New Foundations Award for AMBER Researcher to work on net-zero carbon emission target

8 May 2025

AMBER Researcher Saranya Rameshkumar has received funding from Research Ireland under the New Foundations Award for project ‘Nanoengineered Membranes for Biomethane Recovery and Capturing Carbon Emissions’.

Saranya, a Research Fellow based in Trinity College Dublin was awarded €9,900 under the ‘Interdisciplinary Research Networking Awards’ Strand. Her project combines nano and carbon capture technology and will contributes to sustainable materials and climate change mitigation via net-zero carbon emission.

‘Ireland’s climate action plan demands technological innovations to meet out its net-zero carbon emission and biomethane production targets. Membrane-based technologies are at the forefront of supporting nation’s decarbonization strategies by deploying innovative gas separation membranes for carbon capture and biomethane recovery. However, it involves diverse technological challenges in achieving mechanical stability and selectivity of nanoengineered membranes for capturing point of source carbon dioxide emissions. Such challenges related to process engineering and materials aspects will be addressed by building an inter-disciplinary research network for demonstrating the proof-of-concept carbon capture technology using nanoengineered membranes with ecofriendly sol-gel coatings.’

Over a period of 9-12 months, the New Foundations funding will enable researchers to build new partnerships, explore innovative ideas, and bring academic expertise to real-world issues through research actions, network development, conferences and workshops, and capacity building for interdisciplinary collaboration.

More information and full list of 59 awarded projects can be found here: https://www.researchireland.ie/news/new-foundations-awards/