Solar photovoltaics (PV) convert sunlight to electricity and is now the most utilised renewable energy technology globally. PV research focuses on ways to optimise power output from solar systems in real world situations. It covers fundamental understanding of solar PV, focussing more on applications in buildings, cities, villages, refrigeration and energy access.
Research into how behaviour, attitudes and personality traits impact upon the provision, marketing and targeting of innovative energy products and services to residential customers.
Research in wind energy is undertaken at various scales – urban, onshore and offshore. The first addresseesd UK field trails with turbine capacities >5kW (micro wind turbines), the 2nd was geared toaims to identify factors that may influence the planning acceptance of onshore wind, whilst the latter mapsped offshore wind energy resources and energy yields in the Middle East region.
Our research focusses on wave and tidal energy, encompassing resource characterisation, device fundamentals & array planning. It also addresses device interactions and array siting for optimised energy yields.
Coastal vulnerability is assessed through analysis of coastal zones that are vulnerable to change, such as through rising sea-levels or wider coastal change. The research includes analysis of natural heritage sites to determine how and why they are vulnerable, and how vulnerability manifests itself. Providing evidence to governments and non-government organisations to understand how to reduce vulnerability and help them achieve that.
Sea-level rise could be in excess of 1m in 100 years, creating significant impacts on coastal zones. We have studied impacts at global and continental scales, and in specific environments, such as deltas or small islands.