Project Lead: Dr Domenico Balsamo
Institution: Newcastle University.
Partners: Northumbrian Water Group Limited, METzero Technologies LTD.
Amount: £ 55k
Scheme: Commercialising Innovation.
Theme/Area: Integration into End Use Sectors/Industrial Decarbonisation.
Brief Description: This project will advance a TRL 5 controller prototype by integrating run-time management to optimise applied voltage and current in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). The objectives are to reduce energy consumption, enhance biological performance and operational stability, improve the efficiency of biogas (hydrogen) production, lower aeration costs, and progress the technology towards TRL 6–7 readiness, supporting sector-wide decarbonisation. The project will investigate the impact of real-time voltage control on MEC performance across varying wastewater concentrations, establishing optimisation feedback loops. A techno-economic assessment will evaluate scalability and industrial applicability.