Sustainable Earth Materials, Minerals and Future Energy

Sustainable resources and green energy solutions are essential in addressing global challenges such as climate change, energy security, and environmental conservation.

We are contributing to the transition to Net Zero through our research into critical metals, which are vital components in many every day and high-tech technologies—from smartphones and lightbulbs to clean energy solutions like wind turbines and electric vehicles.

Our researchers are investigating the geological processes that lead to the formation of rare earth elements, employing geochemical, petrological, and geophysical methods to uncover patterns of enrichment globally. Through this work, we aim to identify new sources of critical metals while carefully considering and limiting the environmental and societal implications of extraction activities.

At the Institute for Energy and Environmental Flows, our researchers are advancing carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology through studying the physics of carbon dioxide dissipation in underground reservoirs. In partnership with the Cambridge Nuclear Energy Centre, we are also researching the safe geological storage of nuclear waste.

Our work on renewable energy extends to exploring geothermal energy sources and developing methods for the geological storage of surplus energy generated by intermittent sources such as wind and solar power.

We have a wide range of in-house experimental facilities for the study of minerals and their properties, including world-leading laboratories for microscopy, diffraction and spectroscopy. Find out more about our research facilities here.