Transforming Waste into Clean Energy
Baylor Engineers are Revolutionizing Clean Energy to Tackle Climate Change
In a world facing mounting environmental challenges, scientists at Baylor University’s School of Engineering and Computer Science are pushing the boundaries of clean energy innovation. Lulin Jiang, Ph.D., Baylor assistant professor of mechanical engineering, leads the efforts as her groundbreaking research in fuel-flexible combustion technology has recently garnered national recognition.
In collaboration with City of Waco leaders, their project “Novel Fuel-Flexible Combustion to Enable Ultra-Clean and Efficient Waste-to-Renewable Energy in Changing Climate,” is one of only 19 to advance to stage 2 of the Civic Innovation Challenge (CIVIC), a national research and action competition focused on rapidly transitioning emerging technologies and concepts into a local community to address their long-standing challenges. In addition to the Civic Innovation Challenge, Jiang and her team also have been accepted into the prestigious National Science Foundation’s National I-Corps™ program, demonstrating the transformative potential of their work. These efforts mark an intentional effort for Baylor to bridge the gap between academic research and commercial application.
At the heart of the Baylor-Waco project is a climate-smart, waste-to-energy multi-fuel combustor, developed by Jiang, located at Hannah Hill landfill in Waco. This novel system can convert waste into energy, significantly reducing landfill methane and key air pollutants, and providing a new power source for the Waco community.
“Our combustor can transform local waste into ultra-clean energy, which reduces the local waste treatment burden and emissions from landfills, creates a new power source for the local community, and improves local air quality and overall quality of life,” explained Jiang. By utilizing local waste streams, the system reduces greenhouse gas emissions and cuts costs associated with traditional waste treatment methods.
The City of Waco already has established a collection system for landfill gas, particularly methane, and this system can be used in conjunction with Jiang’s combustor to generate clean flares or burns, improving local air quality. There also is potential for the combustor to be integrated into a turbine system, like a turbine generator, or external combustion engines that can be used for energy generation.
“Engineering is really a service major, so how can we bridge lab research to benefit the local community and even society at large?” Jiang said. “This novel waste-to-clean power program is ultimately driven by civic needs and is both highly scalable and transferable to other cities for various heat and power platforms, simultaneously enhancing energy resilience in a changing climate and mitigating global warming at large.”
This program creates a versatile solution for urban and rural communities with the ability to reduce waste gas releases such as landfill gas, mainly methane and carbon dioxide.
A byproduct of Baylor’s work to be stewards of the community through academic excellence and the City of Waco’s goals to provide improved infrastructure and economic development, this pilot combustor can be attuned to various heat and power platforms to meet the needs of other areas, creating a cleaner and more sustainable society at large.
While the team’s work is rooted in science, their focus is squarely on real-world impact. By targeting industries such as waste management, gas turbines and flare system manufacturers, the team is aligning their technology with pressing needs in clean energy production and emissions reduction. Methane emissions — a significant contributor to climate change — are just one of the problems Jiang’s technology seeks to address.
In addition to the environmental benefits, the commercialization of this technology could bring broader societal gains, including job creation, economic growth and enhanced energy resilience. As team members continue to develop their fuel-flexible combustion technology, they are setting the stage for a cleaner, more sustainable future. Their efforts reflect Baylor University’s commitment to advancing knowledge for the betterment of society, particularly in areas of environmental stewardship and economic development.
With the collective expertise, dedication and innovative spirit of Dr. Jiang and her team, Baylor is poised to make a lasting impact in the fight against climate change, bringing revolutionary technologies from the lab to the world stage.