Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Cranfield’s expertise in energy and sustainability covers a range of the potential energy solutions for a sustainable future.

We inform the energy and sustainability industry and government because our expertise is world-renowned for both the engineering and management of energy solutions. Our research is making a difference in the sector: from carbon capture and storage, infrastructure planning and regulatory frameworks to the cutting edge of renewable energy technologies.

Hydrogen

Cranfield is a leading research and development centre for hydrogen. We are creating a hydrogen ecosystem at our Cranfield campus, linking projects and facilities in production, storage, materials, propulsion, usage, aircraft design and airport operations.

We are also leading the UK’s collaboration on the Global Hydrogen Production Technologies Center (HyPT) with Arizona State University, the University of Adelaide and the University of Toronto. The ambition is to explore the creation of a responsible hydrogen ecosystem, making it both low-cost with net zero emissions and responsive to the social and environmental impacts of wholescale system change.

Energy consumption and emissions

The University monitors and tracks its consumption of energy and emissions and has set goals to reduce usage. We are committed to ensuring we evolve in a sustainable manner. All new buildings and major refurbishments aim to meet BREEAM requirements – our 'Masterplan' sets out the framework for long-term investment in sustainable infrastructure.

Examples include £11 million from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme for the insulation of two large aircraft hangars, further improvements to our district heating with an additional air source heat pump and an additional solar PV array. This work has now been largely delivered and complements the district heating project undertaken in 2021/22. The two projects combined are projected to save 3,000t of CO₂.

We work with SystemsLink to host a live dashboard where staff and students can monitor and compare their buildings'/accommodation blocks' energy usage to save energy. This helps to support energy saving campaigns and contests we host between buildings and halls of residence blocks.

Find out more

Research

A few of our many research examples from 2022/23 include:

• LiSTAR – the Lithium-Sulfur Technology Accelerator: Cranfield research is helping to develop a new generation of battery technologies needed for a future of sustainable electric transport. The work on lithium-sulfur batteries is part of a major new £29 million UK research programme into energy storage funded by the Faraday Institution. https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/research-projects/listar
• Techno-economic analysis of carbon mitigation technologies (TrANsMIT): a European project to streamline modelling of carbon capture process. The four-year £500,000 project involves more than 21 countries and will seek to standardise the technological approach to capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) – saving companies time when estimating the cost of their plans to address carbon emissions.
• Prototype Planning Tool for Green Hydrogen Generation and Use in UK Agriculture.
• Floating solar panels to provide energy to remote island communities.
• Assessing the potential of vertical axis wind turbines for the offshore market: this project examined whether vertical axis wind turbines could offer significantly cheaper electricity due to the size and scale of the machines as well as simpler maintenance when compared to conventional turbines.

Outreach

Our Sustainable Business Group builds community through the Cranfield Sustainability Network. This network of scholars, practitioners and students holds early evening events typically involving visiting speakers to seed a discussion on a sustainability-related hot topic.

Support for industry

During the year we offered both free and paid-for training programmes and workshops to help businesses with improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions and energy use and adopting clean energy, including the Ready for Net Zero Growth programme which helps businesses achieve their net zero ambitions, to understand their carbon footprint and to plan to reduce their emissions. 

Support for government

We inform and support government in clean energy and energy efficient technology development at a global, national, regional and local level in the following ways:

Global – Enabling Cryogenic Hydrogen-Based CO₂ Free Air Transport (ENABLEH2) is a Horizon 2020 project, funded by the European Commission, that provides thought leadership through revitalising enthusiasm in LH2 research for civil aviation by maturing key technologies to achieve zero mission-level CO₂ and ultra-low NOx emissions, with long-term safety and sustainability.

National – UK Government Grant: Innovative J-shape based vertical axis wind turbine to support airport decarbonisation.

Local/regional – Cranfield is a member of the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA). A partnership of eight research-intensive universities in the Midlands Innovation group (Aston, Birmingham, Cranfield, Keele, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham and Warwick). ERA is actively involved in developing energy policy and supporting wider energy initiatives in the Midlands. ERA supports businesses through the Midlands Green Innovation Network.

International collaboration

Cranfield is a member of the research consortium for the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling and Cold Chain (ACES) project. ACES aims to accelerate the uptake of sustainable cooling and cold-chain solutions in agriculture and health sectors in Africa. Developed by Rwanda and UK governments, the UN Environment Programme and the UK's Centre for Sustainable Cooling, it will also lead to greater energy efficiency. In June 2022, the COP26 President visited the centre in Rwanda.

