Our 2024 research highlights

As the year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to reflect on and celebrate some of our research news stories from 2024.

Photograph of Mobile Power customer in Sierra Leone

From longer-life batteries to sustainable aviation fuel, discover some of the news stories that defined our year.


University of Sheffield and Rolls-Royce develop new organisational resilience index to improve supply chain resilience

Professor Lenny Koh from the Energy Institute, and Peter Ralph from Rolls-Royce
Professor Lenny Koh from the Energy Institute, and Peter Ralph from Rolls-Royce

Researchers from the University of Sheffield, led by Professor Lenny Koh, in collaboration with Rolls-Royce have unveiled a comprehensive approach to quantifying and enhancing organisational resilience.

A new approach to supply chain resilience


Replacing plastics with alternatives is worse for greenhouse gas emissions in most cases, study finds

A close up of a plastic bottle being put in a bin

Substituting plastics with alternative materials is likely to result in increased GHG emissions.

The study by Dr Fanran Meng from Sheffield’s Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering has revealed the emissions associated with plastic products compared to their alternatives.

Despite concerns about plastics' contribution to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the study reveals that in 15 out of 16 applications examined, plastic products actually result in lower GHG emissions compared to alternatives.

Rethinking the future of plastics


UK Clearing House for sustainable aviation fuels officially launches

The view of a plane's wing against a blue sky with clouds as seen from a passenger window

The UK sustainable aviation fuels Clearing House has officially launched, marking a major step in enabling the UK to bring new fuels to market and help reduce carbon emissions from the aviation industry.

Led by the Energy Institute, and supported by engineering and environmental consultancy Ricardo plc, the UK SAF Clearing House provides support for the development, testing, qualification, and production of sustainable aviation fuels.

Powering a sustainable future for aviation


Longer-life smart MOPO batteries bringing renewable energy to Africa

Photograph of Mobile Power customer in Sierra Leone

University of Sheffield engineers are helping to develop longer-life smart batteries, called MOPO Batteries, to bring clean and affordable energy to cities and communities off-grid or with unstable power networks in Africa.

Transforming Energy Access in Remote Communities


Rolls-Royce SMR partners with University of Sheffield in new manufacturing and testing facility

An aerial view of the University of Sheffield Innovation District featuring the Factory 2050 building
The University of Sheffield AMRC's Factory 2050

Rolls-Royce SMR is partnering with the University of Sheffield to launch a major new manufacturing and testing facility in South Yorkshire.

Based in the University of Sheffield AMRC’s Factory 2050, the new facility will produce prototype modules for small modular reactors (SMRs).

Securing a clean energy future

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