Planetary Solutions in Clean Energy Fellow Feature: Audrey Gatera

The Yale Center for Business and the Environment (CBEY)'s Planetary Solutions in Clean Energy Fellowship matches 10 undergraduate and graduate students with non-profit, low-profit, and governmental organizations committed to energy equity and the deployment of clean energy into low- and middle-income communities. The program provides summer research and internship opportunities to students at Yale who are committed to advancing energy equity and pursuing a career in the clean energy field.

Through this fellowship, Audrey, a rising senior at Yale College, an Environmental Engineering major with a certificate in French, interns at Oxylus Energy. Oxylus Energy is developing and scaling technology to capture and convert carbon dioxide into green e-methanol. YCEF had the pleasure of sitting down with Audrey to learn more about her hands-on research in carbon-neutral fuels and chemicals. Audrey shared how this immersive experience is deepening her understanding of climate tech, circular economies, and the power of innovation to shape a more sustainable future.

 

What inspired you to apply for the Oxylus Energy Fellowship, and what parts of their mission—such as carbon capture, e-methanol fuels, or deep decarbonization—resonated most with you?

 

I really like the idea of a circular economy and the potential of capitalizing on climate tech. Right now, our economies largely run on linear systems—take, make, market, and dispose. There’s always an “end of life.” But a circular system continuously reuses, repurposes, and recycles, removing that final step of waste. That vision deeply resonates with me.

I think the future of our markets and life on Earth shouldn't be based on just replacing fossil fuels. Electrifying everything does help in the short term, but it comes with other costs—especially human costs. Batteries don't just come out of thin air; they come from minerals that are often mined under terrible conditions, especially in the Global South.

So when we talk about things like e-methanol fuels made through CO₂ conversion, we enter a whole new system where we can keep doing things—like flying or running industries—but with less waste and at a lower cost. That's why I was so excited to join Oxylus. I'm really passionate about this technology and wanted to be part of the movement.

 

Tell us about the work you're doing this summer. What are your key projects or responsibilities?

 

I'm part of the Research and Development team at Oxylus Energy. At Oxylus, we use electrochemistry to convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) to methanol. We're currently developing technology and most of my work takes place at Oxylus’ research facility.

Unlike conventional e-methanol technologies that rely on a three-step process, water electrolysis, syngas generation, and methanol synthesis, we streamline this by using only CO₂ and water as inputs to directly produce methanol. This innovation is made possible by a cobalt-based catalyst, CoPcNH₂-CNT, which was discovered during our CTO Connor’s Ph.D. research at Yale. After completing his degree, he co-founded Oxylus to commercialize this breakthrough.

My work focuses a lot on optimizing the electrolyzer, which is basically the “reactor” that enables Oxylus technology to scale. Some of this chemistry work involves optimizing the catalyst ink, tuning the ratio between the catalyst and the ionomer, exploring different electrode materials, and testing various anolytes. Working on different parts of the electrolyzer cells allows us to rapidly prototype, iterate, and improve.

 

How does your work this summer engage with the challenges or opportunities of transitioning to clean fuels and carbon-neutral energy systems at the household, industrial, or community level?

 

Transitioning is hard—especially for certain communities and industries. Leaders can set goals and talk about emissions, but there are systems that are deeply embedded in how we live. We can't just pull all the planes out of the sky or all the ships out of the water. But we can make better fuels that help those industries reduce emissions while continuing their work.

Oxylus is working to scale our technology to create what they call “carbon conversion factories.” CO₂ is a waste product that’s everywhere, so sourcing it isn’t a problem. This is especially relevant for hard-to-abate sectors like seaport and airport activity.

I’m African, and when I think about the state of development on the continent, I see that many policies overlook the resources and systems we depend on. We have oil-rich countries, and shutting down those industries isn’t realistic. But we can be inclusive by creating tech that transforms waste into value, and diversifying our fuel sources, helping our economies grow while moving toward sustainability. That’s really exciting to me.

 

What have you learned so far about the role of policy, data, or stakeholder engagement in advancing carbon capture or clean fuel innovation at scale?

 

Right now, the political climate is tough for a lot of green innovation spaces. That’s why it’s so important to bring together a whole ecosystem of stakeholders—investors, policymakers, advisors. We need to show not just the environmental value, but the business opportunity too.

People often think of climate work as just "doing good," but there's so much money and opportunity in this space. Even though I haven’t worked directly with investors, I’ve learned a lot by sitting in on meetings with our business team. They talk about how to source CO₂, identify possible deployment locations, understand state and national policy, and match the right tech to the right place.

Also, our tech is fairly new to the market. Not many people are using our transformative approach. So learning how to scale something that’s not yet widely adopted has been super important.

 

Have there been any moments during your time at Oxylus that made you feel especially energized, hopeful, or proud to be part of this movement?

 

Yes, honestly, every single day. The team is amazing. There’s this shared mindset of giving your all, moving with purpose, and supporting each other. No question is too small.

But one moment really stands out—an experiment on July 10. We name our experiments by date and inputs, and on this day, I set up a cell that gave us one of the highest metrics reported for the conversion of CO₂ to methanol. That experiment made us rethink our Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for setting up our cells and experiments, and the potential here. It made me feel so energized.

 

Looking ahead, how has your fellowship with Oxylus shaped your goals or interests in climate, clean energy, or public policy? Has it influenced how you’re thinking about your academic or professional future?

 

Absolutely. Fun fact—Oxylus came out of a program called Climate Innovation Intensive (CII) at Tsai City, operated by CBEY, and I did that program too, Fall 2024! My team designed a project that turned brine waste into salt bricks. I took that idea back home to Kigali, Rwanda, and tried to build on it. Now we’re working with water treatment waste, sludge cakes, and sand to make sustainable bricks at a Clay Brick company called Ruliba.

Seeing Oxylus go from a student project to a funded startup with a lab and team has been incredibly inspiring. It gives me so much hope for my own ideas.

I’m also planning to center my senior project on electrodialysis for water purification, using similar electrochemistry.

I'm also learning a great deal about crafting a compelling company narrative. Communicating complex ideas in a way that excites and inspires others is essential—not just for attracting talent or investors, but for building a movement. This fellowship has taught me so much about the science, the systems, and the storytelling needed to power a more sustainable future.

I'm really excited to take everything I've learned this summer and carry it into my senior year and beyond.