Dr Paul Balcombe

MEng, PhD, CEng, MIChemE, FHEA

Reader in Chemical Engineering and Renewable Energy
Chemical Engineering Programme Director

School of Engineering and Materials Science
Queen Mary University of London

p.balcombe@qmul.ac.uk

www.sems.qmul.ac.uk/staff/p.balcombe/

Centre for Sustainable Engineering
Centre for Intelligent Transport

Research
Publications
Grants

Research

Methane emissions, Energy system decarbonisation, Emissions measurement, Hydrogen, Ammonia, Biogas

Interests

Specialises in developing unique technology-specific, probabilistic emissions/cost modelling of energy supply chains, particularly relating to methane emissions from natural gas, as well as biogas, hydrogen and ammonia supply chains.

Publications

Publications of specific relevance to the Centre for Sustainable Engineering

2024

Markets and Costs for Hydrogen Electrolysis
Balcombe P, Chatenet M, Deseure J, Schäfer H and Staffell I
In Powerfuels, Springer Nature 235-256.

DOI 10.1007/978-3-031-62411-7_9

06-12-2024

Gas Pathing: Improved Greenhouse Gas Emission Estimates of Liquefied Natural Gas Exports through Enhanced Supply Chain Resolution
Roman-White SA, Prasanna DM, McCullagh A, Ravikumar AP, Allen DT, Chivukula K, Khutal H, Balcombe P, Ross G, Handler B, Bazilian M and George FC
Acs Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, American Chemical Society (Acs) vol. 12 (46), 16956-16966.

DOI 10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c07162

05-11-2024

How to minimise the cost of green hydrogen with hybrid supply: A regional case study in China
Huang J and Balcombe P
Applied Energy, Elsevier vol. 355

DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.122194

QMRO

01-02-2024

2023

Simulating the Variability of Methane and CO2 Emissions from Liquefied Natural Gas Shipping: A Time-in-Mode and Carrier Technology Approach
Rosselot KS, Balcombe P, Ravikumar AP and Allen DT
Acs Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, American Chemical Society (Acs) vol. 11 (43), 15632-15643.

DOI 10.1021/acssuschemeng.3c04269

19-10-2023

Developing a Strategy for Site-Level Methane Emissions Monitoring to Meet OGMP2.0 Level 5: A Case Study
Heggo D and Balcombe P
SPE Offshore Europe Conference & Exhibition.

DOI 10.2118/215548-ms

05-09-2023

Future use of natural gas under tightening climate targets
Dubey L, Speirs J, Balcombe P, Tariq N, Brandon N and Hawkes A
Futures, Elsevier vol. 150

DOI 10.1016/j.futures.2023.103158

QMRO

01-06-2023

A global review of methane policies reveals that only 13% of emissions are covered with unclear effectiveness
Olczak M, Piebalgs A and Balcombe P
One Earth, Elsevier vol. 6 (5), 519-535.

DOI 10.1016/j.oneear.2023.04.009

QMRO

01-05-2023

Technical and economic analysis of different colours of producing hydrogen in China
Huang J, Balcombe P and Feng Z
Fuel, Elsevier vol. 337

DOI 10.1016/j.fuel.2022.127227

QMRO

01-04-2023

Comparing satellite methane measurements to inventory estimates: A Canadian case study
Dubey L, Cooper J, Staffell I, Hawkes A and Balcombe P
Atmospheric Environment X, Elsevier vol. 17

DOI 10.1016/j.aeaoa.2022.100198

QMRO

01-01-2023

2022

Indicate separate contributions of long-lived and short-lived greenhouse gases in emission targets
Allen MR, Peters GP, Shine KP, Azar C, Balcombe P, Boucher O, Cain M, Ciais P, Collins W, Forster PM, Frame DJ, Friedlingstein P, Fyson C, Gasser T, Hare B, Jenkins S, Hamburg SP, Johansson DJA, Lynch J, Macey A, et al.
Npj Climate and Atmospheric Science vol. 5 (1)

DOI 10.1038/s41612-021-00226-2

QMRO

01-12-2022

Methane regulation in the EU: Stakeholder perspectives on MRV and emissions reductions
Olczak M, Piebalgs A and Balcombe P
Environmental Science &Amp; Policy, Elsevier Bv vol. 137, 314-322.

