REnewable Energy access for Future UK Net-Zero Cooling (Reef-UKC)
Lead Research Organisation:
ASTON UNIVERSITY
Department Name: College of Engineering and Physical Science
Abstract
A recent study by UK universities found that cooling currently accounts for 10-20% of the country's energy consumption, and the demand for cooling is expected to increase several-fold in the coming years. The Imperial College's Demand.ninja model shows that London is experiencing the fastest increase in cooling demand worldwide, mainly due to frequent and severe heatwaves. A separate study from the University of Oxford warns that the UK is unprepared for a 30% relative increase in cooling demand, the third-largest globally, after Ireland and Switzerland. Additionally, emerging sectors such as hydrogen production require significant cooling for efficient storage and distribution, with the production of ammonia as a hydrogen carrier being a high cooling demand process at 2.8 GJ/ton-ammonia.
Cooling is an energy intensive practice. If we continue to use grid electricity to power cooling systems, along with the increasing demand for other uses like electric vehicles, the grid will become significantly strained, hindering its decarbonisation. The Reef-UKC network aims to lead research in discovering the next generation of renewable energy technologies to meet the growing demand for cooling. We'll undertake evidence-based, multidisciplinary research using pump-priming funds and networking activities to leverage renewable energy sources for cooling. Our research will maximise system-level integration benefits while addressing the unique challenges of the UK's economic, environmental, societal, behavioural, and political contexts. Since cooling is a multidimensional challenge, we will focus on several fronts (F) to achieve our goals.
F1: Develop efficient renewable-powered cooling system-level solutions to meet the existing and future demand for cooling, specifically in rapidly growing sectors, e.g., Hydrogen, data centres.
F2: Consider environmental and social impacts and behavioural changes.
F3: Contemplate Cold economy, business modelling, sustainability, and design for circularity.
F4: Integrate the developed solutions with the developed cooling (and potentially heating) networks approaches by other research initiatives.
F5: Develop policies and regulatory frameworks to incentivise the adoption of the technology packages and communication with the UK government and local authorities.
Cooling is an energy intensive practice. If we continue to use grid electricity to power cooling systems, along with the increasing demand for other uses like electric vehicles, the grid will become significantly strained, hindering its decarbonisation. The Reef-UKC network aims to lead research in discovering the next generation of renewable energy technologies to meet the growing demand for cooling. We'll undertake evidence-based, multidisciplinary research using pump-priming funds and networking activities to leverage renewable energy sources for cooling. Our research will maximise system-level integration benefits while addressing the unique challenges of the UK's economic, environmental, societal, behavioural, and political contexts. Since cooling is a multidimensional challenge, we will focus on several fronts (F) to achieve our goals.
F1: Develop efficient renewable-powered cooling system-level solutions to meet the existing and future demand for cooling, specifically in rapidly growing sectors, e.g., Hydrogen, data centres.
F2: Consider environmental and social impacts and behavioural changes.
F3: Contemplate Cold economy, business modelling, sustainability, and design for circularity.
F4: Integrate the developed solutions with the developed cooling (and potentially heating) networks approaches by other research initiatives.
F5: Develop policies and regulatory frameworks to incentivise the adoption of the technology packages and communication with the UK government and local authorities.
