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Tom Baxter

Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering, University of Aberdeen

Tom Baxter graduated from Strathclyde University in 1975 with a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering (first class honours). He is a Fellow of the IChemE. He started his career with ICI Petrochemicals, moved to fine chemicals with the Swiss company Ciba-Geigy before taking a position as a Process Engineer in 1980 with BNOC (British National Oil Corporation).

Through privatisation and acquisitions BNOC became Britoil then BP. Here he worked as an Operations Engineer, Development Engineer and Research Manager. In 1991 he left BP and joined Altra Consultants as Technical Manager. In 1998 he accepted a position as Technical Director with Genesis Oil and Gas Consultants and became the Aberdeen Business Unit Director in 2006.

He returned to his role as Technical Director on 2010 together with a position as Senior Fellow in the Chemical Engineering Department at Aberdeen University which he helped establish. He was appointed Visiting Professor of Chemical Engineering at Strathclyde University in 2003 and Aberdeen in 2009. He has co-authored numerous papers on the use of Full Cost Accounting to measure sustainable performance.

Oil in Global Economy Series

Electrifying offshore platforms targets a tiny fraction of the oil industry's emissions

Oct 27, 2023 14:54 pm UTC| Business

We are all familiar with the greenhouse gas emissions that come from burning fossil fuels in car engines, central heating systems and power stations. Little discussed is the climate footprint of producing oil and gas in...

Hydrogen: UK government sees future in low-carbon fuel – but what's the reality?

Aug 22, 2021 01:27 am UTC| Business Economy

The UKs long-awaited hydrogen strategy has set out the governments plans for a world-leading hydrogen economy that it says would generate 900 million (US$1.2 million) and create over 9,000 jobs by 2030, potentially rising...

Why hydrogen energy has seduced a generation of politicians

Apr 04, 2021 10:20 am UTC| Politics

Hydrogen is often touted in the scientific and general media as a silver bullet for reaching net zero emissions. Such articles might include the following claims: Its the most common element on Earth. It can be...

Hydrogen: where is low-carbon fuel most useful for decarbonisation?

Nov 10, 2020 05:50 am UTC| Science

Is hydrogen the lifeblood of a low-carbon future, or an overhyped distraction from real solutions? One thing is certain the coal, oil and natural gas which currently power much of daily life must be phased out within...

Why we should leave old oil rigs in the sea – and why we don't

Oct 05, 2020 14:09 pm UTC| Business

Decommissioning the UKs offshore oil and gas infrastructure will cost the taxpayer 24 billion, according to estimates from HMRC. So why cant we leave man-made structures in the sea and thereby save the cost of removal and...

Electric Car Series

Hydrogen cars won't overtake electric vehicles because they're hampered by the laws of science

Jun 03, 2020 14:35 pm UTC| Science

Hydrogen has long been touted as the future for passenger cars. The hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV), which simply runs on pressurised hydrogen from a fuelling station, produces zero carbon emissions from its...

Oil in Global Economy Series

Five myths about dismantling North Sea oil rigs

Apr 14, 2017 03:14 am UTC| Insights & Views Business

Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell is under fire from environmental groups over its proposal to decommission the Brent oilfield in the North Sea. The plans submitted to the government relate to four concrete and steel platforms...

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Economy

Interest rates: the ugly dilemma facing Europe’s central banks – and why it’s a mistake to cut too soon

Central banks in Europe are discovering an old dilemma: when they lower interest rates because inflation is slowing down, its likely to weaken their currencies. This in turn may delay the fall in inflation towards their...

Europe is still in short-term crisis mode over Ukraine and lacks a vision for its post-war identity

Some believe that the war in Ukraine has fundamentally changed Europe, giving birth to a different kind of European order. That is, it appears to be driving structural shifts in the way Europe is run and organised that...

Mortgage prisoners: regulatory changes and low credit scores have left thousands trapped in a cycle of high payments

There are 8.5 million households in the UK who own a home with a residential mortgage, often with fixed interest rates from two to five years. Usually, when that mortgage deal ends, the borrower will move to another deal...

What should you do if you can’t pay your rent or mortgage?

The cost of living crisis is making it difficult for many people to pay their bills, including housing costs. Private sector rents have increased by an average 9% over the year to February 2024, and rising interest rates...

