Dr. Jason Lam, Assistant Professor of the School of Energy and Environment, was recently invited by The Hong Kong Association of Energy Service Companies Limited (HAESCO) to deliver an online seminar on one of Hong Kong’s most underexplored renewable resources, lignocellulosic biomass. Dr. Lam discussed how lignocellulosic biomass could mitigate Hong Kong’s petroleum needs and facilitate the social transition into a sustainable future. The talk attracted a wide range of audiences from renewable chemical industries and government sector.

Title: Hong Kong's Best Kept Secret Renewable Energy and Chemical Source: Lignocellulosic Biomass

Abstract: By 2050, Hong Kong and many parts of the world have pledged to decouple with fossil resources as part of the climate change mitigation action. As we begin to fulfil our energy need with green H₂ and other promising renewable energy sources, then what about our chemical demands? Lignocellulosic Biomass is the most abundant, and the only, renewable carbon source. Catalytic valorisation of lignocellulosic biomass for chemical and fuel production thus serves as an important strategy to address our carbon-neutral goal towards a sustainable future.

This talk aims to introduce and discuss how lignocellulosic biomass can address our mission towards our sustainable goals. We will identify and discuss some of the possible biomass-resources that can be gathered in Hong Kong, and the possible technologies that are applicable to transform them for chemical or liquid carbon-neutral fuel production.