Projects per year
Organisation profile
Organisation profile
We produce world-leading, technology-focused research and innovation in the fields of net zero and sustainable environment. We are the UK's first recipients of the prestigious Lettinga Award for Innovation in Anaerobic Digestion.
We bring together experts in biology, engineering, chemistry, and physics to address the challenges to meet net zero targets and improve the efficient use of resources.
Research themes
Our key multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary teams focus on:
- Biorefining and the Circular Economy
- Hydrogen Energy
- Sustainable Chemistry
- Sustainable Energy Systems
- Waste and Wastewater Treatment
- Sustainability Assessment
We have a wealth of experience in sustainable environment research, spanning more than three decades, and have undertaken major national and international projects with some of the largest companies in the world. We are the first UK recipients of the Lettinga Award for Innovation in Anaerobic Digestion.
Postgraduate research
We welcome applications for postgraduate research in one of our areas of expertise.
Work with us
We’re passionate about working with partners to address real-world challenges. Our experts work with organisations of all sizes, and from all sectors, to develop new ideas, products and services that solve a specific problem. We help policy makers gather evidence to understand the needs and experiences of a sector or industry to better inform solutions.
Contact
Lead: Professor Alan Guwy
UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Our work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 13 Climate Action -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
Profiles
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Stephen Carr
- Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science - Lecturer in Energy Physicist
- Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science, Sustainable Environment Research Centre
Person: Academic
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Nildo Costa
- Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science - Senior Research Fellow in Inorganic Chemistry
- Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science, Sustainable Environment Research Centre
Person: Academic
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Michal Czachor
- Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science - Senior Research Assistant in Analytical Chemistry
- Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science, Sustainable Environment Research Centre
Person: Academic
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Caerogen: Optimising Efficient use of Alternative Water Sources for Electrolysis
Carr, S. (PI)
1/11/24 → …
Project: Research
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CO2 Derived Polyurethanes as Construction Materials for the Building Industry
Owen, G. (PI)
1/11/24 → …
Project: Research
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Real Time VFA Monitoring to Increase Biogas from Anaerobic Digestion for Heating Buildings
Fernandez Feito, R. (PI)
1/11/24 → …
Project: Research
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Continuous full-scale monitoring of speciated VFAs reveals limitations of conventional stability indicators in anaerobic digestion
Feito, R. F., Massanet-Nicolau, J., Jones, R. J. & Guwy, A. J., Sept 2026, In: Journal of Water Process Engineering. 91, 11 p., 110497.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Development of a mixed microbial culture for robust high-throughput ex-situ thermophilic biomethanation
Gangappa, R., Savvas, S., Redhead, S., Patterson, T. & Esteves, S., 28 May 2026, In: Frontiers in Microbiology. 17, 14 p., 1840981.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile5 Downloads (Pure) -
Development of a self-powered soil sensor using soil microbial fuel cells for power autonomous sensors for smart agriculture
Kim, M., Fernández-Feito, R., Park, J., Kim, H., Jeong, W., Dinsdale, R. M. & Kim, B., 1 Feb 2026, In: Journal of Power Sources. 666, 9 p., 239198.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Prizes
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2nd Prize poster Award
Darke, M. (Recipient), Donnelly, J. (Recipient), Henley, A. (Recipient), Savvas, S. (Recipient), Kumi, P. (Recipient), Goncalves De Oliveira, A. P. (Recipient), Patterson, T. (Recipient), Reed, J. (Recipient), Chong, Z. (Recipient), Wilson, V. (Recipient), Matthews, R. (Recipient), Vergara, L. (Recipient) & Esteves, S. R. (Recipient), 2019
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Gianni Astarita Young Investigator Award
Nagarajan, S. (Recipient), 2018
Prize: National/international honour
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Marie Curie CareerFIT PLUS Fellowship
Nagarajan, S. (Recipient), 2021
Prize: Fellowship awarded competitively
Activities
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Development of New Ligand Cooperation Strategies for the Catalytic Hydrogenation of CO2
Owen, G. (Speaker)
8 Jan 2025Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk
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Oral evidence to the House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee
Esteves, S. (Lecturer)
2024 → …Activity: Other › Types of External academic engagement - Contribution to the work of national or international committees and working groups
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HYCAPS Manticore Workshop
Booth, A. (Attendee)
7 Nov 2023 → 8 Nov 2023Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Participation in workshop, seminar, course
Student theses
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Bioplastics from C1 Gases - Substitute Sustainable Products for Polymer Coated Steel
Catherine, M.-C. (Author), Massanet-Nicolau, J. (Supervisor), Guwy, A. (Supervisor) & Dinsdale, R. (Supervisor), Oct 2023Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis
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Co-electrolysis of simulated coke oven gas using solid oxide electrolysis cell technology
Czachor, M. (Author), Laycock, C. (Supervisor), Maddy, J. (Supervisor) & Carr, S. (Supervisor), 2023Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis
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Demand Led Tidal Lagoon Power and Hydrogen Energy Storage - Supervisory Control and Optimisation
Procter, A. (Author), Zhang, F. (Supervisor), Guwy, A. (Supervisor) & Maddy, J. (Supervisor), 2022Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis
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