CARDIFF CARBON CAPTURE INNOVATION UP FOR NATIONAL AWARD

An innovation designed in Cardiff that could transform carbon capture has been shortlisted for a prestigious award.

The Algae Photobioreactor has been designed by Cardiff University students Hajira Irfan, 21, and Harry Parkinson, 20, with support from their professors and other students.

The duo teamed up to scoop a prize at the university’s Spring StartUp Awards earlier this year, which were part funded by charity EIBF.

Now, Integrated Engineering student Hajira and Physics student Harry will compete against nine other teams from across the UK in the EIBF Champion of Champions Competition.

Recognising the power of algae – a fast-growing organic biomass – has in reducing carbon emissions, their idea is to develop and place solar-powered compact photobioreactors in locations across the country.

They say their devices will help to not only offset carbon emissions but also to purify air – in the same space a normal vending machine may take up.

Hajira said: “Our planet is experiencing unprecedented levels of CO2 emissions – accelerating global warming and polluting our air, which in turn has a direct effect on our health.

“With the ‘The Algae Photobioreactor’, we plan to utilise the power of algae to help reverse these catastrophic emissions. Algae is much more effective at carbon capture than your average tree and when in ideal conditions – it can be as effective as a small forest.

“The concept of harnessing the power of a forest in the space of a vending machine, placed right in the heart of a city, was too compelling to ignore. We truly believe this idea can change the way we imagine integrating nature into city spaces; the future of our cities is to live in harmony with nature – not against it.”

The team have already had interest from local schools and have been in talks with Cardiff Council about the project.

The Champion of Champions grand final will take place at the Royal Academy of Engineering on Friday 8 November, where the duo will compete for a share of the £16,500 prize pot, providing vital seed money to help winners develop their innovation.

Winners will also receive mentoring from business leaders who are members of the Sainsbury Management Fellows network, plus CV packages from PurpleCV and entrepreneurial books from Cambridge University Press and Double your Price, an award-winning book by David Falzani MBE, which covers how pricing works with practical insights, tools and actionable guidance.

The event, hosted by TV presenter and engineer Rob Bell, is the culmination of a year of EIBF-sponsored enterprise competitions held across UK universities, with thousands of undergraduate and graduates taking part.

Each year, EIBF champions business education for engineers and supports universities by giving them grants to award prizes to engineering students who develop ideas that can make a positive impact on society.

On being shortlisted for the grand final, Hajira said: “There is support available if you want it as an engineering student with a new, exciting idea – you just have to be proactive and seek it out! This competition has taught us that by seizing opportunities, you can take your ideas so much further than pen and paper. We are incredibly grateful for competitions like this not just for funding but also for encouraging students to pursue their projects and ideas.

“This has all been made possible by the support and knowledge of our professors Adrian Poarch and Les Bailles, as well as a couple of other students who have given us support.”

Llinos Carpenter, Student Futures Business Partner for the School of Physical Sciences and Engineering at Cardiff University, said: “We’re immensely proud of Hajira and Harry’s achievement. Their innovative approach to carbon capture reflects the kind of forward-thinking and ingenuity we strive to foster at Cardiff University. It’s fantastic to see our students recognised on a national stage for their commitment to creating real-world solutions for our planet’s most pressing challenges.”