Carbon capture, utilisation and storage laboratory

The way the world powers itself has to change fundamentally. Cranfield is leading the transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources, working across the global energy system, developing new solutions and teaching the next generation of energy professionals. We are the natural home of net zero – study with us and get the skills to play your part.

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“The year I spent at Cranfield was one of the most enriching experiences of my life. Cranfield University gave me tools that have proved invaluable in the energy industry. The right balance of engineering and management modules, the personalised attention from the faculty staff and the interesting, complex projects are just a few examples of why I consider my Cranfield experience as a fundamental part of the engineer I am today.”

Xavier Lebrija,

(Renewable Energy MSc 2020)

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage laboratory

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UK No. 5

Cranfield is the fifth largest higher education provider for postgraduate, process and energy engineering students in the UK.

(Higher Education Statistics Agency, 2020-2021)

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1 million

kilowatt hours per year solar-powered

Cranfield’s solar power farm is a working research facility, it provides 5% of the annual electricity on campus.

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Over three-quarters of our Energy and Sustainability learners come from outside the UK, representing 36 nationalities.

(Figures from July 2023)

Research in action


Delivering cleaner, cheaper energy

Cranfield is working in partnership with SSE Enterprise, Element Energy, Smarter Grid Solutions and Sweco UK on a design project for Peterborough City Council to transform the generation and distribution of energy in the city.

Peterborough Integrated Renewables Infrastructure project (PIRI) aims to deliver a significant drop in CO₂ emissions by 2030, while cutting energy bills by up to a quarter.

A next-generation heat network, electricity network and electric vehicle infrastructure is all incorporated into one smart holistic scheme. If successful, the scheme could be rolled out to other cities and towns, to help the UK realise its ambitions of net zero by 2050.

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“I will definitely say the group project has been the most exciting part, the most challenging as well. I really enjoy working with my colleagues – now I can say they are my friends, on an industry-related project, especially for a big industry like the offshore wind industry. Cranfield was a great and unforgettable experience.”

Diego Rodriguez,

(Advanced Mechanical Engineering MSc 2021)

Facilities

Energy and Sustainability has a range of world-class and unique industrial facilities that students can use as part of their studies and research. These include:

  • The energy process laboratory: Equipped with pilot-scale facilities to study the clean energy conversion in fossil and biofuels and study different CO₂ capture techniques.
  • The process systems engineering laboratory: Equipped with industrial-scale single-phase and multi-phase flow facilities to study the behaviour of complex multiphase flows and also home to a 30m wave tank facility used to research marine structural concepts and behaviours and projects related to floating wind and solar.
  • Our structural integrity laboratory: One of the best-equipped facilities in the UK for the development and testing of large-scale structural materials and components used in the energy sector.
  • Hydrogen: We believe that hydrogen is a viable clean fuel that will help the world meet its net zero emissions targets. Our expert engineers are investigating hydrogen production, storage, utilisation and transport and an array of extensive facilities is in place to enable this innovative technology.
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1MW Solar PV farm on Cranfield campus