University Response to the Challenges in Energy Research and Education Tim Green Energy Futures Lab Imperial College London
The Imperative
What Scale of Change in Energy System? China s plan: emissions to peak in 2030; build ~1,000,000 MW of renewable energy capacity; planned spend ~$1,800,000,000,000
Scale and Nature of Challenge Clearly very many new energy generation technologies needed: some are established but need refinement and cost reduction; some are immature and need proving at scale and incentivising But this is some much more than a technology problem: Operation and optimisation of a system-of-systems Human behaviour and societal challenges Leadership, regulation, governance, diplomacy Finance and capital and how all of these factors interact and combine This is a challenge to discipline-based research and teaching
Imperial College Institutes Energy Futures Lab Climate Change Provide inter-faculty focus for research aligned to global challenges Focal point for multi-disciplinary activities and an interface to stakeholders Generating solutions of value to society, government and business Working in partnership across public, private and academic sectors A trusted interface for government and industry, translating requirements into research programmes and contributing to national policy Global Health Innovation Security Science & Technology Data Science
Energy Futures Lab Themes Sustainable Power: includes research on marine energy; bioenergy; PV and solar thermal; fuel cells; nuclear fission & fusion; wind energy Clean Fossil Fuels: includes research on carbon capture and storage; down-well processing; sustainable gas Low Carbon Transport: includes research on electric and hybrid vehicles; transport use modelling; future fuels; more electric ships and aircraft. Energy Infrastructure: includes research on smart grids; energy storage; multiple energy vectors; energy efficiency Policy and Innovation: includes research on energy policy impacts; inventive mechanisms; energy service innovation; energy resource mix assessment
Education in Energy MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures Uniquely structured one year masters course for students from varying backgrounds taught across 3 Faculties (science, engineering, business). Doctoral Network in Energy Futures Provides Imperials energy PhD students with the opportunity to put their research into the wider context of the energy system. Student Energy Society Support for events and projects, e.g. student led project in 2010 designed and built an electric supercar and drove the 26,000 km length of the Pan-American highway.
M.Sc. Sustainable Energy Futures Breadth and Depth System Modules: Energy Systems Technology; Methods of Analysis of Energy Systems; Energy Economics and Policy; Entrepreneurship Technology Modules: Urban Energy; Low Carbon Technologies; Bioenergy; Sustainable Transport; Transmission and Storage Research Project: 9 months deep dive
MSc Student Profiles 29% 22% Civil Engineering Chemical Engineering 15% 9% 13% 12% Energy Engineering Natural Sciences Mechanical Engineering Electrical Engineering 7% 7% Home / EU Asia 29% 57% South America Other
MSc Graduate Destinations
Researchers Network Aims: Multidisciplinary interaction between PhD students across Imperial College Appreciation of the wider energy problem; Enhancement of transferable skills, student experience and employability. Activities include: Weekly e-update Monthly events and lectures Team building for competitions Career building Student Energy Conference Networking Socials Field Trips Deledalle Format Few Emmott Was formal selection to closed cohort Oko Stavrou Avagyan Now looser participation model Cheng Sheridan Sandwell Hu Brinert Bak Barker Morrison Strapasson Manthawar Banner- Martin Patel Thomas Rainbird Schofield Tull Mazur Rack Wu Cooper Parkes
Urban Energy System: Complex Systems-of-Systems Our integrated modelling approach looks at two key questions: How does resource demand arise and how can it be reduce though land use changes, technology, policy? How to design systems to make more effective use of resource and to waste less through integration? Network planning, smart services Resource flow optimisation; conversion technologies People, behaviour, activity Land use, built environment, policy and development
Key capabilities: spatial/temporal energy systems analysis From spatially and temporally varying demands to spatially and temporally varying technology plans and infrastructures MJ/h Summer Midseason Winter Who wants to know: City planners and mayors, engineering consultants, utilities, property owners, supermarket chains There is a lot of new urban development in the world Lingang New City
Qatar Carbon Capture & Storage Research Centre Research to understand the carbonate reservoirs in Qatar better and enhance O&G production Working across geoscience, petroleum engineering, chemical engineering, materials, chemistry Enhancing both academic and operational expertise in the Middle East A 10-year, $70 million strategic collaboration
Partnerships really work Research Education & Recruitment Outreach & Translation
Where and how do Universities play their role? Provide Research provides new analysis, tools, insights, ideas, Technology transfer provides new products and services Policy advice facilitates societal change Education provides the trained work force to implement change But we should also Strive for effective cross- and inter-disciplinary education and research Embrace life-long learning Inspire our students to be thought leaders Engage directly with the wider public Be the source of trusted advice on complex issues with many understandable controversies