Research and Projects
The LCRI will carry out research, education and training around six main themes of low carbon:
Photovoltaics
Adoption of PV solar energy needs to increase to match the requirement for low carbon energy sources. The challenge for LCRI is to make PV solar energy more affordable by researching low cost materials and innovative devices while improving conversion efficiency.
Key contact: Professor Stuart Irvine, Centre for Solar Energy Research (CSER), Glyndwr University. Stuart.irvine@optictechnium.com
Website: http://www.cser.org.uk/
Hydrogen Energy Systems
Hydrogen is a clean and sustainable energy carrier that can be stored in highly concentrated form and moved around. Hydrogen energy is directly usable for efficient electricity generation including vehicles.
Key contact: Professor Alan Guwy, Sustainable Environment Research Centre (SERC), University of Glamorgan. ajguwy@glam.ac.uk
Marine Energy
Marine energy is low carbon and sustainable and includes:
Tidal range – uses tidal barrage or lagoon technologies to harness tidal changes.
Tidal stream – uses underwater turbines to exploit fast flowing currents in the water.
Wave power – gathered by equipment placed primarily offshore to gather energy carried in waves.
Key contact: Dr Ian Masters, College of Engineering, Swansea University.
i.masters@swansea.ac.uk
Website: http://www.lcrimarine.org.uk/
Bioenergy
Bioenergy is energy that is generated from plant, animal or microbe matter (biomass). Biomass can be used in a biorefinery to provide heat, electricity, gas, liquid transport fuels and chemicals that would otherwise be produced directly or indirectly by high carbon fossil fuels.
Key contact: Professor Iain Donnison, Institute of Biological, Environmental & Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University. isd@aber.ac.uk
Low Carbon Built Environment
The built environment includes new buildings, existing buildings and the infrastructure including transport, water and sewage, waste, green and blue spaces and energy supply all of which use energy which can be reduced at all scales of the built environment.
Key contact: Professor Phil Jones, Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University.
jonesp@cardiff.ac.uk
Large Scale Power Generation
Current power generation facilities use mainly fossil fuel based technologies, such as coal and gas. The integration of these plants with renewable energy sources, such as biomass is a key challenge to achieve a stable transition to a low carbon economy.
Key contact: Professor Phil Bowen, Cardiff School of Engineering, Cardiff University.
bowenpj@cardiff.ac.uk
Website: http://www.cu-gtrc.co.uk
