Future of Energy and Transport

Working with industry partners to turn theory, through experimentation, into real-world applications to decarbonise the energy and transport sectors.

Transport and energy are the largest contributors to UK carbon emissions, making the decarbonisation of these sectors critical to the success of achieving the Government’s ambitious net zero by 2050 target.

Across the University of Birmingham, we are working with industry partners to share knowledge and turning theory, through experimentation, into real-world applications, which will develop the technologies and infrastructure needed to decarbonise the energy and transport sectors.

Our researchers are examining the following areas:

Sustainable Energy Solutions

Energy Storage

Exploring how energy storage, particularly thermal and cryogenic energy-based technologies, coupled with appropriate policy, could play an important role in delivering an integrated energy system.

Nuclear Research

Tackling fundamental nuclear industry challenges and making significant investments in the areas of Nuclear Engineering, Waste Management and Decommissioning.

Strategic Elements and Critical Materials

Addressing the challenges posed by supply constraints on strategic and critical elements. We are working on the development of new recycling processes to enable the recovery of critical materials from end of life products, mining wastes and even road dust.

Sustainable Cooling

Exploring the technology and the societal, business and financial models needed to deliver sustainable cooling for all.

Sustainable Transport

Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Research

Driving both the technology and thinking required to solve some of the challenges facing the UK, as it seeks to develop sustainable solutions to the designing of future cities, energy and transportation.

Decarbonisation is one of the major challenges facing our generation. To build a better future, mitigate the impact of climate change and achieve net zero by 2050 we need to transform the way we approach energy and transport.

At the University of Birmingham, we are driving technology innovation and developing the thinking required to solve the challenges facing the UK, as it seeks to develop sustainable solutions in transport, electricity, hydrogen, cooling and heating.

Professor Martin Freer

Professor Martin Freer

Director of the Birmingham Energy Institute (BEI)

Discover more

  • Creating Sustainable Energy Solutions

    Working with government, industry and international partners, the Birmingham Energy Institute is solving societal issues and addressing challenges relating to energy poverty, the circular economy, transport systems, cooling, hydrogen, energy storage and the decarbonisation of heat.

  • Decarbonising the Rail Sector

    Decarbonisation is one of two railway grand challenges (along with digitalisation) that requires a strategic, whole-sector approach with government, industry and academia working together. We are leading the way in decarbonising the railway in the UK and across the world.

  • Fuel Cell HGVs

    The universities of Birmingham and Nottingham working with Arcola Energy, Toyota, Intelligent Energy and ITM Motive to make clean, hydrogen powered heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) a reality on UK roads.

  • Recycling of lithium-ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles

    The ReLiB project is establishing a clear roadmap for the efficient end-of-life management of electric vehicle (EV) lithium-ion batteries in the UK, encompassing both current and future battery chemistries.

  • Sustainable Aviation Fuel

    The University of Birmingham is leading a new research consortium that will tackle climate change by investigating the barriers and benefits to the UK aviation industry adopting low carbon synthetic fuel.

  • Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Research

    Our research at the Birmingham Centre for Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Research is driving both the technology and thinking required to solve some of the challenges facing the UK, as it seeks to develop sustainable solutions for transport.