Networks and Distribution research within the energy initiative is carried out across a number of departments and research groups at the University of Cambridge.
Power Electronics research includes:
- Nanoscale materials and device design for energy conversion, including graphene for energy harvesting, storage, conversion and delivery.
- Integrated and discrete semiconductor devices, smart sensors and MEMS integrated circuits for power switching and control, for example to make optimum grid connections for large photovoltaic electric generation systems.
Superconductivity research includes:
- YBCO-based superconductors for lossless power transmission
- fault-current limiters and energy-storage applications
- novel high current device applications of engineering superconductors
Electricity networks including regulation is covered by the Energy Policy Research Group.
We collaborate with industrial partners and are also actively involved in increasing both energy awareness and public understanding of the opportunities and challenges in networks and distribution.
Please visit individual faculty profiles to learn more about their research in the Networks and Distribution theme. The lead for Networks and Distribution is Professor Gehan Amaratunga.
People specializing in this area
Principal Investigators
Applied superconductivity in electrical engineering, including superconducting electric machine design, power system protection and energy storage, and electromagnetic modelling, including FEM.
Materials and technologies for electrical energy and power.
Smart grids, smart meters
Privacy and security of mobile devices such as Android smartphones, iPads and laptops.
Superconducting Engineering
Network protection, fault current limiting devices, analysis of switch gear by observsation of partial discharge
Transmisson, superconducting cables
Materials science of complex functional materials and nanostructures.
Mathematical and statistical modelling of energy networks
His main research interests are in random processes, networks and optimization. He is especially interested in applications to the design and control of networks and to the understanding of self-regulation in large-scale systems.
Chirality Control of Carbon Nanotubes
Liberalization, privatisation, competition and regulation in network industries, particularly electricity; Transmission access pricing, electricity market reform, climate change policy.
Power electronics for network infrastructure
Incentive regulation of network industries; efficiency analysis of network industries
The boundary between people and computers; this involves investigating new technologies to enhance communication between computers and their users, and new applications to exploit these technologies.
My work within the Device Materials Group focuses on the fabrication, modelling and microstructural and electromagnetic characterization of functional thin-film materials, in particular superconducting wires and tapes.
Control System Design
High voltage power semiconductor devices
My research team is based around the creation and exploitation of carbon nanostructures in materials science
Graduate Students
Exploring efficient means of distribution and integration of power using WBG power converters.