On 4 March 2022, the University of Luxembourg and the Luxembourg-based company Paul Wurth, part of SMS Group, renewed their agreement on a teaching and research collaboration and appointed Bradley Ladewig holder of the Paul Wurth Chair in Energy Process Engineering. The Chair focuses on advanced materials and systems for hydrogen technologies. “The Paul Wurth Chair will allow the Department of Engineering of the Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine to conduct first-rate research in process engineering, and even better support the Luxembourg industry in its development towards the energy transition and hydrogen economy”, said Prof. Jean-Marc Schlenker, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine.
Hydrogen solutions for tackling societal challenges
Professor Bradley Ladewig studied Chemical Engineering in Australia. He acquired international experience in Australia, France, the UK and Germany where he established a strong research background in advanced materials for molecular separations, and taught a range of chemical engineering subjects at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. At the University of Luxembourg, he will build up a new research laboratory with a specific focus on hydrogen-related materials and technologies that address critical gaps in the European context, including the need for very substantial production of green hydrogen for industrial applications. Working together with a range of partners from industry and society, these technologies will be demonstrated and deployed in a range of applications.
The biggest challenge that we have is our pathway to net zero.
“The biggest challenge that we have is our pathway to net zero,” says Professor Ladewig. “We need to change everything about the way we eat, the way we cloth ourselves, the way that we transport ourselves, the buildings we live in, the way we heat them – everything about the way we use energy in our society. A really key part of that change will be hydrogen. Of course hydrogen cannot give us the solution to all of these challenges, but it will be really critical to some of them.”
He looks forward to starting his work in energy process engineering at the University of Luxembourg. “The combination of a dynamic University and the financial and technical support of Paul Wurth provides an excellent foundation to make advances in fundamental and applied hydrogen technologies. I am deeply motivated to work towards a sustainable future and hydrogen will play a critical role in that.”
Photo: © University of Luxembourg / Michel Brumat