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Energy

Interdisciplinary Research Centre
 
  • 10Apr

    Join us in Nottingham for the highly anticipated UK Energy Storage conference, where innovation converges with expertise. Having graced renowned venues like Imperial College, Birmingham, Warwick, and Newcastle, this year, Nottingham takes the stage as the host city for this prestigious event. UKES stands as the nexus for discussions spanning the entire Energy Storage spectrum, from cutting-edge battery technologies to novel approaches like compressed air, liquid air, gravitational potential, CO2 liquefaction, pumped thermal, and synthetic fuels.

    Our conference delves into market structures, policy considerations, future cost and performance projections, and addresses the imperative "just transition" of a substantial workforce into this pivotal industry. As we gather under the theme "Energy Storage to support affordable Net-Zero - as soon as possible," prepare to be immersed in the forefront of the energy revolution. Don't miss your chance to be part of the dialogue shaping the future of sustainable energy solutions at UKES2024!

    While we're fine-tuning the agenda, confirming stellar speakers, and locking in the exact venue, stay tuned and watch this space for updates on how you can be part of the dynamic conversation. The countdown to an electrifying event discussing 'Energy Storage to support affordable Net-Zero - as soon as possible' has begun, and you won't want to miss a moment of it!

    https://supergenstorage.org/events/ukes-conference-nottingham

  • 11Apr
    Speaker: Roger D. Aines, PhD, Senior Advisor for Carbon Removal, Office of the Under Secretary for Energy and Innovation, U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Program Chief Scientist, E Program, Global Security, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

     

    We are delighted to host Dr Roger D. Aines at the Maxwell Centre for a talk followed by a "in conversation" session chaired by Dr Aga Iwasiewicz-Wabnig.

     

    Abstract

    Roads to Removal: A supply curve for CO2 removal capacity in the United States

    The United States has a 2050 net-zero goal which will require approximately one billion tons of true removals from the atmosphere in order to compensate for residual emissions that cannot be eliminated by that time. Our team of 70 researchers from LLNL and a dozen other institutions has completed the first study of how the U.S. might obtain those removals. In a county-by-county analysis, we evaluated four technologies that have sufficient cost and effectiveness data to make reasonable estimates of 2050 supply and costs:

    • Soil carbon improvements in cultivated lands,
    • Forestry in three major forested regions of the U.S.,
    • Biomass carbon removal and storage, and
    • Direct air capture.

    In addition, we simultaneously considered key requirements for projects that permanently remove CO2 from the air:

    • Geologic storage,
    • Transportation of CO2 or biomass,
    • Availability of additional renewable energy to power projects,
    • Cross-cutting resource requirements and environmental impacts, and
    • Energy equity and environmental justice impacts.

    We estimated costs for 2050 implementation based on current costs and assumed learning, then organized the costs into supply curves under various constraints. A representative scenario would cost about $130B: the majority of the removals would come from soil, forests, and biomass carbon removal and storage. Our results are presented by technology and by region with the intent of enabling local decision makers to evaluate projects, impacts, and appropriate compensation. In this talk I will present the methods and results from this study. The report and additional details can be found at www.roads2removal.org.

     

    Bio

    Roger Aines is the Senior Advisor for Carbon Dioxide Removal in the DOE Office of the Under Secretary for Energy and Innovation. He provides oversight and assistance with all aspects of the Carbon Negative initiative, including providing technical advice and guidance to the Under Secretary program portfolio to support the advancement of technologies to reduce carbon emissions and other environmental impacts of fossil fuel production and use, particularly the hardest-to-decarbonize applications in the electricity and industrial sectors. He is on detail from his position as Energy Program Chief Scientist at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, which conducts government and private sector research in clean energy technology.

    Roger developed and led the Carbon Initiative at LLNL, which aims to understand, develop, and implement technologies for the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, so-called negative emissions technologies. He has been at LLNL since 1984 working on nuclear waste disposal, environmental remediation, application of stochastic methods to inversion and data fusion, management of carbon emissions including separation technology, and monitoring and verification methods for sequestration. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from Carleton College, and Doctor of Philosophy in geochemistry from the California Institute of Technology. 

     

    Registration https://forms.office.com/e/1eaeyuDr53

    (Free to attend, registration required)

     

    Agenda

    11:00 - 12:00 "Roads to Removal: A supply curve for CO2 removal capacity in the United States" seminar by Dr Roger D. Aines 

    12:00 - 12:30 in conversation session: Dr Roger D. Aines and Dr Aga Iwasiewicz-Wabnig, including Q&A with the audience 

  • 23Apr

    Prepare to be amazed as MRE 2024 delves into a diverse range of materials, from nanotechnology to biomaterials, textiles, polymers, metals, glass, and more. These materials are not just theoretical concepts but critical building blocks for real-world applications, including energy, construction, packaging, marine, automotive, and low carbon technologies.

