NUS @ SIWW 2024: Turbocharging the shift to low carbon with cutting-edge environmental solutions

NUS @ SIWW 2024: Turbocharging the shift to low carbon with cutting-edge environmental solutions

The NUS Pavilion at the recent Singapore International Water Week 2024 demonstrated the University's strength in harnessing its deep capabilities in environmental sciences and engineering to develop groundbreaking solutions for environmental challenges

Imagine a special building 'envelope' that can be used to generate solar energy yet lets in enough sunlight to grow edible crops like lettuce, or a special reactor that can convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) generated from wastewater treatment into valuable chemicals like ethanol.

Led by the NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), our researchers presented an impressive suite of projects at this year's Singapore International Water Week (SIWW), which was held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre and open to the public from 19 to 22 June.

Here, we highlight some exciting projects displayed at the NUS Pavilion. Besides sharing the University's recent research breakthroughs with visitors from around the world, NERI also signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) in the area of chemical analytics and the commercialisation of emerging water-related technologies.

Harvesting solar energy while optimising crop cultivation for tropical buildings

Can the facades of buildings in Singapore be used to generate energy as well as grow edible crops like oakleaf lettuce? A prototype of a tropical building 'envelope' by Dr Terrence Tan aims to do just that: improve the efficiency of clean energy production from solar photovoltaic (PV) cells and sustain the growth of vegetation for enhanced food production.

In pilot experiments, Dr Tan and his team from the Department of Architectureat the NUS College of Design and Engineering (CDE)found that the edible crops could still grow well despite being partially covered by the solar PV cells. The research team aims to scale up the prototype for testing on NUS campus to optimise the overall yield and placement of the PV pattern.

This project demonstrates how urban structures in Singapore and the region can be transformed into self-sustaining ecosystems, contributing to food security and renewable energy generation.

Transforming food waste into valuable 'feedstock' for microalgae cultivation

More than 810,000 tonnes of food waste were produced in Singapore in 2022, accounting for about 11% of total waste generated in this land-scarce island nation alone. Can food waste, rich in starch and sugars, be transformed into something of high commercial value?

Assistant Professor Iris Yu and her team from NERI and theDepartment ofCivil and Environmental Engineering (CEE)at CDE are aiming to do just that. They are developing an integrated microwave-microalgae reactor that can upcycle food waste into useful compounds. By applying low-energy microwave pulses on organic refuse such as food waste, the team's initial research showed that the resulting product, or derivative, can be used as a growth medium for microalgae. Microalgae are natural CO₂ absorbers and can be subsequently harvested for the production of biofuels, animal feed, and other high-value bioproducts.

The outcome is a dual-benefit system where food waste is converted into valuable bioproducts, such as biofuels and pharmaceuticals. This could also potentially reduce the volume of waste entering the limited landfill sites in Singapore, and reframe our ideas about what might constitute waste.

A science-based solution for restoring carbon-rich tropical peatlands

Tropical peatlands are vital carbon sinks. They hold about 30% of the carbon locked in rainforests (roughly 150 gigatons) and help to regulate the Earth's climate. However, these ecosystems are increasingly threatened by land use changes and forest fires, which disrupt the natural balance of peatlands and transformthem from carbon sinks that absorb carbon dioxide, into sources of carbon emissions.

A research team from NERI and the Department of Biological Sciences under NUS Faculty of Science has found a novel way to rehabilitate degraded peatlands by using naturally-occurring microorganisms in the soil to enhance their capacity to store carbon and support biodiversity. To study the interactions among microbial communities of these environments, scientists led by Associate Professor Sanjay Swarup have devised a unique experimental setup which simulates the natural environment of peatlands in a controlled setting. This allows researchers to closely observe how different microbes affect carbon emissions, providing insights into the underlying processes that can help us to restore troubled tropical peatlands.

Decarbonising the wastewater treatment industry by improving the utility of biogas

Wastewater treatment plants consume a huge amount of energy, but they also produce a by-product called biogas that is rich in methane. Biogas can be harnessed to generate heat and electricity. However, it contains a significant amount of CO₂, which is often viewed as a 'waste' compound that impedes the utility of biogas.

To address this, Associate Professor Olivier Lefebvre and his team from NERI and CDE's CEE are pioneering a cost-effective electrochemical method that can convert the CO₂ in biogas into valuable products such as ethanol and ethylene, which could serve as critical raw material for various industrial applications. This not only enhances the energy potential of biogas, but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment plants, thereby helping to 'decarbonise' the water industry.

Forging collaborations with industry: NERI signs two MOUs to apply and commercialise water-related research

At SIWW 2024, NERI also signed two separate MOUs with industry partners Agilent Technologies and Ripple2Wave Incubator (R2Wi).

NERI will work with Agilent, a leading laboratory instruments and technologies company, to undertake research on the chemical analytics of emerging contaminants such asantibiotic resistant bacteria or chemicals found in consumer and healthcare products. The MOU between the two parties was signed on 19 June 2024.

The MOU with R2Wi,a Singapore-based incubator that nurtures early-stage start-ups in the water tech space, was signed on 20 June 2024 and will focus on the commercialisation of emerging water-related technologies. NERIand R2Wi will work togetherto build the talent pool of researchers and students in the start-up ecosystem through knowledge exchange and sharing sessions.

Overall, the various projects and partnerships showcased at the NUS pavilion demonstratethe University's dedication in creating a sustainable future - through scientific excellence and collaborative innovation.