Background
Esther studied Energy Engineering at Chonbuk National University South Korea, where she earned a Master of Engineering degree with a perfect academic record. Her master’s thesis focused on the synthesis of novel perovskite nanomaterials for the fabrication of dye-sensitized solar cells and the adsorption of heavy metals.
She published her research findings in a peer-reviewed paper titled “Influence of Annealing Temperatures on the Structural, Morphological, Crystalline, and Optical Properties of BaTiO₃ and SrTiO₃ Nanoparticles” in the Journal of Materials Science and Engineering.
She has over nine years of experience in the solar and battery industry and has successfully overseen the engineering, procurement, and construction of more than 2 MW solar power systems in Nigeria.
Qualifications and Awards
- Fully funded PhD studentship in the Wolfson School of Mechanical, Electrical, and Manufacturing Engineering at Loughborough University (50% EPSRC, 50% Doctoral College).
- Loughborough University Vice-chancellor Gold Award
- Sir David Wallace Trophy Award
- Henry Royce 2023 Sandpit award
- Korean Government Scholarship Program fully funded master’s excellence scholar award
- Hansae Yes 24 Foundation excellence scholar award
Esther’s research aims to assess the techno-economic and social viability of waste-to-energy technologies, with a particular focus on waste-to-hydrogen systems in developing countries. Her work integrates process simulations, sensitivity analyses, and laboratory experiments to optimise energy integration, account for mass and energy flows, and validate model accuracy. Laboratory investigations are used to identify and address key operational challenges, while a social impact assessment examines barriers to adoption, including workforce capacity and community readiness.
The research seeks to advance sustainable waste management strategies that reduce reliance on landfilling and enable economically viable, large-scale waste-to-energy solutions in resource-constrained settings. Environmental performance is evaluated using life cycle assessment (LCA) to ensure the overall sustainability of optimised waste-to-hydrogen processes, contributing to cleaner energy generation and enhanced resource recovery.
Supervisors: Dr Richard Blanchard and Dr Simon Kondrat