UK universities win £7m grant to develop sustainable electrification
Researchers from the Universities of Nottingham, Newcastle and Bristol are to receive a £7 million grant from the UKRI Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to develop sustainable technologies to reduce energy wastage.
Currently, 50 percent of the world’s electrical energy is used to power rotating motors, however, the systems they drive are typically very inefficient and contribute to a large amount of wasted energy.
By adopting a multi-disciplinary approach – from Quantum sensors and cryogenic cooling to rare earth free motors and integrated power electronic solutions – this program will focus on removing technological barriers to enable true integration of power converters with electrical motors and generators.
The team, led by Liliana de Lillo, a Royal Academy of Engineering senior research fellow at the University of Nottingham, brings together experts in power electronics, electric propulsion, thermal management, machine design, materials and manufacturing. These include Xu Deng from the University of Newcastle and Nick Simpson from the University of Bristol’s School of Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical Engineering.
The Bristol team will lead work in additive manufacturing for power electronics, machines and drives (PEMD), semiconductor device characterisation in extreme environments, and integration of power electronics with electrical machines, with the aim of reducing packaging volume and increasing energy efficiency through shared cooling, structural, and functional infrastructure.
Nick Simpson said: “We are looking forward to joining teams from the University of Nottingham and University of Newcastle to drive this important technology forward in pursuit of global carbon net zero targets and build a skills base through PhD training and multi-domain skills sharing to take the technology into the future.”
Kedar Pandya, EPSRC executive director for Strategy said: “Sustainable electrification is an important part of the work EPSRC is supporting to help secure a low-carbon future and meet UK net zero targets. This research highlights how innovative new technologies and approaches will play a key role in reducing energy waste across industrial sectors and cutting carbon emissions so that we can build a greener future for us all.”
