EPSRC Engineering Net Zero Week
On the 20th to 24th June 2022, EPSRC held an in person and virtual interactive showcase “Engineering Net Zero Week” to bring together researchers, industry leaders and policy makers. This provided an opportunity to consider the existing EPSRC investments in this area and discuss areas of potential future interest, building on the momentum from COP26 held in Glasgow earlier this year. The activities of this themed week focused on:
towards net zero energy
solutions for a greener industry and urbanisation
our green future
delivering zero emissions transport and mobility solutions
The in person component of the event was held in the University of Glasgow, and was attended by a range of researchers, industry leaders and policy makers. Representatives from the Materials@Swansea group showcased a range of the EPSRC funded projects, including SUSTAIN, SPECIFIC® IKC, COATED M2A and ATIP.
Virtually, SUSTAIN, ATIP and SPECIFIC® IKC ran a series of 30 minute webinars, titled “Materials Innovation for Solar Energy & Net Zero Industry: A whole-system approach to materials is essential to reaching Net Zero”, presenting three examples from research across the system. These covered topics from the fundamentals of steel manufacture, to the development and use of new solar technologies, to planning for the end of their useful life. More information about these webinars and the recordings of these sessions can be found below.
Materials & Manufacturing: A Green Steel Industry - SUSTAIN Manufacturing Hub
The UK stands on the verge of a green industrial revolution in which the steel supply chain will play a vital role. Steel is a key enabler of modern society and the industry must set the benchmark as a foundation industry leader in greener, cleaner & smarter technologies. Prof Peter Styring, Dr Enrico Andreoli and Prof Cameron Pleydell-Pearce from Sheffield & Swansea Universities tell us more about SUSTAIN's work on the capture and use of carbon dioxide emissions from the steelmaking process.
Renewable Technologies: Photovoltaics for Aerospace - Application Targeted and Integrated Photovoltaics programme (ATIP)
Next generation printed PV technologies could deliver solar energy with far greater functional and processing flexibility than c-Si or traditional compound semiconductors, enabling tuneable design to meet the requirements of market applications inaccessible to current PV technologies. Dr Silvia Villarroya-Lidon and Dr Wing Chung Tsoi tell us more about emerging photovoltaics for aerospace applications.
Circular economy & solar cells: use, reuse & recycling - SPECIFIC® Innovation & Knowledge Centre
Using renewable energy technologies will be vital as we strive towards a Net Zero future. But other than generating clean energy, what else do we need to consider for it to be a truly sustainable solution? Prof Matthew Davies and Dr Rhys Charles give an overview of their work in circular economy and the progress made embedding it in the design stage of our photovoltaic research.