DOI 10.1016/j.envsci.2022.09.002

QMRO

01-11-2022

Response to Comment on LNG Supply Chains: A Supplier-Specific Life-Cycle Assessment for Improved Emission Accounting
Roman-White SA, Littlefield JA, Fleury KG, Allen DT, Balcombe P, Konschnik KE, Ewing J, Ross GB and George F
Acs Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, American Chemical Society

DOI 10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c05197

QMRO

04-10-2022

Total Methane and CO2 Emissions from Liquefied Natural Gas Carrier Ships: The First Primary Measurements
Balcombe P, Heggo D and Harrison M
Environmental Science and Technology, American Chemical Society

DOI 10.1021/acs.est.2c01383

QMRO

14-06-2022

Water electrolysis: from textbook knowledge to the latest scientific strategies and industrial developments
Chatenet M, Pollet BG, Dekel DR, Dionigi F, Deseure J, Millet P, Braatz RD, Bazant MZ, Eikerling M, Staffell I, Balcombe P, Shao-Horn Y and Schäfer H
Chemical Society Reviews vol. 51 (11), 4583-4762.

DOI 10.1039/d0cs01079k

QMRO

16-05-2022

Correction: Levelized cost of CO 2 mitigation from hydrogen production routes
Parkinson B, Balcombe P, Speirs JF, Hawkes AD and Hellgardt K
Energy & Environmental Science, Royal Society of Chemistry (Rsc) vol. 15 (12), 5425-5433.

DOI 10.1039/d2ee90059a

QMRO

01-01-2022

2021

Organic waste to energy: resource potential and barriers to uptake in Chile
Ludlow J, Jalil-Vega F, Rivera XS, Garrido R, Hawkes A, Staffell I and Balcombe P
Sustainable Production and Consumption

DOI 10.1016/j.spc.2021.08.017

QMRO

29-08-2021

The quantification of methane emissions and assessment of emissions data for the largest natural gas supply chains
Cooper J, Balcombe P and Hawkes A
Journal of Cleaner Production, 128856-128856.

DOI 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128856

QMRO

28-08-2021

LNG Supply Chains: A Supplier-Specific Life-Cycle Assessment for Improved Emission Accounting
Roman-White SA, Littlefield JA, Fleury KG, Allen DT, Balcombe P, Konschnik KE, Ewing J, Ross GB and George F
Acs Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, American Chemical Society (Acs)

DOI 10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c03307

QMRO

03-08-2021

The future of coal investment, trade, and stranded assets
Auger T, Trüby J, Balcombe P and Staffell I
Joule, Published by Elsevier Inc.

DOI 10.1016/j.joule.2021.05.008

QMRO

08-06-2021

How can LNG-fuelled ships meet decarbonisation targets? An environmental and economic analysis
Balcombe P, Staffell I, Kerdan IG, Speirs JF, Brandon NP and Hawkes AD
Energy, Elsevier vol. 227

DOI 10.1016/j.energy.2021.120462

QMRO

27-03-2021

Chapter 3 Life Cycle Assessment as a Metric for Circular Economy
Rivera XCS, Balcombe P and Niero M
In Life Cycle Assessment, Royal Society of Chemistry (Rsc) 54-80.

DOI 10.1039/9781788016209-00054

QMRO

01-01-2021

2020

Natural gas fuel and greenhouse gas emissions in trucks and ships
Speirs J, Balcombe P, Blomerus P, Stettler M, Achurra-Gonzalez P, Woo M, Ainalis D, Cooper J, Sharafian A, Merida W, Crow D, Giarola S, Shah N, Brandon N and Hawkes A
Progress in Energy vol. 2 (1), 012002-012002.

DOI 10.1088/2516-1083/ab56af

QMRO

20-01-2020

2019

Life cycle environmental impacts of natural gas drivetrains used in UK road freighting and impacts to UK emission targets
Cooper J, Hawkes A and Balcombe P
Science of The Total Environment, Elsevier vol. 674, 482-493.

DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.091

QMRO

15-07-2019

Assessing the impact of future greenhouse gas emissions from natural gas production
Crow DJG, Balcombe P, Brandon N and Hawkes AD
Science of The Total Environment, Elsevier vol. 668, 1242-1258.

DOI 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.048

QMRO

07-03-2019

How to decarbonise international shipping: Options for fuels, technologies and policies
Balcombe P, Brierley J, Lewis C, Skatvedt L, Speirs J, Hawkes A and Staffell I
Energy Conversion and Management vol. 182, 72-88.

DOI 10.1016/j.enconman.2018.12.080

QMRO

15-02-2019

The role of hydrogen and fuel cells in the global energy system
Staffell I, Scamman D, Velazquez Abad A, Balcombe P, Dodds PE, Ekins P, Shah N and Ward KR
Energy and Environmental Science vol. 12 (2), 463-491.

