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

Professor Christopher Howe, left, and Dr Paolo Bombelli, right

Algae-powered computing: scientists create reliable and renewable biological photovoltaic cell

12 May 2022

Researchers have used a widespread species of blue-green algae to power a microprocessor continuously for a year – and counting – using nothing but...

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Opinion: Russian gas will fund Putin’s war

08 Mar 2022

Would Europe cutting off Russian oil and gas imports be enough to convince Putin to stop the war on Ukraine? According to Dr Chi Kong Chyong from the...

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3D-printed custom electrodes

Tiny ‘skyscrapers’ help bacteria convert sunlight into electricity

07 Mar 2022

Researchers have made tiny ‘skyscrapers’ for communities of bacteria, helping them to generate electricity from just sunlight and water.

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Computer generated image of enzyme

New, nature-inspired concepts for turning CO2 into clean fuels

28 Feb 2022

Researchers have developed an efficient concept to turn carbon dioxide into clean, sustainable fuels, without any unwanted by-products or waste.

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Xavier Moya

Zero-carbon refrigeration spin-out sets its sights on environmentally-friendly heating systems

16 Feb 2022

Zero-carbon refrigeration pioneer Barocal has secured a £1.3 million investment to accelerate commercialisation of its novel technology designed to...

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Scientists develop fully woven, smart display

10 Feb 2022

Researchers have developed a 46-inch (116cm) woven display with smart sensors, energy harvesting and storage integrated directly into the fabric.

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Exterior of Bath Abbey

Historic buildings could use solar panels to protect from rising energy costs

03 Feb 2022

Installing solar panels could help historic buildings beat the rising costs of energy, according to a new study.

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Artist's impression of formamidinium (FA)-based crystal

Templating approach stabilises ‘ideal’ material for alternative solar cells

23 Dec 2021

Researchers have developed a method to stabilise a promising material known as perovskite for cheap solar cells, without compromising its near-...

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Artistic representation of electrons funneling into high quality areas of perovskite material

Mystery of high-performing solar cell materials revealed in stunning clarity

22 Nov 2021

Researchers have visualised, for the first time, why perovskites – materials which could replace silicon in next-generation solar cells - are...

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Laboratory setup with lasers

Researchers identify and clear efficiency hurdle for organic solar cells

29 Sep 2021

Researchers have identified a key mechanism responsible for the lower efficiencies of organic solar cells and shown a way that this hurdle might be...

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The energy researcher who wants to build better to consume less

15 Sep 2021

Against a global backdrop of rising energy demands and finite resources, Rihab Khalid set out to understand how buildings can become more energy...

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Nano camera

Nano ‘camera’ made using molecular glue allows real-time monitoring of chemical reactions

02 Sep 2021

Researchers have made a tiny camera, held together with ‘molecular glue’ that allows them to observe chemical reactions in real time.

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