Re-Energize DR3

Re-Energize Governance of Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience for Sustainable Development (Re-Energize DR3) is funded by the Belmont Forum’s first disaster-focused funding call DR3 CRA Joint Research, which was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of Chinese Taipei in partnership with funders from Brazil (FAPESP), Japan (JST), Qatar (QNRF), the UK (UKRI), and the US (NSF). Re-Energize DR3 consortium is lead by UCL (Prof Spataru) and focuses on governance of disasters risk reduction and resilience due to climate change (floods, droughts, heatwaves) supporting developing and developed states to build adaptive governance capabilities that will embed equitable disaster risk reduction and resilience in development planning and programmes. Our nexus-informed methodological approach combines artificial intelligence, machine learning, natural language processing within a transdisciplinary research agenda. It will transform qualitative and quantitative data into actionable insights and inspire new breed of disaster reduction and resilience governance. Guidelines for governance arrangements will be developed to support the legitimacy of policy interventions. We will focus primary on floods, droughts and heat waves, with coastal cities and islands as case studies.

Energy Open Piazza

A consortium of 9 partners from UK and Canada (Unit9, UCL, Utilismart Cooperation, University of Sheffield, Skanska, Integrated Environmental Solutions, Avison Young, Catapult energy systems, Boost Energy Venture) who work together to create a software platform that leverages behind-the-meter data interoperability for both simulated and real-­world scenarios, allowing players to forecast efficiencies and evaluate competing solutions for the implementation of actual systems.Our solution creates connections across elements in the value chain required to take action and lay the foundations for transformative energy solutions. https://energyopenpiazza.io

A Stakeholder Interactive city energy demand simulator

Constructing a city energy and environment model - Stakeholder Interactive City Energy Demand Simulator – with industrial partners in collaboration with city stakeholders. Spatiotemporal modelling and estimation of how energy efficiency and supply policies will impact energy flows, greenhouse gas and air pollution emission, capital and running costs, fuel poverty and health impacts

Energy, Life Cycle Assessment and Low Carbon Technologies

The study introduces a comprehensive approach for low carbon heating technologies (in this case air source and ground-source heat pumps) that allows a multi-level analysis focusing on the individual impacts of house archetypes and cumulative results for the entire system in Orkney as a case study. The aim of this research is to develop an integrated approach by combining life cycle assessment, energy system modelling, economic modelling and building stock modelling to assess energy, environmental and economic savings of heat pump uptake to decarbonise heating in domestic buildings in Orkney. The integrated approach has chosen an island as a case study to create a testing ground and demonstrate the applicability of the study. The integrated approach examines the current situation in Orkney and conducts a scenario analysis for 2050 to create a pathway for a low carbon future.

Techno-economic assessment of Renewables Integration in islands in Turkey

This study aims to examine the impact of increase of renewable energy in three regional islands in Turkey. Various scenarios will be assessed for optimal combination of electricity generation, energy storage, electric vehicles, submarine interconnections and demand management. Furthermore this study targets to assess the technical reliability of renewable energy integrations in these islands.

Funder EPSRC

The main objective of this research project is to examine waste to energy into a well interconnected system considering circular economy principles. The Scottish Government has set a number of goals towards developing a circular economy, as described by its 'Zero Waste Plan. This is transformed into action by the strategy document "Making Things Last: A Circular Economy Strategy for Scotland", which discusses commitment to principles of reuse, reduce, recycling and remanufacturing, as well as existing research and further avenues of development. In the same time, several electricity interconnections are proposed currently according to conditions imposed by Ofgem of certain capacity requirements being met by CfDs. We are testing an interconnected power system for Scottish islands which accommodates a number of energy resources including biological ones.

Enhancing Effective Implementation of Renewable Energy Sources on the Greek Non-interconnected Islanding Region

The main objective of this research project is to examine the impact of interconnection plans in parallel with high RES deployment on the Greek electricity system under the Energy Trilemma Index. Scenarios are assessed for optimal combination of resources, electricity generation technologies, energy storage, electric vehicles and submarine interconnections while applying demand side response management.

A circular economy and society for sustainable islands (circular islands) UCL Grand Challenge of Justice Equality

The objective of this project is to define a methodological guidance for islands towards a circular economy and society in line with the three principles (reuse, reduce and recycle).

UCL Global Engagement Fund; in collaboration with SJTU (China)

Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing global environmental issue adversely affecting terrestrial, coastal and marine man-made and natural ecosystems. Think globally- act locally as suggested during the Rio + 20 conference has become a very useful approach for numerous local contributions to achieve the SDGs of the Agenda 2030. When it comes to conversation, knowledge is power and educating the younger generations is the key. Part of this we are running the programme called 'Mobile Education Hub' for Sustainable Islands communities in a circular economy.