Prof Murciano-Torrente announced as RAE Green Future Fellow
SCHEMA Process Chemistry & Engineering Lead, Prof Laura Torrente-Murciano from Cambridge University Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, has been announced as one of the inaugural Green Future Fellows by the Royal Academy of Engineering.
The RAE awarded £39 million to Green Future Fellows
Fellowships are funded by the Dept. for Science, Innovation and Technology
The pioneering engineers have been awarded a combined £39 million in funding for high-impact climate innovations, with 13 Green Future Fellows each receiving up to £3 million over ten years. The funding is to scale ambitious ideas and cutting-edge engineering over the next decade into commercially viable technologies capable of making a lasting impact on the climate crisis. The Green Future Fellowship programme is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. The RAE describes Prof Torrente-Murciano's work as follows:
The way we store renewable energy for long-term future use is the focus of Professor Laura Torrente’s work at the University of Cambridge. She is using renewable electricity, water and nitrogen from air to produce ammonia cleanly and safely. In this way, clean energy is stored in the chemical bonds of the carbon-free ammonia which can be used as a fuel and as a backup for renewable power generation (producing only water and nitrogen when burnt). Her work also focuses on safe ammonia storage so it can be easily transported to parts of the country where more energy capacity is required.
At least 50 Green Future Fellows will be appointed over five years. Successful applicants become a Green Future Fellow for the 10-year award duration, receiving up to £3 million alongside non-financial support such as training, mentorship, access to the Academy’s network of exceptional innovators, and additional tailored support. Applicants can come from any country, however as a UK-funded initiative, they must locate their work in the UK. The solutions developed by the Green Future Fellows must deliver impact that benefits the UK, alongside any global impact. The application period for the second round of funding closed in November with awardees to be announced in early 2027, while a third round is expected to open for applications in Autumn 2026. An Accelerated International Route is also open for exceptional non-UK-based applicants.
