NUS: Transformative Innovations for Sustainability

The National University of Singapore (NUS) Pavilion at the Singapore International Water Week 2024 served as a testament to NUS’s leadership in technology, environmental sciences and engineering. Led by the NUS Environmental Research Institute (NERI), the Pavilion highlighted a diverse array of innovative projects that not only underscored scientific excellence but also demonstrated practical applications for sustainability across urban and natural ecosystems.

One of the standout exhibits at the NUS Pavilion was Dr Terrence Tan’s prototype of a solar-integrated building ‘envelope’. This concept, blending solar photovoltaic (PV) cells with urban agriculture spaces like lettuce farms, aims to maximise urban space in tropical settings like Singapore, where sunlight is plentiful but land is scarce, promising sustainable urban farming solutions.

The prototype, in pilot experiments, successfully maintains crop growth while harnessing solar energy. By strategically placing PV cells on building surfaces, it maximises energy efficiency without compromising agricultural productivity. This approach supports renewable energy generation and boosts local food production, tackling urban energy and food security challenges simultaneously.

Addressing Singapore’s food waste challenge, Assistant Professor Iris Yu and her NERI team presented a groundbreaking microwave-microalgae reactor. This innovation converts organic food waste, abundant in starches and sugars, into valuable bioproducts ideal for cultivating microalgae. Microalgae, recognised for their CO2 absorption capabilities, offer sustainable solutions for biofuels, animal feed, and high-value bioproducts.

The reactor employs low-energy microwave pulses to break down food waste into a medium for microalgae growth, reducing landfill waste and fostering a circular economy. NUS’s innovative research integrates technology with environmental stewardship, advancing sustainable waste management and urban resource efficiency.

Associate Professor Sanjay Swarup, collaborating with NUS’s Department of Biological Sciences, pioneers restoring tropical peatlands, crucial carbon sinks threatened by deforestation and agriculture. His microbial research aims to enhance degraded peatlands’ carbon storage capacity.

The setup replicates natural peatlands, enabling the study of microbial impacts on carbon emissions and biodiversity. Professor Swarup’s team aims to devise restoration strategies and mitigate climate change by understanding these dynamics, emphasising the preservation of natural carbon sinks crucial for global climate stability.

Associate Professor Olivier Lefebvre and his team at NERI introduced an innovative electrochemical method to convert CO2 from biogas into valuable chemicals like ethanol and ethylene. This enhances biogas energy potential and cuts greenhouse gas emissions from wastewater treatment.

The electrochemical reactor utilises renewable energy sources to catalyse CO2 conversion, demonstrating a sustainable approach to wastewater management and industrial decarbonisation. By turning a waste product into a valuable resource, NUS’s research contributes to mitigating climate change impacts while promoting energy efficiency in urban infrastructure.

NERI forged strategic partnerships at SIWW 2024 through Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with industry leaders. These collaborations aim to advance research on emerging contaminants and accelerate the commercialisation of water-related technologies.

By leveraging industry collaborations, NUS enhances its research capabilities and facilitates knowledge transfer, ensuring that scientific innovations translate into practical solutions for global environmental challenges.

NUS’s participation at SIWW 2024 exemplifies its commitment to advancing environmental sustainability through scientific excellence and collaborative innovation. By showcasing cutting-edge solutions across diverse fields – from solar-integrated urban farming to microbial restoration of peatlands and electrochemical decarbonisation of wastewater – NUS demonstrates its pivotal role in shaping a sustainable future.

Through interdisciplinary research and strategic partnerships with industry and academia, NUS continues to lead in developing solutions that address global environmental challenges. As urbanisation and climate change intensify, NUS remains at the forefront of innovation, driving sustainable development and environmental stewardship on a global scale. With a focus on practical applications and scalable solutions, NUS’s environmental initiatives pave the way for a resilient and sustainable future for generations to come.