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I’m part of bp’s applied sciences team and we work on new processes, innovations and opportunities to support our sustainable goals as we approach Net Zero 2050. 

Within the team I help to create a new catalyst system to convert CO and H2 into fuels such as jet fuel. I need to understand all the aspects of the science we study and understand how to make it work at lab scale and commercial scale. 

It’s a collaborative project and we’ve been working together for quite some years – it’s very much a joint project. We bring different skill sets, with bp focusing on the catalyst and fundamental science and Johnson Matthey bringing reactor knowledge and innovation. Together we make a good team with complimentary skills. 

Chemistry has helped us to create a clean technology and clean fuels compared to current options. The technology is hugely exciting and will be used commercially. It is so exciting to see the lab technology scale up to commercial use in the plant. The scale of household waste converted into aviation fuel is vast and is a big step forward towards positively impacting road transport and aviation emissions, among others. 

Chemistry is a great place to be. I’ve had the freedom to explore and innovate while working on vital research. Being able to work in a multi-disciplinary team with chemists and engineers means that we can get projects to scale and see them in action. It also means that every day I’m learning something new about the catalyst and how to make it work better. 

It’s been exciting and inspiring to see the technology come to fruition after being involved from the very start at lab scale through to real life use. It’s also inspiring to be working on a project that fits closely with bp’s strategy towards reducing emissions and becoming a net-zero carbon company by 2050. It’s great to play my part in this.

Our work was built on a strong collaboration between bp and Johnson Matthey which benefitted from complementary knowledge and skills for the catalyst design and process development.  We also have a number of projects with other research groups and universities and the collaborations are vital to maximise the potential of an opportunity and bring new approaches to a problem. This includes accessing techniques and capabillities in analytical chemistry and working with experts in their fields to maximise the learnings we can get from the work we do.

A good research culture needs space to innovate as well as time to solve business questions. At bp I am lucky to have that space to deliver project deliverables as well as space to innovate and try something new or different.