Energy, Materials and Environment Research Centre

The  Energy, Materials and Environment Research Centre is the focal point for cross-university research interests that are multidisciplinary with a background in the policy governing, societal impacts of, synthesis, optimisation and application of materials and engineering systems for the sustainable use and production of energy.

Our key research aim is to develop whole energy systems to mitigate climate change. We undertake interdisciplinary research focused on the complete energy system, focusing multiscale concepts from materials engineering, policy and governance, storage and demand, across electricity and heat to deliver change in the interplay between energy, economy and society.

We focus on:

  1. Heating and cooling. Using creative and novel approaches, we have made significant impact in reducing the energy demands for London Boroughs to individual buildings. This covers a whole energy systems approach and is being used to deliver significant improvements in reducing energy demand.
  2. Materials modelling and synthesis. Here our approach is to develop new approaches to produce common materials more sustainably or develop next generation functional materials for energy storage or energy transformation, such as catalysts.
  3. The impact of scale. We incorporate the understanding of scale when determining policy or strategy. Our interests cover local, to national and international scales determining local energy policy and decentralised energy options.
  4. Policy, oversight and international trends are important when considering any national change. We focus on the global policies to deliver low carbon transitions, government policy regarding reduction targets, international climate policy, systems regulation, and evaluate how to add value to local communities through local/national and international trends.

Work with us

Please contact Professor Steve Dunn (dunns4@lsbu.ac.uk) if you would like to know more or have an initial conversation about what solutions we can provide to current problems.