BALLINEEN’S BT Young Scientist Tomás Markey has visited an Irish company pioneering the climate change technology that scooped him a coveted award.
Tomás is a student at St Brogan’s College in Bandon, and was the winner of both the Best Individual award and the Analog Devices Technology Award at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition in January for his direct air capture (DAC) project.
The avid science and technology student has since visited Waterford-based carbon capture tech company, NEG8 Carbon, to share ideas and learn from leading engineers and scientists working in this breakthrough field. He won the award for his work on developing a scalable and affordable DAC unit called ‘PM-DAC: A System for Removing CO₂ from the Atmosphere’.
Dr John Breen, chief technology officer at NEG8 Carbon, said direct air capture is a fast-moving technology and having talented and bright students interested in addressing climate change in a meaningful way augurs extremely well for the sector in Ireland.
‘By winning this award, Tomás has highlighted the important role that technology and science will play in fighting climate change. He stands as a talented inspiration for other young people who are considering STEM careers and shows what can be done with curiosity, a willingness to learn and persistence.’
Speaking after his visit to NEG8 Carbon in Waterford, Tomás said touring the ready-to-use spaces left him with a real sense of excitement and hope for direct air capture developing in Ireland.
‘Addressing climate change requires a series of cumulative actions, and companies like NEG8 serve as a prime example. I look forward to being actively involved in this field over the next number of years,’ added the Bandon student.
As well as winning the overall individual BT Young Scientist prize, Tomás also partnered with team mates Joseph Reidy, Luke Bailey and Conor O’Neill, to win the Intercom Track at the Hack Ireland event for their app, Bundles, ‘the notes app that talks back’.
NEG8 Carbon’s Electrostatic DAC technology works by drawing in air and passing it over a specifically designed solid sorbent system that attracts and captures carbon dioxide (CO₂) molecules directly from the atmosphere. The captured CO₂ can then be permanently and safely stored underground or converted into climate-neutral carbon products, such as sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) or used in producing concrete.