Organisations
- ASTON UNIVERSITY (Lead Research Organisation)
- King Saud University (Collaboration)
- University of Warwick (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Collaboration)
- University of Glasgow (Collaboration)
- University of Leeds (Collaboration)
- NHS England (Collaboration)
- Carbon Trust (Collaboration)
- West Midlands Growth Company (Collaboration)
- London South Bank University (Collaboration)
- DELHI TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- BRUNEL UNIVERSITY LONDON (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- Ulster University (Collaboration)
- Umm Al-Qura University (Collaboration)
- Aston University (Collaboration)
- CARDIFF UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Tianjin University (Collaboration)
- University of Hertfordshire (Collaboration)
- National University of Malaysia (Collaboration)
- Solar-Polar Ltd (Collaboration)
- Energy Saving Trust (Collaboration)
- Institute of Refrigeration (Collaboration)
- Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) (Collaboration)
- Barocal (Collaboration)
- DURHAM UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Indian Institute of Technology Madras (Collaboration)
- Technology Innovation Institute (Collaboration)
- HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- University of Liverpool (Collaboration)
- Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (Collaboration)
- Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur (Collaboration)
- Weatherite Air Conditoning Ltd (Collaboration)
- TEESSIDE UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- African Centre for Technology Studies (Collaboration)
- Tyseley Energy Park Ltd (Collaboration)
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) (Collaboration)
- BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (Collaboration)
- Camfridge Ltd (Collaboration)
- Neom (Collaboration)
- NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EXETER (Collaboration)
- BELFAST CITY COUNCIL (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Institute of Mechanical Engineers (Collaboration)
- Tyseley Energy Park Limited (Project Partner)
- Phase Change Material Products Limited (Project Partner)
- PAK Engineering (Project Partner)
- Kinder Energy Ltd (Project Partner)
- Specialist Computer Centres Ltd (SCC) (Project Partner)
Publications
Emami A
(2024)
Exergy-economic based multi-objective optimization and carbon footprint analysis of solar thermal refrigeration systems
in Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Brown C
(2026)
Thermal performance testing of shallow geothermal systems: Insights from field experiments and numerical modelling
in Geothermics
| Title | Co creation and publication of comic book as a part of workshop activity |
| Description | During the Reef-UKC Summer Workshop, members co-created a comic that explores how Frostwick responds, adapts, and ultimately thrives in a changing climate - from chaos and debate to a "cooler," greener future. The result is a fun, creative take on renewable cooling and community resilience - all imagined and illustrated by the Reef-UKC network. Read the full comic here: https://reef-ukc.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Frostwick-Comic-High-Resolution-A4.pdf Frostwick's journey doesn't end on the page - we have printed the comic and distributed it into some of Birmingham's classrooms, where young readers can explore what a "cooler future" might look like. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Impact | The co-created comic "From Heatwave to Hope: Frostwick Town's Journey" provided an innovative public-engagement output that translated Reef-UKC research on renewable cooling, heat resilience and climate adaptation into an accessible, visually engaging format. Developed collaboratively during the Reef-UKC Summer Workshop, the comic enabled effective knowledge exchange between researchers, creative practitioners and wider audiences, broadening participation beyond traditional academic stakeholders. By presenting a relatable UK-based narrative, the output increased awareness of the emerging risks of heatwaves and the role of sustainable cooling solutions in building community resilience. As a freely available digital resource, the comic offers ongoing impact potential for education, outreach and stakeholder engagement aligned with UKRI priorities on climate resilience and net zero. |
| URL | https://reef-ukc.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Frostwick-Comic-High-Resolution-A4.pdf |
| Description | Rather than funding a single piece of technical research, the award enabled the creation of Reef-UKC, a national network that brings together people who would not normally work closely together (researchers, businesses, policymakers and educators) to focus on sustainable, renewable-powered cooling in UK. As a result of the award, the following key achievements have been delivered: A new UK-wide community focused on low-to-zero-carbon cooling: The project has successfully connected experts from over 20 universities in the UK and overseas, alongside more than 60 organisations from industry, government and wider society. This has created a coordinated UK community working on cooling as part of the net-zero energy system, rather than treating it as a secondary issue. Early-stage research ideas have been turned into real projects: Through a dedicated £100k seed-funding programme, nine new research projects were launched. These projects explore how renewable energy (such as solar, waste heat, geothermal, etc.) can be better combined with efficient cooling technologies. This has reduced the risk of trying out new ideas and allowed research teams to test concepts that can now be developed further through larger funding programmes. Improved exchange of knowledge among research, industry and policy: