The Energy Futures Lab is the focal point for multidisciplinary energy research at Imperial College London. We support energy research through two routes: cross-departmental Grand Challenges and focussed Research Network programmes.
Grand challenges
The Energy Futures Lab currently has 5 established multi-million pound 'Grand Challenge' research programmes. They are in urban energy systems, advanced petroleum engineering (clean fossil fuels), sustainable hydrogen production, Planet 2050 (joint with the Grantham Institute) and artificial photosynthesis ('Artificial Leaf'). These large scale multi-disciplinary projects run over several years and draw upon the expertise of several research groups within Imperial and beyond. The Energy Futures Lab acts as a co-ordinating body for the development of research proposals, negotiation and delivery.
The Energy Futures Lab also has two more Grand Challenges under development: Energy efficiency in infdustrial and commercial processes; and Energy storage.
Find out more about the EFL's Grand Challenges:
Research networks
Bioreactor used to harvest hydrogen fuel
The core Energy Futures Lab research is performed within our 16 research networks. Energy research at Imperial crosses many faculties, departments and research groups. Many of the core challenges in energy for the 21st century lie at the intersection of these established boundaries. The EFL research networks aim to be a mechanism by which research groups within the college with related interests can share ideas and information. Staff and students from many disciplines work together in these networks to develop holistic approaches to our energy research challenges.
