Biodata

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abul Kalam Azad

Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Brunei Darussalam.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abul Kalam Azad is a highly accomplished academic and researcher at Universiti Brunei Darussalam, renowned for his significant contributions to the fields of Energy, Materials, Fuel cells, Biomass, and Photocatalysts. His relentless pursuit of knowledge and commitment to excellence has positioned him at the forefront of his field. His professional journey spans over three decades, during which he held esteemed positions in academia and research institutions.

As an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering at Universiti Brunei Darussalam, he has made invaluable contributions to his field. Previously, he served as a Senior Research Fellow at the University of St Andrews and as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Inorganic Chemistry at Uppsala University. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Azad’s interests lie in renewable and alternative energy. His publications in renowned journals, including 185 SCOPUS-indexed peer-reviewed papers, 1 book, and 7 book chapters, have earned him a reputation as one of the top 2% scientists in the world in Energy (since 2019). His research has garnered extensive citations, with Google Scholar recording 6590 citations (h-index: 38, i-10 index: 94) and SCOPUS showing 5088 citations (h-index: 36).

His expertise has led him to participate in approximately 45 international conferences, where he presented plenary, keynote, invited talks, and numerous poster contributions. Moreover, he is a respected reviewer for over 25 reputed international journals. His dedication to fostering future scholars is evident through his supervision of 10 Ph.D. students, 1 MPhil student, 8 master’s students, and over 25 final-year undergraduate students. Currently, he serves as the main supervisor for 5 Ph.D. students.

The exemplary work of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Abul Kalam Azad has earned him prestigious awards and honors, highlighting his exceptional contributions to academia. His unwavering commitment to academic excellence and his passion for research and community development distinguish him as an exemplary academician. His contributions to the field of Energy have solidified his position as a respected figure, inspiring and shaping the next generation of researchers.

Speech detail

Ammonia Fuel Cell: Prospect to Decarbonize Future Energy

Ammonia, a molecule that is gaining more interest as a fueling vector, has been considered as a candidate to power transport, produce energy, and support heating applications for decades. Using ammonia like hydrogen directly in a fuel-cell system provides high power density. The use of an ammonia-fed solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) is the most efficient method of generating power. In terms of CO₂ emission, ammonia is a good indirect hydrogen storage material because it does not contain carbon and therefore will not release CO₂ when used as fuel in a fuel cell or gas turbine. Compared with other fuel cells, the ammonia-fed SOFC has many advantages. The availability of NH₃ is one of the main reasons for the high output. However, the characteristics of the molecule always made it a chemical with low, if any, benefit once compared to conventional fossil fuels. Still, the current need to decarbonize our economy makes the search for new methods crucial to use chemicals, such as ammonia, that can be produced and employed without incurring in the emission of carbon oxides. Therefore, current efforts in this field are leading scientists, industries, and governments to seriously invest efforts in the development of holistic solutions capable of making ammonia a viable fuel for the transition toward a clean future.

In this presentation, I will present a comparative study of the working principles, analyses, applications, advantages, and disadvantages of various technologies available for ammonia fuel cells. I will discuss about the importance of ammonia as an energy vector, moving through all the steps in the production, distribution, utilization, safety, legal considerations, and economic aspects of the use of such a molecule to support the future energy mix. Fundamentals of combustion and practical cases for the recovery of energy of ammonia are also addressed, thus providing a complete view of what potentially could become a vector of crucial importance to the mitigation of carbon emissions. I will also discuss the holistic perspective of ammonia as a chemical that presents benefits and constraints for storing energy from sustainable sources. State-of-the-art knowledge provided by academics actively engaged with the topic at various fronts also enables a clear vision of the progress in each of the branches of ammonia as an energy carrier. Further, the fundamental boundaries of the use of the molecule are expanded to real technical issues for all potential technologies capable of using it for energy purposes, legal barriers that will be faced to achieve its deployment, safety and environmental considerations that impose a critical aspect for acceptance and wellbeing, and economic implications for the use of ammonia across all aspects approached for the production and implementation of this chemical as a fueling source. The principles, research, practicalities, and future views of a transition toward a future where ammonia will be a major energy player will be discussed. The suitability of ammonia as a fuel for the next generation of fuel cells, including direct ammonia-fed SOFCs, the development of different types of fuel cells using ammonia as a fuel, and the potential applications of ammonia-fed fuel cells will also be discussed.