Cranfield’s expertise in energy and sustainability covers a range of the potential energy solutions for a sustainable future. We inform the energy and sustainability industry and government policy because our expertise is world-renowned for both the engineering and management of energy solutions. Our research is making a difference in the sector including the cutting edge of renewable energy technologies.

Energy consumption and emissions

The University monitors and tracks its consumption of energy and emissions and has set goals to reduce use. We are committed to ensuring we evolve in a sustainable manner. All new buildings and major refurbishments aim to meet BREEAM requirements – our 'Masterplan' sets out the framework for long-term investment in sustainable infrastructure.

Examples include the successful implementation of a project supported by the UK Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme to install a large air source heat pump. We have also extended our solar farm and added two more buildings to the district heating system, installed more LED lights and a large battery to improve energy efficiency. Cranfield secured a grant to insulate two existing aircraft hangars and is switching them to being heated by low temperature district heating system. Find out more on our carbon and energy management pages.

Research

A few of our many research examples from 2021/22 include:

• Funding to research clean hydrogen generation from biomass: the technology would allow biomass – organic products such as wood, grasses or used brewery hops – to be used to generate hydrogen while capturing CO₂ emissions at the same time.
• Solar power and desalination to be efficiently linked for first time: in a new project Cranfield will join 19 research partners spread through 12 countries to develop a first-of-its-kind plant which couples concentrated solar power (CSP) and desalination techniques.

Our ocean systems test laboratory is specifically designed for model testing at the early stage of marine renewable projects. The combination of wave and towing capabilities, in addition to a team with expertise in hydrodynamics and turbomachinery, enables us to cater for the particular needs of the marine renewable energy industry (wave, tidal and offshore wind).

Public outreach

We launched a collection of 'Climate Hero' videos on This Is Engineering Day in 2021. The collection showcases some of the great work taking place at Cranfield with Peter Clough's video talking about alternative/clean energy sources.

We ran an online webinar with the STEM ambassador network (via STEM point east) for 500+ local school-aged pupils, where we discussed the topics in an interactive format, introducing the maths and science and the possible practical actions pupils could take (or encourage to be taken by their parents) to reduce their energy use and impact on the climate.

Support for industry

During the year we offered training programmes and workshops to help local businesses with improving energy efficiency, reducing emissions and energy use and adopting clean energy. We were able to offer this free at the point of access, working with local councils in Milton Keynes and Central Bedfordshire (the Ready for Net Zero Growth programme). These programmes have been sponsored by our partner organisations and have resulted in energy and carbon audits, and subsequent carbon reduction plans for each of the SMEs supported.

Support for government

Cranfield is a member of the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA). ERA has played a vital role in the development of the Midlands Engine’s ‘Ten Point Plan for Green Growth’ to accelerate the Midlands and UK towards net zero. Through the plan, the Midlands is aiming to deliver a 36% reduction in CO₂ emissions from current regional levels. Find out more on the Midlands Innovation website.

International collaboration

Cranfield is a member of the research consortium for the Africa Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Cooling & Cold Chain (ACES) project. ACES aims to accelerate the uptake of sustainable cooling and cold chain solutions in agriculture and health sectors in Africa. Developed by Rwanda and UK governments, the UN Environment Programme and the UK's Centre for Sustainable Cooling, it will also lead to greater energy efficiency.

Cranfield’s expertise in energy and sustainability covers a range of the potential energy solutions for a sustainable future. We inform the energy and sustainability industry and government policy because our expertise is world-renowned for both the engineering and management of energy solutions. Our research is making a difference in the sector including the cutting edge of renewable energy technologies.

The University monitors and tracks its consumption of energy and emissions and has set goals to reduce use.

During 2021 we provided assistance to start-ups, for example, through the 18-week Ready for Net Zero Growth programme, which helps companies to embed their Net Zero ambitions within their growth plans.

Thanks to funding from the Community Renewal Fund and in partnership with our Local Enterprise Partnership, SEMLEP, all SMEs in North and West Northamptonshire were able to apply to attend a fully-funded course to increase the sustainability of their business under the Energy Green Recovery and Innovation Programme (GRIP).