Researcher Details

James Carton

Contact Details

Assistant Professor

T: +353 (0)1 700 6794
M: +353 (0)87 63 28 459
E: James.carton@dcu.ie
W: http://eaasolutions.com

Biography

Dr. James Carton graduated with B.Eng. in Manufacturing Engineering from Bolton St. Dublin Institute of Technology in 2005.

Following several years of industrial manufacturing experience, Dr. Carton carried out his Ph.D. research in Dublin City University, focussing on the research, design and development of Hydrogen & Fuel Cell technology, graduating in 2011. During his Ph.D research, Dr. Carton gained many years experience in bleeding edge technology development, completing projects with the European Space Agency (ESA) and National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA). At the Space Life Science Lab, John F. Kennedy Space Centre, Dr Carton performed structural and fluid analysis, design and development on a number of projects, including: FASTRACK a hardware platform for microgravity experiments and ABRS a space bound payload, which successfully launched in 2009 to the International Space Station (ISS).

Following his PhD research, Dr Carton joined ENBIO in 2011 to develop heat shield coatings with the European Space Agency (ESA). In 2012 Dr Carton engaged with ESA to secure contracts to set up a ISO9001 manufacturing facility in Ireland, to manufacture Heat-Shield components, for the Solar Orbiter Satellite (due to launch in 2018).

In 2013, Dr Carton re-joined Dublin City University to project manage an Enterprise Ireland project FCPM to develop and commercialise Fuel Cell technology. In 2015, Dr Carton was appointed Principal Investigator on a subsequent Enterprise Ireland project PureH2, developing an energy system utilising innovative catalysts for hydrogen production.

In 2017 Dr Carton was appointed Assistant Professor in Sustainable Energy in the School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Dublin City University.

Dr Carton is a member of the Future Energy Leaders (FEL-100) programme of the World Energy Council (WEC). Within this role Dr Carton is engaged with the Renewables System Integration and Scenarios Study Groups, and presently co-leader of The Climate Change Task Force, developing energy policy and strategies for industry and governments.

Dr Carton’s research focus is Energy sustainability through Innovative technology development; Fuel cell, Hydrogen, Power-to-Gas and Renewable energy. His team have invented and patented fuel cell materials and technologies to reduce their manufacture cost.
Dr Carton Lectures undergraduate and postgraduate students in Energy, Thermodynamics, Strength of Materials and engineering design modules, developing course lectures and demonstration techniques for a modern classroom.

Books

	Year	Publication
	2019	Unsettled Issues Concerning the Use of Fuel Cells in Electric Ground Vehicles. J. G. Carton et al. (2019) Unsettled Issues Concerning the Use of Fuel Cells in Electric Ground Vehicles. OL: SAE. [Details]

Peer Reviewed Journals

	Year	Publication
	2020	'At What Cost Can Renewable Hydrogen Offset Fossil Fuel Use in Ireland's Gas Network?' Gunawan, TA;Singlitico, A;Blount, P;Burchill, J;Carton, JG;Monaghan, RFD (2020) 'At What Cost Can Renewable Hydrogen Offset Fossil Fuel Use in Ireland's Gas Network?'. Energies, 13 [DOI] [Details]

Published Reports

	Year	Publication
	2019	Renewable Energy Perceptions Opportunities and barriers for Renewable Energy expansion. J.G. Carton et al. (2019) Renewable Energy Perceptions Opportunities and barriers for Renewable Energy expansion. World Energy Council, London. [Details]
	2018	Hydrogen an enabler of the Grand Transition. J.G. Carton et al. (2018) Hydrogen an enabler of the Grand Transition. World Energy Council, London. [Details]
	2018	A Fresh Perspective - Emerging Opportunities Confronting Climate Change. J.G. Carton et al. (2018) A Fresh Perspective - Emerging Opportunities Confronting Climate Change. World Energy Council, London. [Details]

Other Activities

	Description
	http://www.knowledgetransferireland.com/Find-a-Research-Partner/Browse-Licensing-Opportunities/Compact-Light-Weight-Fuel-Cell-Power-Module-with-Reduced-Manufacturing-Cost-Licensing-Opportunity-from-Dublin-City-University-August-2015.pdf

