They include:
⦁ Climate Change
⦁ Ocean Acidification
⦁ Health Implications
⦁ Economic Costs Increasing
⦁ Social Vulnerability
⦁ Loss of Biodiversity
In light of these challenges, there is a pressing need
for immediate and coordinated action to reduce CO2 emissions, transition to cleaner energy sources, implement sustainable land-use practices, and promote carbon capture and sequestration technologies. Addressing the increasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is critical to mitigate the far-reaching consequences of climate change and safeguard the well-being of current and future generations. Our Project focuses on reducing the CO2 from its source using synthetic
biology to solve the above problems.
From the above image, we can see that the biofuel industry is a growing industry predicted to reach over 200 million USD by the year 2030. But, despite all their environmental advantages, biofuels lag behind in the market due to cost of production. There is a lack in the development of technology which is causing the production process to be more expensive than necessary. Biofuel production costs from lignocellulose-containing raw materials is 0.80–1.20 USD/L whereas the cost of biofuel production from the sugar-containing raw materials is around 0.44 USD/L [3].
It is clear that certain areas of the world consume much more biofuel and have the capacity to produce biofuel but are not producing any fuel. Therefore the transport of needed fuel simply adds to the cost of production. This highlights how the cost of biofuel production can further be reduced by increasing the areas of production across the globe.
We can see that there are high levels of emission of carbon dioxide spanning all across the globe. This gives rise to many health and environmental issues spanning from a simple smog to serious issues such as depletion of the ozone layer, global warming , etc. Carbon is a necessary evil which we can not remove from our lives completely. But we can always strive to reduce the amount of carbon consumption.
From the market analysis done above, certain issues and gaps in the industry were highlighted. These were:
There are many stakeholders involved in the biofuels industry. Starting right from bioenergy crop producers, biorefineries, rural communities, biofuel consumers, the government, and the regular people being affected by the carbon emissions [5].
To solve all these issues highlighted in our team's analysis and more, we decided to build a system which tackles two of these major issues, biofuels and carbon emissions simultaneously. We decided to design a capture system for the capture of carbon dioxide and simultaneously using this carbon dioxide to produce biofuel. This solves the following issues highlighted:
Our team performed a SWOT analysis to establish challenge points in our design and plan before we implemented it with more permanent methods.
After taking these factors into consideration and thorough discussion with our investigators, our team established the basic design for a capture system to capture environmental carbon dioxide and a reactor system to contain our engineered organism. We had a few discussions with some industry stakeholders to further improve the adaptability and scalability of our design. We have also established a basic patent for a orientational stabilisation system for bioreactor.
PATENT ESTABLISHED:
Indian Utility Patent
Patent Application Number: 202341040150
Date of Filing: 12/06/2023
Date of Publication: 30/06/2023
Title: GYROSCOPIC GIMBAL-BASED ORIENTATIONAL STABILIZATION SYSTEM FOR MARINE
BIOREACTORS
This gyroscopic gimbal-based orientational stabilization system improves stability and performance, for on-site testing of offshore bioreactors.
1. "CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY” We - TCI LAKSHMI'S PORT AND MITIGATING EMISSIONS
EXPERT: MR.BALAJI
About the expert :
Chief officer
Vessel: TCI LAKSHMI
Chennai Port
Inputs for our project:
⦁ Emission Reduction: Ships rely on Low Sulfur Heavy Fuel Oil (LSHO) with less than 1% sulfur to significantly reduce sulfur dioxide emissions, aiding compliance with emission regulations. LSHO is approximately 30% cheaper
than marine diesel oil, making it a cost-effective choice for ship operators.
⦁ Environmental Impact: Mr. Balaji has Indicated that the environmental impact of LSHO use varies, depending on factors like engine technology and regulatory compliance.
⦁ Waste Management: Shared about difference in waste management practices between large and small vessels, with larger ships incinerating all waste, while smaller vessels dispose of waste directly at their destination shore.
⦁ Regulations:
Stringent regulations govern the intake and discharge of seawater to prevent cross-contamination and the introduction of invasive microorganisms, which was a very good lesson learnt.
⦁ Emission Reduction Strategies: He also suggested that ship operators employ additional emission reduction strategies to further minimize their environmental impact.
⦁ Compliance with Regulations: He insisted that adherence to these
environmental regulations is crucial for the maritime industry to mitigate its impact on the environment.
About the expert: Marine Officer,
Tamil Nadu pollution control board
Chennai port
Inputs for our project:
⦁ Generator-Powered Propulsion: He shared that ship propulsion relies on generators driven by engines using low-grade oil instead of traditional diesel or petrol, a byproduct of tar distillation with similarities to crude
oil.
⦁ Fuel Quality Standards: ISO standards, particularly ISO8217, establish criteria for key fuel parameters like sulfur content, density, viscosity, pour point, and flash point to ensure fuel quality.
⦁ Engine Type: We came to know
that in most of the ships engines are two-stroke combustion engines, commonly used in the maritime industry.
⦁ Specialized Fuels in Sensitive Regions: He said about the operating conditions of ship in a sensitive area like Antarctica and the Great Barrier Reef use special, albeit more expensive, diesel oils to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2),
nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon dioxide (CO2).
