Research
The change to a net zero economy requires changes in energy generation, supply and demand. My research focuses on achieving a zero carbon energy system, focusing on the technologies such as nuclear, hydrogen, wind and others which are maritime based, linked with where the generation can be located and utilised effectively. Two key examples include, the development of materials for use within nuclear reactors (both fission and fusion) that enable increased operational time, and the development of new options for hydrogen generation, and how it could be used effectively.
My research links with policy, how it impacts location and development of new technologies, e.g. off shore wind, siting of nuclear power plants. This is also coupled with how policy changes impact the long-term stability of the net zero transition, e.g. policy changes impacting investment, ability to co-locate technologies, how implementation could benefit all users.
Zero Carbon Energy Generation
Examples include the development of hydrogen based technologies, increase energy utilisation and efficiency, and implementation, linked with the challenges of hydrogen formation (generation) being zero carbon emissions, through examination of new technologies and how they could be implemented in society. This links with linked technologies such as wind, solar and other maritime related generation, such as tidal. For example, tidal power co-located with wind/solar and how could it be implemented and its impacts.
Key challenges include:
Efficient production of hydrogen, using zero carbon sources with increased efficiency
Extraction of waste energy from carbon emitting technologies - linked with Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage
Maritime energy generation, coupled with maritime energy usage, e.g. shipping
This links with the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Net Zero Maritime Energy Solutions (N0MES).EPSRC CDT in N0MES
Nuclear Energy
The increased implementation and development of nuclear technologies, both fission and fusion, provides for the development of enhanced materials that allow increased utilisation, and lifetime of operation. For example, the long term behaviour of materials within a reactor core is a limiting factor in their long-term usage, this research develops increased understanding of how materials behave, how they can minimise the issues, and maximise their effective use. This work covers both fission and fusion reactors, and applies knowledge developed across both generation technologies.
Linked with this is the immobilisation of nuclear waste, how they can be designed and implemented to accommodate a range of waste types, coupled with their long-term behaviour during storage arising from the effects of transmutation, and alpha decay on long-term behaviour.
Key challenges are:
Long term behaviour within the challenging environments of temperature, radiation and pressure
Impacts of radiation damage on the structural behaviour/properties of materials
Implementation of options for waste fabrication technologies
Research grants
ATLANTIC: Accident ToLerANT fuels In reCycling
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
December 2018 - November 2023
DecarboN8 - An integrated network to decarbonise transport
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
September 2019 - August 2022