Email: mmartin079@citymail.cuny.edu

Research Title: Interactions of variable renewable electricity with energy storage and electrified chemical manufacturing

As we continue to progress toward global climate goals, there is an increasing interest in decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries. The chemical industry produces over 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to the prominence of fossil fuels as both feedstocks and energy sources in major chemical production processes. The electrification of energy-intensive processes through electric heating and electrochemical pathways is the most prominent path to decarbonizing the chemical manufacturing industry. However, this would cause a significant increase in electrical demand, underscoring the importance of collaborative research efforts between the chemical and electrical industries.
As a fellow of the Translational Research Excellence Across Disciplines (TREAD) program, my research focuses on green energy at the intersection of chemical and electrical engineering. We aim to develop materials for the decarbonization of the chemical industry while accounting for and optimizing its impact on the electrical grid, particularly focusing on the role of hydrogen in both industries.