Energy Institute relaunches to focus on key energy challenges

July 5th, 2021

The University of Nottingham Energy Institute has been relaunched, with a new strategic focus and a fresh new look to match.

Energy activities now focus on the three key societal challenges of ‘Transport and Mobility’, ‘Energy Generation and Management’ and ‘Communities and the Built Environment’.

The Transport and Mobility challenge explores the sustainable future of how people, goods and services move, improving the sustainability of systems and how energy is used within them.

The Energy Generation and Management challenge finds new ways to harness clean energy and efficiently convert it to electricity and fuels, while developing new business models and influencing policy.

The Communities and Built Environment challenge addresses rapid urbanisation, increasing populations, climate change and resource scarcity through pioneering research and wide scale collaboration.

The new institute builds on over 25 years of energy expertise and brings together the Faculties of Social Sciences, Science and Engineering alongside external partners for a truly multidisciplinary approach.

Several major multimillion-pound projects are already underway that include communities, industrial partners, local authorities, and organisations with similar aims. Examples include:

Investigation of biochar as a means of removing greenhouse gas at large scale.
Development of dual-use energy storage technology to deliver hydrogen to a fuel cell and generate direct cooling for refrigeration.
Development of a novel, low-carbon energy storage system, in partnership with Nottingham City Council and using the University’s Creative Energy Homes site as a test bed.
Creation of a Hydrogen Innovation Zone in the East Midlands to connect with regional initiatives around green growth plans and freeport developments.

Professor David Grant, Director of the new Energy Institute, commented “If we are to transition to a future energy system that enhances clean growth and human well-being, we must develop real-world solutions to complex socio-technical challenges. By working together, we create the required collaborative research environment to meet this challenge.”