⦁ Fuel Additives: We learnt that the ships are completely reliant on fuel blends where affordable additives are blended with the fuel to reduce costs, although the adoption of biofuels
is limited due to engine modification requirements. ⦁ Exploration of Alternative Fuels: The main information we received related to our project was regarding the "2030 Global Maritime India Summit” which aims to explore alternatives like ammonia,
hydrogen, LNG, biowaste, and biofuels for ship engines, reflecting growing interest in sustainable options which is the basic idea of our project "RECOVER”.
⦁ Pollution Concerns: The primary pollutants of concern in the maritime industry remain
"carbon dioxide (CO
2)”, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and sulfur emissions, highlighting the need for emissions reduction.
⦁ Lack of Emission Reduction Devices: Currently there is a lack of devices specifically designed to reduce ship emissions, underscoring a challenge in the industry.
⦁ Emission Measurement: He stated that existing systems primarily measure
emissions from dust in the atmosphere, indicating a need for more comprehensive measurement solutions.
⦁ Sustainable Maritime Practices: He gave us the information that the maritime sector is actively seeking solutions to reduce its environmental impact and meet evolving emissions regulations, emphasizing the importance of sustainable practices
in the industry's future.
ABOUT THE EXPERT: Dean - Innovation & Entrepreneurship at MGR University, Maduravoyal.
Entrepreneurship Master Class Trainer.
Start-up Mentor.
Co-founder of Kleentech.
Suggestions to our project:
⦁ Utilizing Waste as Feedstock: valuable information we inferred from him is the potential of using waste from the maritime industry as a feed for our reactor. This highlights how waste can be repurposed effectively, serving as a point source solution
to address environmental concerns.
⦁ Incorporating Numerical Data: Another important insight shared with us was the importance of incorporating numerical data into discussions related to CO2 emissions and environmental factors.
This lesson emphasized how numerical data provides a quantifiable perspective, enhancing the clarity of our discussions.
⦁ Quantifiable Impact: We also gained an understanding of how specific numerical figures can be used to convey the scale
and impact of environmental issues. This lesson reinforced the idea that quantifiable data adds precision to our communication, especially when discussing topics like pollution and climate change.
⦁ Enhancing Communication: stressed the significance
of a data-driven approach in enhancing the precision and effectiveness of our communication. This lesson highlighted how using concrete evidence can make our arguments more compelling.
⦁ Deep Dive into the Project: We were reminded of the importance
of taking a deep dive into our project. This lesson underscored the idea that a thorough understanding of all aspects is essential for achieving success.
⦁ Emphasis on Problem Statement: He proposed the idea of placing more emphasis on the problem
statement. This lesson emphasized the role of a well-defined problem statement in guiding the direction of our project.
⦁ Understanding GMO Safety Regulations: Another valuable lesson shared with us was the importance of having a complete knowledge
of GMO safety regulations. This underscored the significance of responsible research and development in this field.
⦁ Biosafety Levels Awareness: He emphasized the importance of understanding different biosafety levels. This lesson highlighted
their relevance in maintaining safety when working with genetically modified organisms.
⦁ Environmental Responsibility: We were reminded that the maritime industry has a responsibility to explore environmentally friendly solutions. This lesson
emphasized the role of waste utilization in reducing the industry's ecological footprint.
⦁ Data-Driven Decision Making: Finally, he stressed the value of relying on data-driven decision-making processes. This lesson emphasized how such an approach can led to more effective and sustainable solutions when addressing environmental
challenges.
About the expert: Base level worker
Bioreactor manufacturer
Expert in optimising media conditions and Fermenters condition
⦁ Resourceful Facilitation: He played a pivotal role in facilitating our experimental work, ensuring that we made the most of available laboratory equipment and everyday items, thus conserving our budget and allowing for multiple experiment repetitions.
⦁ Budget Optimization: He also shared that this resourceful approach not only conserved our budget but also honed our understanding through repeated experiments.
⦁ Compressor Selection Expertise: He provided valuable insights on selecting
the right compressor for CO2 compression, emphasizing efficient cooling techniques for hot gases without complex apparatus like heat exchangers
⦁ Reactor vs. Column Decision: He suggested that opting for a reactor, guided by his expertise,
was the ideal choice for our lab-scale experiments, optimizing our research efforts.
⦁ Hands-On Guidance: He offered practical guidance on equipment selection and setup, ensuring an effective and efficient experimental setup.
⦁ Collaborative Success: He stated that his collaborative approach was instrumental in the project's success, fostering a productive research environment.
Our product and business model were designed and cross verified by experts in the field. Our team tried to reach out to a vast range of stakeholders starting right from grassroot levels such as workmen on ship to government agencies such as the ‘Tamil Nadu pollution control board’. We also consulted academic personalities in the field to improve the scalability of our product. We implemented as many suggestions as we could in our system and also ratified our business model with an entrepreneurship trainer.Our final product model has the capability to adapt to most industrial environments and can be scaled to any necessary levels. It can definitely be further refined with more work on it and is a parcel full of endless possibilities.