researchers to successfully extrapolate from lab conditions to the more complex conditions in the field.

Last year, PETRONAS announced an ambition to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. In the same year, Imperial introduced a major College-wide initiative, Transition to Zero Pollution.

The Centre will also help PETRONAS meet its sustainability targets through research that includes computer-aided design and synthesis of novel molecules using ‘green’ bio-sourced materials, systems engineering-based methods for energy-efficient plant unit operations, and physics-based computational approaches, constrained by field data, for efficient handling of multiphase systems.

Speaking at the launch of PETCEMS, Professor Nick Jennings, Vice-Provost for Research and Enterprise at Imperial, said that meeting the growing demand for energy in a safe and environmentally responsible manner is vital for a sustainable society, and much of the university’s research is driving this agenda forward.

Technological advancement

Professor Jennings continued: “This centre is the next stage of the long-standing PETRONAS–Imperial partnership. I am delighted to see how this relationship has continued to develop. Through deep collaboration and the sharing of industry and academic expertise, the centre will be at the forefront of tackling energy challenges.”

Mr Samsudin Miskon, Senior Vice President Project Delivery & Technology at PETRONAS, said: “The integration of PETRONAS in-house technologies throughout the energy value chain is vital towards meeting our business and sustainability goals, upon which we synchronise our collaborations with our partners to deliver optimised value for a more sustainable future.”

Imperial and industry

Imperial collaborates on research with industry partners in a range of sectors to take academic insights out of the lab and translate them into new solutions and technologies for the benefit of industry and society. Research partnerships and other forms of industry engagement are facilitated at Imperial by the College’s Enterprise Division.