As second and third-year students, it was a rare and remarkable opportunity to participate in prestigious events such as the Chemeca and Hazards Australasia Conference. Representing UWA, Curtin University and Western Australia in the 2024 Chemeca Hackathon was a privilege for our team, and we were excited to showcase our skills and knowledge on a national stage.
The experience gave us invaluable insights into how industry and academia collaborate to tackle the challenges of the energy transition. It highlighted the crucial role of teamwork between the two sectors, whose combined efforts are essential in addressing the global energy challenges we face.
We were proud to represent WA as one of the finalists from universities across Australia and New Zealand. To top it off, we placed second among numerous teams in the hackathon, an achievement that reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire team.
From left: Liam Fu (Curtin University), Yunku Kang, Hannah Waldron.
Attending the Chemeca Conference was an eye-opening experience. Hearing from industry leaders and academics was not only inspiring but also thought-provoking. It reignited our passion for Chemical Engineering, and we are excited for what the future holds in this field.
Our project, Pyro-Methanation ElectraCapture (PMEC), presents a carbon-negative, value-driven solution that integrates CCUS, methanation, and pyrolysis to create a safe and sustainable gaseous fuel supply chain, connecting Australia’s clean energy hubs. This phased approach is designed to achieve net-negative carbon emissions throughout its lifecycle.
Stage 1 begins with a solar-powered electrolysis plant, generating hydrogen and oxygen for local distribution.
Stage 2 introduces catalytic methanation, utilising CO₂ captured by existing CCUS infrastructure. This brings mutual benefits—our design receives valuable feedstock, the supplier avoids CO₂ venting costs, and Australia moves closer to its net-zero targets. The methane produced will be delivered through the domestic pipeline network.
Stage 3 installs pyrolysis plants at end-user sites to convert methane into hydrogen and valuable carbon by-products.
Stage 4 expands to international markets by exporting green methane, leveraging Australia's LNG export chain and supporting overseas pyrolysis operations.
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to UWA and Curtin University, particularly Professor Hui Tong Chua and Professor Tejas Bjatelia, for making it possible for us to attend the conference on the Gold Coast. Your support made this entire experience unforgettable. We strongly encourage future Chemical Engineering students to participate in the next Chemeca Hackathon.