Charlene Vance

Charlene Vance is a Research Engineer at University College Dublin's School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering. Her work focuses on quantifying environmental and economic impacts of biorefinery systems, renewable energy technologies, and seaweed cultivation. She holds a PhD in Biosystems and Food Engineering from UCD, complemented by master's degrees from the University of Iceland and Chalmers University of Technology. Her research emphasizes sustainability assessment methodologies, including LCA and LCSA frameworks, and explores innovations in green hydrogen production, bio-based feedstocks, and coastal resource management.

Key projects include modeling lactic acid biorefinery sustainability, analyzing seaweed farming logistics in Ireland, and evaluating seagrass wrack valorization pathways. Vance has collaborated on EU-funded initiatives like the AgRefine ITN project (2020–2023). Her work bridges technical feasibility with socio-economic considerations, addressing challenges in scaling bioresource utilization while minimizing environmental footprints.

Publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches combining hydrodynamic simulations, system dynamics modeling, and cost-benefit analyses. Current research explores the integration of wave energy converters and hydrogen applications within future energy systems, emphasizing design optimization and lifecycle cost-effectiveness.