Eminent Australian scientist joins MBD Energy

MBD Energy Limited, which proposes to recycle waste CO₂ emissions from coal fired power stations and other forms of heavy industry into commercial production of algae biomass, has appointed Australia’s former Chief Scientist, Robin Batterham AO, to its board as a non-executive director.

A renowned scientific leader, Batterham has had a long and distinguished career specialising in chemical engineering. He served as Chief Scientist of Australia from 1999 to 2006 and is the current President of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

He has contributed significantly to research and development in the chemical and sugar industries and to the advancement of Australia’s mining and metals industries. He has been responsible for the implementation of new processes as well as significant work in process improvement, particularly process control and modelling.

Batterham has held positions at the CSIRO, Rio Tinto and Comalco. He has been the Kernot Professor of Engineering at the University of Melbourne since 2010.

MBD has designed and is presently constructing a 1 ha Algal Synthesiser Display Plant that will trial the CO₂ recycling process at Tarong Power Station, north-west of Brisbane. The facility is scheduled for completion later this year.