Natural Resources / Affordable and Clean Energy

Delivering cleaner, more accessible energy for the future
Offshore wind turbine in a wind farm under construction off the England coast at sunset.

Cleaner and accessible energy solutions

Ensuring access to affordable, reliable and sustainable energy is a driving force behind several areas of research, innovation and technology development at the University; alongside providing course programmes developing the skills and expertise required to lead on delivering cleaner, more accessible energy for the future.
Our leading academics are working on the responsible use of natural assets to accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources, advancing technology to convert energy more efficiently, developing the infrastructure required to deliver cleaner energy solutions, and examining how we consume energy more responsibly.
SDG7 Affordable and clean energy

The South West Natural Powerhouse

Natural assets like the wind, critical minerals and heat lie at the heart of the journey to net-zero and the Green Industrial Revolution policies – which include offshore wind, the shift to zero-emission vehicles, greener buildings, sequestrating carbon and protecting our natural environment.
The South West Natural Powerhouse (SWNP) is a movement that aims to connect natural capital assets – our resources – with the South-West’s ambition for clean growth. The SWNP is an independent consortium formed from industry, academia and local government that works in collaboration to facilitate clean growth in the South West. The consortium fosters responsible stewardship of our natural resources, whilst promoting sustainable and accelerated development of the blue and green economies.
South West England coastline

Greater returns from green energy

Pulsiv, a University of Plymouth spinout, continues at pace toward full-scale production of its solar micro-inverter, which has the potential to supply up to five per cent more energy to the grid than current market leaders. The PulsiV team are working with Bosch UK to optimise the design to further maximize the returns from the clean energy it harvests.
Dr Zaki Ahmed’s pioneering power technology can be applied to commercial solar farms through to household electrical appliances such as televisions, mobile phones and laptops; with potential for a wide range of further industrial applications. Additionally, PulsiV are working on new technology for LED lighting to reduce energy storage requirements.
PulsiV Solar

Marine e-charging Living Lab

Plymouth is the first UK city to install a network of shoreside charging facilities for its expanding fleet of electric maritime vessels. A consortium of city partners joined forces to create Plymouth’s Marine e-Charging Living Lab (MeLL).
The network of charging facilities around Plymouth Sound responds to the Maritime 2050 route map for maritime net zero and includes the world’s first 150kw charging facility at Mount Batten, the UK’s first 75kw site at Queen Anne’s Battery, and a 25kw installation at the Barbican landing stage. The project is being led by the University of Plymouth in partnership with Plymouth City Council, Princess Yachts Limited and Aqua SuperPower.
Marine e-charging point

Projects

Explore projects including geothermal energy in the South West, innovative energy solutions in Africa and the UK's first electric passenger ferry.

Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE)

Explore the University's range of projects in offshore renewable energy, leading the UK's development for a cleaner energy future.

Sunset Offshore Wind Turbine in a Wind farm under construction of England coast, UK. Image courtesy of Getty Images.  

Offshore renewable energy

The University is conducting research into all aspects of offshore wave, wind and tidal energy and working to inspire and influence everyone from academics and industry to global policy makers

Read more about our expertise in this area