    MRE is a catalyst for progress. Through cross-cutting presentations, thought-provoking panel discussions, and an investor showcase brimming with potential, MRE fosters an environment of knowledge-sharing and cross-sector interactions. MRE is where the UK’s research and innovation excellence in materials meets the world of UK product manufacturers and forward-thinking investors.

    This is your chance to connect with the materials community to collaborate, exchange ideas, and adopt the latest advances in materials science.

    Why attend?

    MRE brings an opportunity to network with over 1500 delegates from the materials community: researchers, academics, industry, government, investors and innovators from various fields to explore and discuss cutting-edge developments in materials science and technology. For our international attendees, this is a unique opportunity to witness the UK’s world-leading capability in new materials development and meet with potential collaborators.

    Register to attend: https://web-eur.cvent.com/event/bc39ce6d-cfdb-4d05-8abe-30b5b5575ddf/summary?_ga=2.197950447.1116268296.1704360607-1552096356.1701172154

  • 24Apr

    Our next Annual Cleevely Lecture will be delivered by Dr Dave Smith, National Technology Adviser at the Department for Science Innovation and Technology.

    Dave Smith was appointed the UK National Technology Adviser in September 2023. He advises the Technology Secretary on the best approach to building and enhancing the UK’s technology strengths, working across government to champion the science and tech industries, and build networks across industry and academia to draw the best minds into policy making.

    Dave Smith uses his decades of experience working across the technology industry, which has most recently seen him lead Rolls-Royce’s approach to innovation as Technology Director. His career has otherwise seen him sit as the Managing Director of a British tech firm working across cyber-security, networking and more, before taking up key leadership roles in renowned public sector and technology consultancies.

    Dave reports directly to the Department for Science Innovation and Technology’s Permanent Secretary to drive forward the work of the newest government department to drive innovation, create better paid jobs and grow the economy.

    PLEASE REGISTER HERE

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    The Annual Cleevely Lecture Series

    In 2021, the inaugural Cleevely Lecture was given by Angela McLean. CSaP's Annual Lecture Series began in 2011 with a talk by John Beddington (then GCSA). Lectures since then have included Chris Whitty (2017), Ed Humpherson (2019), Sally Davies (2020), Indro Mukerjee (2022) and in 2023 by Sarah Sharples.

    Dr David Cleevely was CSaP’s Founding Director from its inception in 2009 until he stepped down in 2015. We are very grateful to David for supporting and giving his name to this lecture series.

  • 02May

    The School of Physical Sciences and School of Technology Research Relations Team invites you to an information session about the Wellcome Trust’s Discovery Research programme, especially designed for researchers in SPS and SoT.

     

    The session will be presented by Sarah Lloyd, Senior Research Manager, Discovery Research, Wellcome. It will focus on exploring funding opportunities for physical sciences and technology research. Wellcome supports research from any discipline as long as it has the potential to improve human life, health and wellbeing, and aligns with Wellcome’s funding remit.

     

    This is an excellent opportunity for those who are not very familiar with Wellcome to hear about the remit of its discovery research programme as well as key features of the schemes, review processes and topics such as exploring research culture in Wellcome applications.

     

    There will be an initial overview of the Wellcome remit, followed by two sessions, one aimed at PIs and focused on Discovery Awards, and one aimed at postdocs and Early Career Researchers looking at Wellcome Fellowship schemes. We invite you to attend all or any parts you will find most useful.

     

    When: Thursday 2nd May, 11am – 2.15pm

    Where: Room East 1, West Hub, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, CB3 0US 

    Who this is open to: This event is open to any researchers in the Schools of the Physical Sciences and Technology, and collaborators in other parts of the University.

    How to register: Please complete the MS Teams registration form here by Wednesday 24th April.

     

    Once signed up, please hold the time in your calendar; we will circulate a diary invitation to all registrants in due course.

     

    Agenda:

    11.00 – 11.15am              Arrival & welcome

    11.15 – 11.45am              Overview of Wellcome remit – how technology and physical sciences fit into the discovery science portfolio.

    11.45 – 12.15am              Focus session on Wellcome Discovery Awards – key features, review process, panels, research culture and other topics of interest

    12.15 – 12.30pm             Q&A

    12.30 – 1.15pm                Lunch and free networking

    1.15 – 1.50pm                   Focus session on Fellowship schemes (Early Career Awards and Career Development Awards)

    1.50 – 2.00pm                   View from a successful Fellow – Dr Mateo Sanchez Lopez (Dept. Chemistry)

    2.00 – 2.15pm                   Q&A

     

    If you have any questions feel free to contact me at SPSResearchFacilitator@admin.cam.ac.uk.