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Energy and environment

Energy transition and decarbonisation are a necessity rather than an obligation. To meet climate targets, the global energy sector is shifting from fossil-based systems of energy production and consumption to renewable energy sources like wind and solar, as well as batteries. However, there are safety, environmental and health issues related to this transition, which must be addressed.

Theme aims

Hydrogen tanks

This theme aims to build research connections and integrate strengths across the Universities three faculties: Faculty of Engineering and Physical Science, Faculty of Arts, Business and Social Sciences and the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

It will start by developing external bids to address the safety, environmental and health issues related to the three key pillars of decarbonisation: hydrogen, ammonia and electrification, with the existing strengths at Surrey as well as the external collaborators which are already sponsors and collaborators of the participating fellows.

In the longer term, this theme will expand to other related environmental issues related to energy transition to be guided by government and industry strategies. Additionally, there are associated issues of all the above which call for expertise in economics for techno-economic analysis, public awareness and perception, and the effects of the emissions on public health, marine life as well as the climate impacts need to be addressed.

Lead

Surrey has strengths in various themes related to “energy and environment”, covering hydrogen production, wind and solar power, battery technology, propulsion and power generation using sustainable fuels, etc. These activities are complemented by Surrey’s strengths in cross cutting safety, environmental impact and techno-economic assessment as well as environmental psychology.

Through a dedicated theme under the umbrella of Institution for Sustainability, we can effectively mobilise and link up these strengths, which are scattered in different schools across the three faculties, to promote cross fertilisation and collaboration, fostering a coordinated and supported approach for external grant applications. Professor Jennifer Wen, Professor in Energy Resilience, Head of Fire and Explosion Modelling Group (FMEG), Programme Lead for Energy and Environment at Institute for Sustainability

Research Partnership with Drax Power Station and Fluor Ltd.

Dr Bahman Amini Horri, a Fellow at the Institute for Sustainability, is partnering with Drax Power Plant Ltd. on a highly efficient hybrid technology for green hydrogen production, known as SurreyH2. In collaboration with Drax Power Station and Fluor Ltd, an Innovate UK Energy Catalyst bid was submitted in 2020 to develop a pilot plant system using this technology.

This was followed by creating a spin-out company, Clean Hydrogen Limited, at the University of Surrey to commercialise SurreyH2 technology in 2021, and further followed up by a substantial I-UK grant (CHROME – Clean Hydrogen Manufacture) by a consortium comprised of Clean Hydrogen Ltd., the University, and Fluor Ltd to make the initial engineering knowledge and engineering drawings for the pilot plant.

In 2024, the spin-out received ~£1m funding from Capital Adventures and I-UK, and the plan is to develop a demonstration semi-commercialise plant in partnership with Fluor Ltd and STFC facilities in Harwell. 

SurreyH2 technology is based on two major patents, US2020/0115806 A1 and WO 2020/016580 A2, and in 2024, it filed two further innovative developments, one with an on-demand energy storage capability and the other on the multiphase reaction system to further facilitate the hydrolysis reactions for green hydrogen generation.