Birmingham Energy Institute

The Birmingham Centre for Energy Storage (BCES) brings together research expertise from across the University to identify and address key energy storage challenges and their solutions. Through our research, BCES draws on the expertise and excellence of academia, research institutes and industry. The Centre’s integrated approach across disciplines and sectors allows BCES to provide novel solutions to energy storage challenges.

Nationally and internationally recognised for expertise in fuel cells, the Centre for Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Research focuses on research and development, applications and demonstrations of fuel cell and hydrogen systems and technologies.

Effective cooling is essential to preserve food and medicines. It is key within sustainable urbanisation, it underpins economic growth, and provides a ladder out of rural poverty. However, unmanaged growth in cooling, especially in emerging and fast-growing markets, represents one of the largest threats to climate goals, natural resources and energy resilience. Meeting societal and technological needs for cooling and increasing demand in developed and developing economies without catastrophic environmental impact requires the development of sustainable and equitable ‘clean cooling’ energy systems and technologies. 

The Centre for Sustainable Cooling (CSC) is a hub for academics, technical experts, policy makers, INGOs, local communities, and industry experts to come together to resolve heat-related challenges with sustainable cooling and cold chain solutions.

Strategic elements and critical materials are essential to modern society and are present in many different energy-efficient technologies. Our expertise in science, economics, and law allows us to answer the challenges created by this need.

The Birmingham Centre for Strategic Elements & Critical Materials encompasses expertise from across the University of Birmingham and the Birmingham Energy Institute in biosciences, chemical engineering, chemistry, economics, law, materials science, physics and social science.

The transport sector is one of the world’s largest energy consumers and is currently heavily reliant on fossil fuels. Researching alternative energy sources and optimising fuel efficiency are two significant challenges we face. Our engineering and environmental scientists are taking a leading role in a project to investigate the resilience of the UK transport network to climate change.

The world faces many challenging questions about our future energy supplies. Where will our energy come from? What energy vectors will we use to store and transport energy? How will we use and consume energy in the future?

In answering these questions, we must consider global competition for scarce resources. Furthermore, we need to consider the need to live within our environmental constraints. The latest global goals for decarbonisation coming from COP21 will surely influence our future energy mix. Closer to home, our attention is drawn to local environmental issues such as air quality and the impact of waste.

Solutions to our energy challenges are not only technical but also informed by business, economics, law, and policy. The Birmingham Centre for Environmental & Energy Economics & Management complements the University of Birmingham’s expertise in energy technologies by providing a complementary economic, business, and social-science perspective on our global energy challenges.

Our latest policy commission report, Pathways for Local Heat Delivery, examines all the components required to deliver a local heat solution and the barriers that need removing. Chaired by Sir John Armitt and delivered by the University of Birmingham in partnership with Energy Research Accelerator, the Commission used the City of Birmingham as a case study to examine the following components: planning; finance; consumer engagement and the role of mandation and zoning; local authority expertise and capacity; and challenges presented by the local infrastructure (e.g., gas and electricity grid).

Through its partnership with Tyseley Energy Park (TEP), the BEI is overcoming challenges related to energy poverty and decarbonising domestic heating, electricity grid constraints, poor air quality, and low and zero-carbon transport, fuels, and logistics. It also establishes the area as a test site for piloting and scaling energy system solutions.

The Birmingham Energy Innovation Centre at TEP stimulates collaborative research and development projects demonstrating new and emerging technologies. The Birmingham Energy Incubation Hub provides office and workshop space to support the growth of low-carbon energy businesses. Through the BEI SME support programme, ATETA, companies can also access the world-leading research facilities of the University of Birmingham.

The BEI has partnered with TEP to deliver the Birmingham Energy Engineering Skills Programme. Striving to shape the future of the Energy Revolution, the project provides funding for outreach activities that will raise awareness of new energy technologies, TEP, and its role in the region's transition to a zero-carbon economy in East Birmingham.

The BEI is part of the ERA consortium, which draws on the expertise and world-class facilities of the Midlands Innovation group of universities. Together, the consortium works with the UK government, industry, and the higher education sector to undertake innovative research and demonstrate low-carbon technologies that help shape the future of the UK energy landscape.

The BEI is part of a learning community across the Midlands. It works with students from the University of Birmingham to create opportunities to engage with academics, industry, and policymakers. The BEI is also creating opportunities for students to work with researchers from the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) to increase the supply of highly trained, skilled postgraduates across the spectrum of energy research.

The BEI is also working with the Birmingham Energy Society and other student groups on developing an energy outreach programme, industrial, civic, and policy engagement, networking activities, and placement opportunities.

• Advanced Mechanical Engineering Masters/MSc

• Electrical Power Systems Masters/MSc

• Electrical Power Systems with Advanced Research Masters/MSc (Two Year)

• Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Technologies Masters/MSc

• Global Energy Technologies and Systems MSc/Diploma

• Nuclear Decommissioning and Waste Management MSc/PG Diploma

• Physics and Technology of Nuclear Reactors Masters\MSc

Efficient Power from Fossil Energy and Carbon Capture Technologies

The University of Birmingham is a co-collaborator in the Midlands Energy Graduate School (MEGS), offering enhanced postgraduate student training. As a doctoral researcher in energy at Birmingham you will have access to summer schools, seminars, study visits and conferences, and the opportunity to meet students from the other consortium universities - Nottingham and Loughborough. Having membership to this network of energy postgraduates and researchers and access to the specialist modules offered by the universities gives you the chance to broaden your knowledge and horizons for the benefit of your research and your career.

If you are already a student at Birmingham and wish to join or register for a course, please contact MEGS: megs-administrator@nottingham.ac.uk, indicating your current position and, if appropriate, the contact details of your research supervisor.

Hydrogen Fuel Cells and their Applications

Technology and policy offer key routes for delivering transformational change. However, the capacity to deliver the change is missing without the creation of talent and skills. The Birmingham Energy Institute has developed a range of educational programmes with a track record of delivering quality graduates to create a talent pipeline.

The University of Birmingham leads the UK’s Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and their Applications. Through a 4-year PhD programme, the CDT trains generations of scientists and engineers to address the multidisciplinary challenges involved in developing and applying hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

For more information, please contact Mr John Hooper: hfc@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Efficient Power from Fossil Energy and Carbon Capture Technologies

Birmingham is a partner in the EPSRC funded Industrial Doctoral Training Centre, hosted by the University of Nottingham, training EngD students in a multidisciplinary environment.

For more information please contact Dr Brian Connolly at: b.j.collolly@bham.ac.uk