Patents

	Patent Number	Title
	US 9,444,117	Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) Fuel Cell With Open Pore Cellular Foam (OPCF) oxidant and fuel Manifolds

Outreach Activities

	Year	Engagement Type	Organisation	Description
				https://www.dcu.ie/dcu-events/2017/Sep/Workshop-Role-for-Hydrogen-Decarbonisation-of-Irish-Energy-Transport-Systems

Research Interests

Technology:
Hydrogen, Fuel cells, Electrolysis, Regenerative Fuel cells, Power-to-Gas, Renewable Technologies, Energy Storage, Renewable Transport, Electric Vehicles

Policy & Modelling:
Energy, Sustainability, Energy Policy, Climate Change, Scenario Modelling.

Technology:
Fuel Cells (FCs) produce electricity from a chemical reaction of hydrogen fuel, with air. FCs are twice as efficient as fossil fuel generating devices producing only water and heat as by products. FCs produce no carbon dioxide during operation, so called zero tailpipe emission technology. FCs have many potential applications ranging from mobile devices to backup power to transport.

Dr Carton's research to date has focused in three key technical areas of research in regenerative fuel cells that use advanced functional materials: 1). Low cost anode & cathode bi-functional electro-catalyst synthesis and characterisation 2). Support material / flow plate optimisation and characterisation 3). Electro-catalyst and support fabrication method optimisation.

Dr Carton and his team have invented and patented fuel cell technologies to reduce FC manufacture costs. The teams developed prototype patented Fuel Cell Power Module (FCPM) overcomes several technical, manufacturing, assembly and scaling issues experienced by existing fuel cells due to a patented multifunctioning architecture. The Team has secured successive project funding rounds that have delivered 20% reduction in the manufacturing costs, and 50% reduction in size and 30% reduction in weight.

Policy & Modelling:
Connected to the technical developments are application and policy developments required to promote new more efficient, sustainable, cleaner technologies. Therefore Dr Carton's current and future research aim is to link seamlessly with primary energy sources such as solar and wind energies and develop the technology with electric vehicles, “green-gases” and microgrid applications and energy policy, to deliver a sustainable clean future to the next generation.

Dr Carton is a member of the Future Energy Leaders (FEL-100) programme of the World Energy Council (WEC). Within this role Dr Carton is engaged with the Renewables System Integration and Scenarios Study Groups, and presently co-leader of The Climate Change Task Force, developing energy policy and strategies for industry and governments.

Opportunities exist for collaboration activities and commercial activities.

Research Projects

Title	Funder	From - To	Role	Award
A Roadmap for Hydrogen in Ireland	Private Energy Industry	01-APR-18 - 31-MAY-18	Principal investigator	9,376.00
Fuel Cell Power Module (FCPM)	Enterprise Ireland	01-SEP-16 - 28-FEB-18	Principal Investigator	106,000.00
Commercialisation Fund: Low Cost Pure Hydrogen Generating System (Pure H2) CF/2014/4312	Enterprise Ireland	01-JAN-15 - 31-DEC-16	DCU PI	460,447.00
Portable Power Fuel Cell Power Module (FCPM)	Enterprise Ireland	01-SEP-16 - 31-AUG-17	DCU PI	137,986.00

Teaching Interests

Engineering, Energy, Sustainability, Energy Policy, Climate Change, Renewable Technologies, Energy Storage, Energy Ecology, Renewable Transport, Electric Vehicles.

Engineering is evolving and sustainability has become the forefront of technology development, manufacturing processes and innovative design, to help combat Climate Change, this is my passion.

However, sustainability is a vast topic that requires a broad base knowledge of design engineering, energy technology and an understanding of policy to allow students grasp the basics, progress their knowledge and appreciate sustainability as a whole, so it can be relevant for them in the real world.

Modules Coordinated

Term (ID))	Title	Link	Subject
2021	Energy-An Intro to Thermodynamics	MM204	Energy-An Intro to Thermodynamics
2021	Strength of Materials I	MM211	Strength of Materials I
2021	Product Design	MM310	Product Design
2021	Strength of Materials II	MM212	Strength of Materials II