Facilities for energy innovation
Major investment into world-class research means that we have an impressive range of facilities and test-beds, including several buildings and centres dedicated to energy innovation.
Energy research is multi-disciplinary and takes place in numerous locations across the whole of the University, however, two buildings on the Jubilee Campus are dedicated to energy research, the Energy Technologies Building and the Research Acceleration and Demonstration Building. These exemplar facilities support researchers and business partners in work to help find new solutions to the energy challenges faced by industry and society.
We welcome opportunities to collaborate and will consider requests from industrial partners and innovators who wish to use our facilities.
Buildings and Labs
Energy Technologies Building (ETB)
The Energy Technologies Building is a base for applied research and contains our FlexElec Laboratory which is a versatile microgrid facility for research and commercial testing of smart grid technologies, and a large Climate Chamber to test the efficiency of equipment and technology in replicated climatic conditions. The building itself minimises demand for heating, cooling lighting and ventilation and meets the BREEAM outstanding sustainability standard, putting it in the top 1% of UK non-residential buildings.
Research Acceleration and Demonstration Building (RAD)
The Research Acceleration and Demonstration Building houses a range of equipment and facilities and is home to research into the harvesting and storage of wind energy and the development of new materials for hydrogen generation, storage and use. The building itself is designed to meet both Passivhaus and BREEAM energy efficiency standards and boasts an impressive four storey green wall, pictured. The Research Acceleration and Demonstration Building is a key project of the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA), a Government backed initiative designed to tackle some of the biggest energy challenges facing the UK.
Power Electronics and Machines Centre (PEMC)
The Power Electronics and Machines Centre, based on Jubilee Campus, is a purpose-built building for the Power Electronics, Machines and Control research group. The Centre was built after the group secured investment of £18million, including £1.5m from the Wolfson Foundation and £4m from the Propulsion Futures Beacon. The building is home to three purpose-built labs, the Power Electronics Laboratory, the Machine Drives and Power Converter Laboratory and the Wolfson High Power Laboratory.
Find out more about the Power Electronics and Machines Centre
Carbon Neutral Laboratory for Sustainable Chemistry
Located on the University’s award winning innovation Park, the Carbon Neutral Laboratory building provides unrivalled facilities for chemistry. The focus on sustainability is reflected in the building itself, which incorporates the latest technologies to allow it to be carbon-neutral over its lifetime.
The building is used as a catalyst for new industrial collaborations and world-leading ‘clean and green’ research in sustainable chemistry.
Find out more about the Carbon Neutral Laboratory
Specialist Test Beds and Demonstrators
Creative Energy Homes
The Creative Energy Homes is a seven-house development, providing a living test-site for micro-smart grids, energy storage, demand-side management and occupants' acceptance of innovative technologies.
Find out more about the Creative Energy Homes
Trent Basin Community Energy
The Trent Basin community energy project, known as Project SCENe (Sustainable Community Energy Networks), is Europe's second largest regeneration scheme and features a 240 home community Energy Demonstrator. It utilises smart grid and energy management technologies for the benefit of the community.
Find out more about the Trent Basin project
GeoEnergy Multi-Borehole Array
This facility, based at the Sutton Bonington campus, consists of an array of boreholes which are fully instrumented with surface and down-hole sensors. This enables the development and testing of innovative monitoring technologies for geoenergy sectors including CO2 storage and unconventional hydrocarbon production. It features above and below ground sensor networks, on-site laboratories and big data storage.
Find out more about GERC
Equipment catalogue