Pioneering sustainable solutions to global challenges
Working in partnership to make a difference
The Centre for Environmental and Renewable Energy Solutions (CERES) stands at the forefront of addressing critical challenges in environmental sustainability and renewable energy. Established as a beacon of innovation, CERES is dedicated to pioneering research and finding solutions that significantly impact both local and global environmental challenges.
Partnerships
We've built a strong collaborative network, teaming up with partners from both the industry and the public sector. Below are just some of the organisations we've recently worked with:
- UNEP
- Southern Water
- International Clean Tech Network
- Absolar
- Isle of Wight Council
- B4T
- Brittany Ferries
- Portsmouth International Port
Facilities
Renewable Energy Lab
Students and researchers address sustainable power and decarbonisation issues with modelling software and physical equipment in our Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Telecommunications and Control Laboratory
Explore how to transmit radio waves, build circuit boards and analyse high-frequency signals at our Telecommunications Laboratories.
Power Electronics Laboratory
Our Power Electronics Laboratory supports learning in the field of electrical & power engineering, enabling students to study the impact of electrical loads.
Hydraulics Laboratory
The Hydraulics Laboratory helps civil engineering students investigate all aspects of open channel flow; from flow over weirs to hydraulic jumps.
Environmental Technology Laboratory
This lab hosts all the facilities you need to conduct simple water tests for biochemical oxygen demand to suspended solids, nutrient analysis, pH and conductivity.
Environmental Technology Field Station
Conduct tests and analyse samples currently in the ecosystem in a fully-operational waterworks in nearby Petersfield complete with microbiology and environmental chemistry labs.
Current and recent projects
The SEA CHANGE project will design, build and operate a ‘shore power’ system across the three busiest berths at Portsmouth International Port. This will allow visiting ferry or cruise ships to turn off their engines when in the port, as they will be able to ‘plug-in’ and use green electricity to run their onboard systems.
In this project, we use systems engineering in collaboration with industry to demonstrate and assess the role of alternative fuels in ports for decarbonisation.
This is a pioneering university-led business network that helps members get innovative ideas to market faster. A one-stop-shop for clean innovation.
By taking a systems approach to energy provision, we're working in collaboration with industry to design a local energy framework for the Isle of Wight.
Technology moves fast and we're staying ahead of the curve by trialling new technologies to protect the environment in this project. We've established an Innovation Hub, a suite of laboratories, and offices on the site of the Southern Water Petersfield treatment works.
Impact
Developed new water management technologies
A UK water company implemented new treatment technologies and site models, enhancing wastewater treatment performance while reducing costs and improving environmental protection. This upgrade not only stimulated the commercial growth of SMEs through improved sewage treatment plants but also informed policy on blue-green water management systems, benefiting both the environment and industrial collaborators. Additionally, soil washing technology was developed to remediate hydrocarbons at industrial sites.
Equipped industry
CERES colleagues have equipped industry with enhanced theoretical understanding and modelling capabilities that have provided significant economic benefit by decreasing the overall development cost of manufacturing battery modules for electric vehicles (EVs).
Increased rates of using EVs
Our work has contributed to the increased use of EVs by improving the commercial viability of lithium-ion battery packs, which make up 40% of the vehicle's cost. These batteries last longer, are safer, recharge faster, and can be driven further between charges – contributing to policies to ban the sale of combustion engines across large portions of the world and societal goals to reduce CO2, NOx and particulate emissions.
Established a clean-tech cluster
We established a clean-tech cluster in 2015, following regional funding from the UK government. This led to the formation of , a pioneering university-led business network that helps members gain innovative ideas to market faster.
Recent publications
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Sahu, S., and Foster, J. (2023) "A continuum model for lithium plating and dendrite formation in lithium-ion batteries: Formulation and validation against experiment", Journal of Energy Storage, 60, Article 106516
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Harza, M., Joshi, H., Williams, J., and Watts, J. (2022) "Antibiotics and antibiotic resistant bacteria/genes in urban wastewater: a comparison of their fate in conventional treatment systems and constructed wetlands", Chemosphere, 303(2), Article 135148
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Faris, H., Gaterell, M., and Hutchinson, D. (2022) "Developing a collaborative framework for construction projects in emerging economies", Smart and Sustainable Built Environment. Advance online publication.
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Cottrell, J. A., Ali, M., Tatari, A., and Martinson, B. (2023) "Effects of fibre moisture content on the mechanical properties of jute reinforced compressed earth composites", Construction and Building Materials, 373, Article 130848
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Holloway, T. G., Williams, J., Ouelhadj, D., and Yang, G. (2022) "Exploring the use of water resource recovery facility instrument data to visualise dynamic resilience to environmental stressors", Water Research, 221, Article 118711
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Ratcliffe, E., Ogunbode, C., Wilkie, S., Jones, C. R., Devine-Wright, P., Uzzell, D., Canter, D., Korpela, K., de Carvalho, L. P., and Staats, H. (2024) "On the importance of qualitative research in environmental psychology", Journal of Environmental Psychology, 93, Article 102199
