Topic description and stories

Research is tackling the need to reduce energy demand, maintain energy supply, increase the efficiency of energy-requiring processes, and develop policy and pricing strategies. To find out more about our research in energy, visit the Energy Interdisciplinary Research Centre (IRC) website

Experimental two-electrode setup showing the photoelectrochemical cell illuminated with simulated solar light

Scientists pioneer a new way to turn sunlight into fuel

03 Sep 2018

The quest to find new ways to harness solar power has taken a step forward after researchers successfully split water into hydrogen and oxygen by...

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The ‘brain’ that’s helping reduce carbon emissions

06 Aug 2018

From their base halfway across the globe in Singapore, Cambridge researchers are working with colleagues from around the world to reduce carbon...

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Impression of rapidly flowing ionic diffusion within a niobium tungsten oxide

New class of materials could be used to make batteries that charge faster

25 Jul 2018

Researchers have identified a group of materials that could be used to make even higher power batteries. The researchers, from the University of...

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Image showing light emission from the polymeric nanostructures and schematic of a single nanostructure

Plastic crystals hold key to record-breaking energy transport

24 May 2018

Scientists from the Universities of Cambridge and Bristol have found a way to create plastic semiconductor nanostructures that absorb light and...

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Cambridge in Autumn: Bicycles at Trinity College

Environmental report highlights Cambridge’s progress towards sustainability goals

18 Apr 2018

The University has published its Environmental Sustainability Report 2017, setting out its progress over the past 12 months, including key...

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Conceptual image of spin current flow in a superconductor

Some superconductors can also carry currents of ‘spin’

16 Apr 2018

Researchers have shown that certain superconductors – materials that carry electrical current with zero resistance at very low temperatures – can...

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Atomic scale view of perovskite crystal formation

Potassium gives perovskite-based solar cells an efficiency boost

21 Mar 2018

A simple potassium solution could boost the efficiency of next-generation solar cells, by enabling them to convert more sunlight into electricity.

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Harnessing the power of algae: new, greener fuel cells move step closer to reality

10 Jan 2018

A new design of algae-powered fuel cells that is five times more efficient than existing plant and algal models, as well as being potentially more...

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Clean energy: experts outline how governments can successfully invest before it’s too late

06 Dec 2017

Researchers distil twenty years of lessons from clean energy funding into six ‘guiding principles’. They argue that governments must eschew constant...

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Report highlights opportunities and risks associated with synthetic biology and bioengineering

21 Nov 2017

Human genome editing, 3D-printed replacement organs and artificial photosynthesis – the field of bioengineering offers great promise for tackling the...

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Carbon capture: universities and industry work together to tackle emissions

25 Oct 2017

An international collaboration between universities and industry will further develop carbon capture and storage technology – one of the best hopes...

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Winton Symposium tackles the challenge of energy storage and distribution

11 Oct 2017

The sixth annual Winton Symposium will be held on 9 November at the University’s Cavendish Laboratory on the theme of Energy Storage and Distribution.

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