DOI 10.1039/c8ee01157e

QMRO

01-02-2019

Levelized cost of CO 2 mitigation from hydrogen production routes
Parkinson B, Balcombe P, Speirs JF, Hawkes AD and Hellgardt K
Energy and Environmental Science vol. 12 (1), 19-40.

DOI 10.1039/c8ee02079e

QMRO

01-01-2019

Life cycle environmental impacts of natural gas drivetrains used in road freighting
Cooper J and Balcombe P
Procedia CIRP. vol. 80, 334-339.

DOI 10.1016/j.procir.2019.01.070

QMRO

01-01-2019

2018

Methane emissions: choosing the right climate metric and time horizon
Balcombe P, Speirs JF, Brandon NP and Hawkes AD
Environmental Science: Processes and Impacts vol. 20 (10), 1323-1339.

DOI 10.1039/c8em00414e

QMRO

01-10-2018

The carbon credentials of hydrogen gas networks and supply chains
Balcombe P, Speirs J, Johnson E, Martin J, Brandon N and Hawkes A
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier vol. 91, 1077-1088.

DOI 10.1016/j.rser.2018.04.089

QMRO

01-08-2018

A greener gas grid: What are the options
Speirs J, Balcombe P, Johnson E, Martin J, Brandon N and Hawkes A
Energy Policy vol. 118, 291-297.

DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2018.03.069

QMRO

01-07-2018

Characterising the distribution of methane and carbon dioxide emissions from the natural gas supply chain
Balcombe P, Brandon NP and Hawkes AD
Journal of Cleaner Production vol. 172, 2019-2032.

DOI 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.11.223

QMRO

20-01-2018

2017

The Natural Gas Supply Chain: The Importance of Methane and Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Balcombe P, Anderson K, Speirs J, Brandon N and Hawkes A
Acs Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering vol. 5 (1), 3-20.

DOI 10.1021/acssuschemeng.6b00144

QMRO

03-01-2017

2015

Energy self-sufficiency, grid demand variability and consumer costs: Integrating solar PV, Stirling engine CHP and battery storage
Balcombe P, Rigby D and Azapagic A
Applied Energy, Elsevier vol. 155, 393-408.

DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.06.017

01-10-2015

Environmental impacts of microgeneration: Integrating solar PV, Stirling engine CHP and battery storage
Balcombe P, Rigby D and Azapagic A
Applied Energy, Elsevier vol. 139, 245-259.

DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.11.034

01-02-2015

2014

Investigating the importance of motivations and barriers related to microgeneration uptake in the UK
Balcombe P, Rigby D and Azapagic A
Applied Energy. vol. 130, 403-418.

DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2014.05.047

01-10-2014

2013

Motivations and barriers associated with adopting microgeneration energy technologies in the UK
Balcombe P, Rigby D and Azapagic A
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier vol. 22, 655-666.

DOI 10.1016/j.rser.2013.02.012

01-06-2013

Grants

Grants of specific relevance to the Centre for Sustainable Engineering

Fugitive, Vented and Unburned Methane Emissions from Ships Part 2 (FUMES 2)
Paul Balcombe
£636,740 INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON CLEAN TRANSPORTATION INC.
10-12-2024 - 09-12-2026

Nigeria Methane Baseline Scoping Study
Paul Balcombe
£75,523 UNEP The United Nations Environment Programme
01-10-2024 - 31-03-2025

EMPreSS: Enhanced Methane Monitoring Precision for a Multi-Agent UAV System Solution
Paul Balcombe and Ketao Zhang
£415,038 NERC Natural Environment Research Council
01-06-2024 - 31-05-2027

UNEP OGMP developing level 4/5 measurement strategies
Paul Balcombe
£119,782 UNEP The United Nations Environment Programme
01-04-2024 - 31-03-2025

PAK UK Education Gateway Mobility Partnership for Faculty
Alan Drew, Maria Crespo-Ribadeneyra, Annalisa Bruno, Devis Di Tommaso, Edo Boek, Mahdieh Sadabadi, Paul Balcombe and Christopher Jones
£26,500 British Council
01-04-2023 - 30-06-2024

Designing an aerial methane measurement strategy to meet OGMP2.0 level 5
Paul Balcombe
£121,800 BP Exploration Operating Company Limited
21-02-2022 - 28-02-2023

Cheniere co-sponsorship of EPSRC PhD studentship equipment budget
Paul Balcombe
£90,000 Cheniere Energy Inc
01-01-2022 - 31-12-2024

LNG transport: measuring and minimising methane emissions II
Paul Balcombe
£458,254 INSTITUTE OF GAS TECHNOLOGY
03-09-2020 - 31-12-2021