The University of Sheffield is to build a new energy research centre with facilities for commercial-scale testing of new energy technologies.
The Translational Energy Research Centre, which forms part of the newly-launched Energy Institute, will research and develop renewable energy, bioenergy and smart grid technologies. It will also develop next generation carbon capture technology.
It will provide access for both global companies and new technology start-ups to test, optimise and demonstrate their technology at a commercial-scale through industrial and academic partnerships.
The £21 million facility has been awarded £7 million from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, as well as £10 million from the European Regional Development Fund.
The research centre is to expand on the university’s Pilot Advanced-Scale Capture Technology National Facilities centre, which has been conducting research into carbon capture since 2012.
However, a new research centre was announced due to increasing demand from industry and academia for more capacity, flexibility and collaboration space.
Interim energy minister Chris Skidmore said the research centre is a “major milestone” in meeting targets of rolling out carbon capture at scale by the 2030s.
Mohamed Pourkashanian, head of the Energy Institute and MD of the Translational Energy Research Centre, said the new centre will be a national hub facilitating innovative research.
“This facility will help UK businesses keep at the forefront of the rapidly growing, global clean energy market and will be instrumental in ensuring the UK can meet its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050.”
