Peter E.G. Gogolek, BMath,MPhil, PhD

Research Scientist

I work primarily in the thermal conversion of biomass into fungible fuels and other energy products. I also work on value recovery from energetic residual materials, i.e., energy from waste, which is essential for a truly functional circular economy.

Natural Resources Canada

Current research and/or projects

Using biomass as a feedstock to produce low carbon energy and fuels, to address the urgent requirement of lower carbon emissions to the atmosphere and increased sequestration of carbon by the biosphere.

Research and/or project statements

[1] Economical production of renewable natural gas (RNG) from wood.

[2] Utilization of syngas and other low calorific value gases in industrial energy processes, especially concerned with burners and sophisticaled controls.

[3] Evaluation of technologies for productions of energy products from organic industrial residues and/or MSW.

Professional activities / interests

I have an enduring interest in the recovery and utilization of what is currently wasted as an energy source, especially since this will reduce the anthropogenic carbon emissions. This covers the range from industrial waste gases, emissions from gas flaring, thermal processing of biomass and other solid residues.

As a government scientist, I am also interested in the interface between science and policy. I have organized a panel for the Canadian Science Policy Conference (CSPC) and had a two year secondment with the Federal Science and Technology Secretariat.

Education and awards

BMath, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

MPhil (Applied Mathematics), University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON

PhD (Chemical Engineering), Queen’s University, Kingston, ON

Awards: Energy Sector Merit Award [2000] for Coker 2000, Departmental Merit Award for Excellence in Science [2012] for International Flare Consortium (IFC).