Topic description and stories

Research is tackling the need to reduce energy demand, maintain energy supply, increase the efficiency of energy-requiring processes, and develop policy and pricing strategies. To find out more about our research in energy, visit the Energy Interdisciplinary Research Centre (IRC) website. 

Left to right: Clare Grey, Xinyu Liu, Alex Forse

Mess is best: disordered structure of battery-like devices improves performance

18 Apr 2024

The energy density of supercapacitors – battery-like devices that can charge in seconds or a few minutes – can be improved by increasing the ‘...

Read more
Seaweeds showing structural colour

Shimmering seaweeds and algae antennae: sustainable energy solutions under the sea

22 Feb 2024

How could tiny antennae attached to tiny algae speed up the transition away from fossil fuels? This is one of the questions being studied by...

Read more
Robot arm and semiconductor

£11m semiconductor research centre could be key player in UK’s net zero mission

13 Feb 2024

The University of Cambridge is a partner in the new £11m Innovation and Knowledge Centre (IKC) REWIRE, set to deliver pioneering semiconductor...

Read more
Cambridge stall is staffed by one person at Green Careers Fair talking to students

Green jobs not just for STEM Grads

06 Feb 2024

Students at this year's Green Careers Fair nibbled edible crickets, cuddled plush pink octopi, and met industry experts for advice on landing a job...

Read more
Businesswoman on electric bike

Reducing inequality is essential in tackling climate crisis, researchers argue

02 Jan 2024

Promoting climate-friendly behaviours will be more successful in societies where everyone has the capacity: financially, physically, and timewise, to...

Read more
Magnetic monopoles in hematite

Diamonds and rust help unveil ‘impossible’ quasi-particles

05 Dec 2023

Researchers have discovered magnetic monopoles – isolated magnetic charges – in a material closely related to rust, a result that could be used to...

Read more
Left to right: Professor Chiara Ciccarelli, Professor Jason Miller, Professor Rosana Collepardo-Guevara, and Dr Jenny Zhang

Four Cambridge researchers awarded consolidator grants from the European Research Council

22 Nov 2023

The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded grants worth a total of €627 million to 308 researchers across Europe, of whom four are at the...

Read more
Device for making solar fuels on the River Cam near the Bridge of Sighs

Solar-powered device produces clean water and clean fuel at the same time

13 Nov 2023

A floating, solar-powered device that can turn contaminated water or seawater into clean hydrogen fuel and purified water, anywhere in the world, has...

Read more
Left: Cecilia Mascolo, Right: Ismail Sami

Cambridge researchers awarded ERC funding to support commercial potential of their work

02 Aug 2023

University of Cambridge researchers have been awarded Proof of Concept grants from the European Research Council (ERC), to help them explore the...

Read more
Abstract colourful background

Lights could be the future of the internet and data transmission

25 Jul 2023

Fast data transmission could be delivered in homes and offices through light emitting diode (LED) bulbs, complementing existing communication...

Read more
Image of the globe made up of binary numbers

Act now to prevent uncontrolled rise in carbon footprint of computational science

26 Jun 2023

Cambridge scientists have set out principles for how computational science – which powers discoveries from unveiling the mysteries of the universe to...

Read more
Artificial intelligence brain

New type of computer memory could greatly reduce energy use and improve performance

23 Jun 2023

Researchers have developed a new design for computer memory that could both greatly improve performance and reduce the energy demands of internet and...

Read more

Pages