EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Renewable Energy Northeast Universities (ReNU)

Started

Renewable Energy Sources(Ocean Energy)
Renewable Energy Sources(Wind Energy)
Renewable Energy Sources(Solar Energy, Photovoltaics)
Other Power and Storage Technologies(Energy storage)

Training

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Civil Engineering)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES (Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences)
SOCIAL SCIENCES (Economics and Econometrics)

Not Cross-cutting
Systems Analysis related to energy R&D (Other Systems Analysis)
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Environmental dimensions)
Sociological economical and environmental impact of energy (Policy and regulation)
Other (Energy technology information dissemination)

Dr NS Beattie
Fac of Engineering and Environment
Northumbria University

Standard

EPSRC

01 April 2019

30 September 2027

102 months

£5,770,022

Energy

North East

Non Theme Specific

Dr NS Beattie, Fac of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University

Dr V Barrioz, Fac of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University
Dr RJ Errington, Sch of Natural Sciences & Env Sciences, Newcastle University
Dr EA Gibson, Sch of Natural Sciences & Env Sciences, Newcastle University
Dr C Groves, Engineering, Durham University
Dr DP Halliday, Physics, Durham University
Dr B Mendis, Physics, Durham University
Dr A Phan, Sch of Engineering, Newcastle University
Professor U Stimming, Sch of Natural Sciences & Env Sciences, Newcastle University
Dr H Wu, Fac of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University
Dr EH Yu, School of Chemical Engineering & Advanced Materials, Newcastle University
Dr G Zoppi, Fac of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University

The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Renewable Energy Northeast Universities (ReNU) is driven by industry and market needs, which indicate unprecedented growth in renewable and distributed energy to 2050. This growth is underpinned by global demand for electricity which will outstrip growth in demand for other sources by more than two to one (The drivers of global energy demand growth to 2050, 2016, McKinsey). A significant part of this demand will arise from vast numbers of distributed, but interconnected devices (estimated to reach 40 billion by 2024) serving sectors such as healthcare (for ageing populations) and personal transport (for reduced carbon dioxide emission). The distinctive remit of ReNU therefore is to focus on materials innovations for small-to-medium scale energy conversion and storage technologies that are sustainable and highly scalable.ReNU will be delivered by Northumbria, Newcastle and Durham Universities, whose world-leading expertise and excellent links with industry in this area have been recognised by the recent award of the North East Centre for Energy Materials (NECEM, award number: EP/R021503/1). This research-focused programme will be highly complementary to ReNU which is a training-focused programme. A key strength of the ReNU consortium is the breadth of expertise across the energy sector, including: thin film and new materials; direct solar energy conversion; turbines for wind, wave and tidal energy; piezoelectric and thermoelectric devices; water splitting; CO2 valorisation; batteries and fuel cells.Working closely with a balanced portfolio of 36 partners that includes multinational companies, small and medium size enterprises and local Government organisations, the ReNU team has designed a compelling doctoral training programme which aims to engender entrepreneurial skills which will drive UK regional and national productivity in the area of Clean Growth, one of four Grand Challenges identified in the UK Government's recent Industrial Strategy. The same group of partners will also provide significant input to the ReNU in the form of industrial supervision, training for doctoral candidates and supervisors, and access to facilities and equipment.Success in renewable energy and sustainable distributed energy fundamentally requires a whole systems approach as well as understanding of political, social and technical contexts. ReNU's doctoral training is thus naturally suited to a cohort approach in which cross-fertilisation of knowledge and ideas is necessary and embedded. The training programme also aims to address broader challenges facing wider society including unconscious bias training and outreach to address diversity issues in science, technology, engineering and mathematics subjects and industries. Furthermore, external professional accreditation will be sought for ReNU from the Institute of Physics, Royal Society of Chemistry and Institute of Engineering Technology, thus providing a starting point from which doctoral graduates will work towards "Chartered" status. The combination of an industry-driven doctoral training programme to meet identifiable market needs, strong industrial commitment through the provision of training, facilities and supervision, an established platform of research excellence in energy materials between the institutions and unique training opportunities that include internationalisation and professional accreditation, creates a transformative programme to drive forward UK innovation in renewable and sustainable distributed energy

15/08/19