DrClementine Chambon

Clementine Chambon is a visiting researcher in the Chemical Engineering department. Her research interests lie in optimising decentralised energy technologies to reach the most energy-deprived communities in the world. In 2018 she completed an EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellowship on energy access, focusing on the application of solar photovoltaic (PV) and biomass gasification for rural electrification in India. Her expertise spans topics such as electricity demand estimation of rural consumers, techno-commercial simulation and optimisation of renewable and hybrid mini-grids, and their impact and CO2 mitigation potential.

Clementine is now the full-time co-founder and CTO at Oorja Development Solutions, a social enterprise that deploys solar-powered irrigation and milling systems to provide clean energy services to farmers in rural India. Oorja currently provides affordable solar farming services to over 30,000 people in India. This work has led to multiple awards including a Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge Award, Echoing Green Climate Fellowship, and 60 Decibels Top Impact Award. Clementine was listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneurs and MIT Social Innovator of the Year lists in Europe. Find out more about Oorja here: www.oorjasolutions.org

She completed her PhD in 2017 in the Department under the supervision of Dr Jason Hallett, Prof. Paul Fennell and Dr Anthe George. Her project investigated lignocellulose processing using ultra-low-cost ionic liquids and lignin valorisation. Specifically, her research focused on the production of bioethanol and bio-derived aromatic chemicals from agricultural residues. This work was funded by an Imperial College President's PhD Scholarship, the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and Climate-KIC. Clementine holds a First Class Honours MEng degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cambridge.