CUTTING EDGE SOLUTIONS for COMMERCIAL CHALLENGES

LOWCARBONENERGY

This publication can be made available in alternative formats on request. The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.Designed by Graphic Design Services (LTW), The University of Edinburgh www.ed.ac.uk/is/graphic-design

Hydrogen as an energy source

Development of advanced fuel cells and materials for hydrogen storage.

Understanding phases and properties of hydrogen under extreme conditions.

Biomass as an energy source

Biochar; the pyrolysis of waste material for carbon sequestration and energy production.

Combining electrolytic hydrogen from renewable energies with biomass to produce liquid fuels.

Nuclear

Electrochemical sensing for selective detection.

Radioactive waste disposal and geo-reservoir management.

For more information contact:

Miss Ksenia SiedleckaCommercial Relations Executive

Phone: +44(0)131 651 3428Mobile: +44(0)7805 540 112

ksenia.siedlecka@ed.ac.uk

Edinburgh Research and Innovation Ltd is the University of Edinburgh’s research and commercialisation office. We engage with and support industry in a variety of ways:

• Technology licensing

• Consultancy

• Collaborative Research

• Studentships

• Strategic alliances

• Access to facilities/services

Developing sensors for the nuclear industryProfessor Andrew Mount has collaborated with the National Nuclear Laboratory for over a decade. Using novel sensing technologies developed at the University, Prof. Mount has worked with NNL to develop new novel electrochemical methods, systems and online monitoring for nuclear fuel applications, including reprocessing.

Advancing tidal powerThe Institute for Energy Systems have a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Nova Innovation, the Edinburgh based tidal energy device development company. This project sees an experienced engineer from the UoE working with the company to build a model integrating the structural, thermal and electrical systems of Nova Innovation’s technology.

Commercial challenges, cutting edge solutions

As climate change becomes an increasingly relevant concern around the world, and sources of hydrocarbon-based fuels start to dwindle, alternative, low carbon sources of energy are gaining prominence as a crucial part of the world’s future energy mix.

The University of Edinburgh is home to world-class expertise across a range of low carbon energy research areas, including renewable energy, the use of hydrogen and biomass as energy sources, and research into nuclear energy. Together with a range of commercial partners, our researchers are delivering alternative energy solutions by:

Creating novel technologies for low carbon energy

Applying and developing these technologies commercially in partnership with industry

Enhancing the growth of existing companies and powering the creation of new spin-outs

Delivering advanced multidisciplinary training in the field of low carbon energy

Some examples of our research strengths and its impact on businesses are highlighted opposite. Contact us to find out more about our innovative research and how it can benefit your business.

Key areas of research

Wind, wave, tidal, solar

Design, evaluation and testing of wave and tidal devices.

Home to Flowave TT, the world’s most sophisticated combined and current wave test tank (http://www.flowavett.co.uk), as well as the smaller Curve Tank.

Design and analysis of offshore infrastructure, coastal defence.

Solar power: innovation in dye-sensitised solar cells and thin-film photovoltaics.

Power systems, power electronics

Control and power take-off for marine energy systems.

Power systems; distributed networks, network expansion, load modelling, demand-side management, power quality and reliability, power system dynamics and stability.

Novel generator designs for renewable power generation.

Renewable resource assessment

Wind, marine, hydropower resource modelling.

Impact of climate change on renewable resources.

Life cycle assessment.

Environmental impacts of marine renewable energy devices.

Techno-economic analysis, governance and policy around renewable energy.

Testing offshore wind infrastructureConcrete Marine Solutions, a Scottish SME, accessed the smaller of the University’s wave tank to test a prototype of their novel installation platform for offshore wind turbines.

Collaborative working in marine energyThe Policy and Innovation Group in the Institute for Energy Systems is leading the FP7-funded project Optimal Design Tools for Ocean Arrays (DTOcean), which consists of 18 international partners including Vattenfall, Iberdrola, and DEME. The project will provide a comprehensive set of design tools for the development and deployment of ocean energy arrays, enabling open sea demonstration in multi-device arrays of the most mature tidal stream and wave energy technologies.

Improved heat storage technologyProfessor Colin Pulham is working closely with a local start-up company, Sunamp Ltd., to develop technology for efficient, low-cost heat storage. This approach vastly reduces CO2 emissions and substantially reduces fuel bills. The team has developed a selection of phase-change materials based on salt hydrates, and the research has already had a major positive impact on the design and construction of Sunamp’s prototype heat-storage batteries.