Energy needs and demand for electricity as a preferred form of energy continue to grow at a rapid pace. Electricity consumption is expected to double from 2008 to 2035 according to the International Energy Agency (IEA), driven primarily by emerging economies especially China and India. At the same time, concerns over climate change are increasing.

The key challenge is to meet these growing demands with less environmental impact. Failure to meet this challenge will risk global economic downturn and long lasting socio-environmental costs.

Green energy technologies, from solar arrays and wind generators to smart grid and electric vehicles, are central to providing innovative solutions to meet the challenge.

Our research revolves around our expertise in electric power conversion as the ‘enabler’ to these green energy technologies. We work in collaboration with a wide range of stakeholders, including electric utilities and car makers in China, with a view to increasing the GDP per unit of energy consumption.

Our research in this area includes:

  • Designing generators to convert renewable energy such as wind power into electricity;

  • High efficiency, power dense, and sustainable electrical machine and drive systems;

  • Power electronic systems in energy efficiency and renewable applications;

  • Integration of wind generators and renewable energy systems to smart grids;

  • Inductive and wireless power transfer.

A number of our research projects require us to collaborate with partners from academia and industry. Our research has been funded by Agility Global Ltd, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), Liberty Electric Cars, Lotus, Mitsubishi UK, NASA, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and Technology Strategy Board (TSB).

About our research

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