Green hydrogen is generated by splitting water molecules through electrolysis and producing it using electricity from renewable sources is crucial for transitioning to a net-zero economy. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers are leading technologies for this process. Central to these systems is the oxygen-forming reaction, which demands strongly acidic conditions. This step, where water molecules
How do we deliver a low-carbon future while meeting the world’s growing energy demands? On Wednesday 29 April, a webinar brought together professors and researchers from the Institute to explore practical, scalable solutions for the energy transition. Chaired by Professor Stuart Clarke, the session highlighted how fundamental research is enabling cleaner fuels, more efficient machines,
During the first part of today’s seminar, PhD student Haihan Li presented some of the most recent results of his work on bubble plumes in electrolysis. In electrolysis cells, hydrogen and oxygen bubbles are nucleated and grow on the surface of the electrodes, until they detach from the surface and rise through the surrounding fluid,
Lake Kivu is located on the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, along the western branch of the East African Rift, a region of active volcanism and high seismicity. The lake deep waters contain nearly 60 cubic km of methane and over 300 cubic km of carbon dioxide. The methane can be extracted
Developing systems to capture, store and reuse the vast amounts of waste heat generated through industry could be a huge opportunity for the UK to strengthen its industrial competitiveness and reduce operational costs for businesses, as well as accelerate progress towards net zero. Industrial heating accounts for around 14% of UK emissions, yet approximately half
Two new PhD opportunities are being advertised to work on data centres cooling and particle dispersal in the atmosphere. Please see the details below.
The storage of renewably-generated energy as hydrogen via the electrolysis of water is a fundamental cornerstone of a sustainable hydrogen economy. Conventional electrolysers usually require stable power inputs in order to operate effectively and safely and so may be unsuited to harnessing renewable power, which is often intermittent and diffuse. Professor Mark Symes, from the
PhD student Poorya Shaghaghi recently took part in the 2025 International Video Challenge developed by the journal Buildings & Cities and the Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Assocation. This challenge is open to PhD students worldwide, and gives them an opportunity to showcase their research and explain the significance of their work.
Aquifer thermal energy storage systems can provide a heat source in the winter by extracting warm water from a subsurface reservoir. The extracted fluid cools as it passes through a heat exchanger and is then injected into a colder aquifer. The cold fluid can provide a source of cooling in the summer, absorbing heat rejected
Professor Joe Howe is the Net Zero Professor at the University of Lincoln and the academic lead for the Humber Industrial Cluster. The Humber Cluster spans both banks of the Humber Estuary, connected by the Humber Bridge and hosting the ports of Goole, Grimsby, Hull, Immingham and Killingholme. £18 bn of the UK’s economy is