Problem to address
BIOGRID is addressing two challenges facing Ireland’s energy system. Biomethane plants produce excess biological carbon dioxide (biogenic CO2) that is often removed and released without being used. This source of gas has value potential for the production of valuable energy while also reducing the carbon footprint of biomethane production. Energy is also being lost or curtailed in wind and solar farms that generate surplus electricity at times when demand is not there to take it.
BIOGRID aims to address both of these energy inefficiencies by exploring how these resources can be used together.
The proposal
BIOGRID proposes the development of a bioreactor system that could be installed at existing Biomethane plants with minimal disruption to site infrastructure. The bioreactor is designed to methanise biogenic CO2 with green hydrogen, thus increasing the overall output of biomethane and eliminating energy and emission wastes.
Surplus energy from wind and solar farms produces renewable hydrogen. BIOGRID would use the renewable hydrogen to convert excess carbon dioxide from biogas plants into biomethane.
Meet the BIOGRID team
Professor Vivek Ranade
Vivek Ranade is the Bernal Chair of Process Engineering at the Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland. He leads the...
Professor Vivek Ranade
Vivek Ranade is the Bernal Chair of Process Engineering at the Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, Ireland. He leads the Multiphase Reactors and Process Intensification group, which integrates experiments, modelling, reaction engineering and machine learning to advance the understanding of multiphase flows, reactors and process intensification.
His group is developing fluidic devices, MAGIC (modular, agile, intensified and continuous) processes, and Factory in a Box platforms. These innovations and intensification strategies support resource conservation, decarbonisation and waste valorisation, contributing to planetary sustainability. His work on MAGIC processes, mixing, emulsions and crystallisation is contributing to advances in healthcare, nutrition and personal care products, with potential benefits for human wellbeing.
Before moving to Ireland, Vivek led chemical engineering research at CSIR–National Chemical Laboratory (NCL), where he developed solutions, products and processes for a variety of applications. He has also held research positions at ETH Zurich, TU Delft and the University of Twente, The Netherlands. With over 250 papers, 20+ patents (granted/filed) and nine books, he has made significant contributions to chemical engineering. He has served as an Associate Editor of Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research and was the Founding Deputy Editor of ACS Engineering Au. Vivek is also a co-founder of two technology companies Tridiagonal Solutions and VIVIRA Process Technologies.
Dr. Recep Dereli
Dr. Dereli holds a dual PhD from Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands, and Istanbul Technical University, Türkiye, specialising in...
Dr. Recep Dereli
Dr. Dereli holds a dual PhD from Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands, and Istanbul Technical University, Türkiye, specialising in the application of anaerobic membrane bioreactors for industrial wastewater treatment. In 2017, he joined University College Dublin (UCD) as a postdoctoral researcher under the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)-funded Energy Systems Integration Partnership Programme (ESIPP). He was subsequently appointed Assistant Professor in the UCD School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering in 2019. His research focuses on wastewater treatment, waste valorisation, mathematical modelling of biochemical processes, and the water–energy nexus, with a particular emphasis on resource recovery, process optimisation, and sustainable integration of water and energy systems.
Meet our Innovation Steering Members
Professor Clive Deadman
Clive began his career as an engineer in the African mining and UK automotive sectors. He then spent nine years...
Professor Clive Deadman
Clive began his career as an engineer in the African mining and UK automotive sectors. He then spent nine years in private equity, working with investors and innovators to grow a range of new ventures in energy, environmental services and clinical care. He later spent 20 years with United Utilities (£100 billion assets) and Electricity North West (£20 billion assets).
In recent years Clive has written two books and served as Chair and Non-executive Director of several regulatory and asset-owning organisations, as well as Professor of Water and Energy at Cranfield University.
He has extensive experience of living and working internationally.
PJ Rudden
With an honours degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UCD, PJ Rudden has over 40 years’ experience in gas,...
PJ Rudden
With an honours degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from UCD, PJ Rudden has over 40 years’ experience in gas, water and waste management. In 2020, he was appointed Chair of the Construction Sector Group (CSG) Subgroup in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and an External Member of the Project Ireland 2040 Delivery Board reporting to the Minister.
The Gas 2025 Report by (Sofregaz/MCOS/Penspen/JPKenny) published in 2000 recommended several pipeline supply options including a Second Gas Interconnector and a Gas Pipeline to the West from Dublin-Athlone-Galway-Limerick which resulted in a total pipeline length of 335km, the longest pipeline in the Irish state.
Another major project around this time was Dublin Waste to Energy Project which was designed to replace many depleted landfills around the country and to replace these with a state-of-the-art thermal treatment plant at Poolbeg in Dublin Port with a future possibility now of a district heating project in the Docklands area.
P J Rudden sought to explore gas innovation in UK with Scotia Gas Networks (SGN) who were responsible for Scotland and Southern England south of the River Thames and tendered successfully for Network Innovation Competition (NIC) with the Regulator Ofgem. The project comprised the design, manufacture and field testing of new inspection and repair robots. The breakthrough robotic systems were developed to allow gas utilities to identify mains and extend the life of large diameter cast iron pipeline infrastructure.
In 2006, P J Rudden was also appointed by the National Standards Authority of Ireland to chair the TC 5 Committee to update Irish Gas Standard IS 328. The TC5 Committee completely updated the new document which was finally published in 2021.
He was also Project Director for the Irish Scottish Links Energy Study (ISLES) for the Governments of Scotland, Ireland and Northern Ireland (2010-2014) which led transboundary policy formulation across Regulatory, Market, Technology, Environmental and Planning workstreams for the future development of offshore energy (wind, wave and tidal). He reported directly to the Head of Energy, Scottish Government and to the ISLES Technical Committee of the three Governments and presented the recommendations to the three Ministers meeting in Glasgow in 2014.
Throughout his career, he was also President of Engineers Ireland and President of the UCD Engineering Graduates Association. He was also Director of the EU Commission Secretaire for the European Green Capital Award for the most sustainable cities across Europe.