Hosted By: Dr. Aaron Sadow 

Title: Achieving Net Zero by Flipping for Hydrogen and Soaring on Soybeans.

Bio: Dr. Michael A. Reynolds is the Senior Principal Scientist for Shell Catalysts and Technologies in Houston, Texas where he leads programs for catalyst development in conventional refining and the energy transition. His current research interests include renewable hydrocarbons, hydrogen, and applications of crystal engineering to new materials. Prior to his current role, Dr. Reynolds spent ten years in Shell’s Shales business as Production Chemistry Lead where he supported oilfield operations in Argentina, Canada, and the Permian Basin of west Texas for hydraulic fracturing and water treatment. Since 2012, he has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Rice University in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. In this capacity he serves on student doctoral committees and provides lectures on special topics. He is a graduate of Michigan State University (B.S. Chemistry), Iowa State University (Ph.D.), and was a post-doctoral associate at the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign. He enjoys tennis, traveling, and spending time on the Great Lakes with family.

Abstract: Delivering sustainable and decarbonized solutions to meet global energy demand will require novel approaches and new technology development. Academics, governments, and commercial entities alike are pursuing a cornucopia of technologies with a focus on providing energy security while also achieving net zero goals. Their approaches, which in many cases are collaborative, include investigating molecular energy vectors like hydrogen (green, blue, turquoise, etc), bioderived renewable feedstocks, and fuels derived from carbon dioxide. Training in areas such as materials science, chemical engineering, catalysis, chemistry, and evolving fields such as artificial intelligence/machine learning will play an important role in solving the energy transition puzzle. This presentation will discuss a few of the technological approaches that Shell is actively pursuing to answer key commercial questions in the energy transition.