About Energy 2050
Energy 2050 is one of the UK's largest energy research institutes.
Changing the way we make and use energy
Global need for energy is increasing at a time when the risks and challenges of climate change are well understood and people around the world are demanding cheap, reliable energy.
As countries move away from fossil fuels, a greater range of sustainable energy technologies is required.
Energy 2050 is one of the UK's largest energy research institutes, with more than 250 PhD students and over 120 academics undertaking innovative and forward-thinking energy research and development.
As part of the University of Sheffield's Energy Institute, we share its core mission to find low-carbon solutions to the world’s biggest energy challenges.
We look at both the individual technologies and how these technologies interact and integrate to help governments and companies understand the full energy system.
Our research themes include:
- Decarbonisation
- Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS)
- Energy from waste
- Hydrogen and fuels cells
- Bioenergy
- Energy policy
- Cross-cutting technology, including computational fuel dynamics (CFD) and process simulation.
Training the next generation of energy leaders
From the UK’s longest-running and largest MSc(Eng) Environmental and Energy Engineering to our four Centres for Doctoral Training, we are training the next generation of energy leaders who will use their expertise in academia, industry and government.
Students have the opportunity to work alongside leading experts and contribute to groundbreaking research that will shape the future of energy.
Postgraduate opportunities at Energy 2050
De-risking investment in energy technologies
We go beyond the boundaries of traditional university research through our work with industry and government to de-risk investment in energy technologies and deliver cheaper, secure and cleaner energy.
Our world-class innovation facilities, such as the Translational Energy Research Centre (TERC), allow students to rapidly transform energy concepts into reality.
By testing new technologies, developing prototypes, and advancing engineering and manufacturing processes, our researchers can accelerate the path from blueprint to market and reduce costs in the process.
Wider sustainability research
Energy 2050 also contributes to energy aspects of the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures, which leads the University of Sheffield’s work around sustainability, and the interaction between food, energy and resources.
This collaboration includes giving Energy 2050 students the opportunity to attend COP as official observers for the University of Sheffield.