Durham Energy Institute Marks 15 Years of Pioneering Energy Research

DEI was born in 2009 out of the realisation that energy challenges cross conventional discipline boundaries and that new ways of thinking about conducting energy research are required to address global challenges.  The DEI has become a leading centre for energy research, bringing together experts from various disciplines to tackle some of the most pressing energy challenges of our time.

Our cutting-edge research

Our research expertise focuses on sustainable, ethical, and appropriate solutions for a clean and just energy transition. We integrate diverse disciplines and sectors to provide new perspectives on energy challenges, offering insights into the complexities of transitioning to low-carbon living and its ethical management. Our core research themes are:

1. Clean and Just Transitions

We pursue a socially inclusive energy transition, integrating social and material aspects of changing energy practices. Our goal is to understand and mitigate the differential impacts of energy system transitions on various groups.

2. Sustainable Power Generation and Storage

We improve existing renewable technologies (offshore wind, solar, bio-energy) and develop new energy sources. Our research spans high-efficiency designs, nuclear fusion, and energy storage to advance zero-carbon solutions.

3. Decarbonising Heating and Cooling

We focus on thermal energy systems research to achieve net-zero. Key areas include geothermal energy, hydrogen for heating, integrated heating/cooling/power systems, thermal energy storage, and solar thermal systems.

4. Energy Infrastructure and Systems

As world leaders in energy systems research, we utilize state-of-the-art laboratories for thermochemical systems, zero-carbon energy, hydrogen, and smart grids to develop efficient and intelligent energy systems.

5. Resource Politics, Energy Materials and Waste

We examine resource geopolitics, critical minerals, and life-cycle sustainability. Our work encompasses improving energy technology materials, exploring natural hydrogen and helium, and addressing waste and greenhouse gases through technologies like CCS.

6. Decarbonising Transport

Our research covers all aspects of transport decarbonisation, including electric vehicles, hydrogen for road transport, marine sector decarbonisation, low/zero carbon trains, and sustainable aviation.

7. Energy Policy, Law and Regulation

We lead research on UK and global energy transition systems, covering energy law justice, offshore renewables law, climate change litigation, energy planning, and international climate policy.

Our Vision

Our purpose  is to bring people together for clean and just energy transitions and accelerated inclusive energy transitions with world-leading research.  DEI has had a leading role in defining a new agenda for social science research in energy systems by developing the concept of socio-technical systems analysis

Global impact

With our global partners, DEI is making a real contribution to global energy transitions and ensuring effective solutions for decarbonisation are delivered at local, regional, national and international scales.

Find out more:

Read more about out work on the Durham Energy Institute web pages

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