Reducing energy demand and improving efficiency will help prevent the next gas crisis

Gas prices have relaxed, Europe has come out of the winter with record gas storage levels and a surfeit of liquefied natural gas is set to reach the shores of Europe over the coming years. Many commentators are hopeful...

Politics

Gabon: post-coup dialogue has mapped out path to democracy – now military leaders must act

At the end of April 2024, a long and peaceful process of national dialogue in Gabon between the military junta, presided over by coup leader General Brice Oligui Nguema, and civil society, represented by 580 civilians,...

How German media attention idealises female Ukrainian refugees

According to the latest available data, around 3.7 million Ukrainians are internally displaced, while nearly 6.5 million have registered as refugees globally. With 1.13 million, Germany has taken in the largest...

Over 26 million South Africans get a social grant. Fear of losing the payment used to be a reason to vote for the ANC, but no longer – study

Social grants to reduce poverty feature prominently in the campaign promises of political parties in South Africas 2024 national and provincial general elections, set for 29 May. The countrys social grants system is one...

Donald Trump Allegedly Offers Oil Execs a Deal to Scrap EV Incentives for $1B Donation

Former President Donald Trump reportedly proposed a $1 billion deal to oil executives, offering to end electric vehicle (EV) subsidies in return for campaign funding, according to The Washington Post. This move underscores...

US Supreme Court upended decades of precedent in 2022 by allowing voters to vote with gerrymandered maps instead of fixing the congressional districts first

For the 2022 midterm elections, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed Alabama to use congressional districts that violated the law and diluted the voting power of Black citizens. A 5-4 vote by the Supreme Court in February...

Science

Is dark matter’s main rival theory dead? There’s bad news from the Cassini spacecraft and other recent tests

One of the biggest mysteries in astrophysics today is that the forces in galaxies do not seem to add up. Galaxies rotate much faster than predicted by applying Newtons law of gravity to their visible matter, despite those...

Why are algorithms called algorithms? A brief history of the Persian polymath you’ve likely never heard of

Algorithms have become integral to our lives. From social media apps to Netflix, algorithms learn your preferences and prioritise the content you are shown. Google Maps and artificial intelligence are nothing without...

IceCube researchers detect a rare type of energetic neutrino sent from powerful astronomical objects

About a trillion tiny particles called neutrinos pass through you every second. Created during the Big Bang, these relic neutrinos exist throughout the entire universe, but they cant harm you. In fact, only one of them is...

The Mars Sample Return mission has a shaky future, and NASA is calling on private companies for backup

A critical NASA mission in the search for life beyond Earth, Mars Sample Return, is in trouble. Its budget has ballooned from US$5 billion to over $11 billion, and the sample return date may slip from the end of this...

Dark matter: our new experiment aims to turn the ghostly substance into actual light

A ghost is haunting our universe. This has been known in astronomy and cosmology for decades. Observations suggest that about 85% of all the matter in the universe is mysterious and invisible. These two qualities are...

Technology

Tesla's ‘Cybercab’ Robotaxi Interior Leaked in New Promotional Video

Tesla may have unintentionally leaked the interior of its highly anticipated Cybercab Robotaxi in a recent promotional video, sparking excitement and speculation. Teslas Robotaxi Vision Unveiled Over the past few...

Tron Founder Justin Sun's $2.5 Billion Ethereum Stash Sparks Investor Interest

Tron founder Justin Suns $2.5 billion Ethereum investment is stirring significant market interest, highlighting his confidence in the cryptocurrencys future. Justin Suns Ethereum Holdings Explained Tron founder...

Ethereum Price Target Reaches $4,000; Altcoins Gain 20% Amid Market Rally

Ethereums price target has climbed to $4,000, reflecting market momentum. Meanwhile, altcoins have gained 20%, contributing to the market rally. SEC Decision Could Propel Ethereum Price Beyond $4,000 On Monday, the...

Shibarium BONE Token Set for Potential Binance Listing, Price Up by 5%

Binances recent request for project proposals has ignited the Shiba Inu community, fueling a 5% surge in BONE token price amid speculation of a potential listing. Binances New Strategy Supports Small-to-Medium...

Wendy’s Launches $3 Breakfast Deal as McDonald’s Tests Limited $5 Value Meal in June

Wendys will offer a $3 breakfast deal starting May 20, while McDonalds plans a $5 value meal for June, reflecting a strategic push to attract budget-conscious consumers amid high inflation. Wendys $3 Breakfast Deal...