The award supported a programme of workshops, webinars, conferences and industrial visits, enabling two-way learning among academics, businesses and policymakers. This has helped ensure that research is shaped by real-world needs and that emerging evidence can be shared quickly with those who can use it. Direct engagement with policymakers and public bodies: Reef-UKC has actively shared research insights with HM Treasury and the Department for Education, supporting evidence-informed thinking on energy, skills development, and the future workforce required for low-carbon cooling and climate action. Engagement with Birmingham City Council has further strengthened connections between research evidence, local government, and national policy-making, helping ensure that findings are relevant and actionable for decision-makers. Greater public awareness of cooling and climate change: Cooling in the UK is often invisible to the public, despite its growing impact on energy use and emissions. To address this, the project developed a cooling-focused comic book, which was distributed to primary and secondary schools in Birmingham. This helped raise awareness among young people of how cooling affects climate change and why new solutions are needed. Foundations laid for long-term impact: The network has already produced a range of presentations and webinars, along with research papers, reports, policy briefs, and practical tools, with a few more in development. These outputs will help guide future research, inform industry practice and support policymaking as evidence continues to mature. |
| Exploitation Route | The outcomes of Reef-UKC provide a strong foundation for future research, innovation, and practical impact in the area of sustainable, renewable-powered cooling. The award has created a UK-wide, interdisciplinary network, and the knowledge, collaborations, and outputs generated are already positioned to be taken forward by a variety of stakeholders: Expansion of research and funding opportunities The seed-funded projects and interdisciplinary collaborations established through Reef-UKC create opportunities for larger, longer-term research programmes. Academic teams can build on this foundation to submit competitive proposals to EPSRC follow-on funding, UKRI cross-council calls, and Innovate UK programmes, further advancing integrated renewable cooling technologies and systems. Industry adoption and scale-up Businesses engaged through the Reef-UKC network - including organisations in refrigeration, thermal storage, energy integration, and related supply chains - can apply research findings to real-world challenges. This includes piloting new technologies, adopting evidence-based operational approaches, and supporting the commercialisation and scale-up of solutions, generating both economic and industrial benefits. Policy and regulatory use Policy-relevant insights, analyses, and recommendations can be taken up by government departments and local authorities, such as DESNZ, the Department for Education, and city councils. These outputs can inform decarbonisation strategies, skills and education planning, incentives, standards, and regulatory frameworks, ensuring that research evidence supports effective, evidence-informed decision-making aligned with the UK's net-zero goals. Community, education, and international collaboration The Reef-UKC network supports knowledge exchange across local, national, and international partners. Schools, universities, and community stakeholders can use educational materials - such as the cooling-focused comic book - to raise awareness of energy and climate issues. International research partnerships provide platforms for joint funding applications, comparative studies, and shared trials, positioning the UK as a leader in global sustainable cooling initiatives. Knowledge transfer through outputs Planned and ongoing outputs - including research papers, policy briefs, reports, webinars, and modelling tools - provide accessible, actionable information for researchers, industry, and policymakers. These outputs will help others build on Reef-UKC findings, guide future research directions, support industrial practice, and shape policy development in low-carbon cooling. |
| Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Communities and Social Services/Policy Construction Creative Economy Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Education Energy Environment Healthcare Retail |
| URL | https://reef-ukc.net/outputs/ |
| Description | Although it is still early to quantify the long-term economic and societal impact, the award has already generated meaningful non-academic impacts across the public, private, and voluntary sectors. A central achievement has been the establishment of a large, interdisciplinary network of academic researchers, industry partners, and stakeholders working across cooling, energy systems, digitalisation, and socio-economic research. Through structured networking activities, workshops, and seed-funded collaborations, the project has facilitated new partnerships that extend beyond academia. For example, engagement within the network has catalysed new industrial collaborations between partners such as Epta UK and Unitech Synergies, which are progressing towards the development of improved cooling products and services. These collaborations are expected to enhance innovation in sustainable cooling technologies, improve energy efficiency, and support commercial competitiveness within the UK cooling and refrigeration sector. The award has supported several seed-funded projects designed to accelerate the translation of research into societal and commercial applications. Seed funding has enabled early-stage research across a wide range of emerging and strategically important areas, including: Data centres and digitalisation AI and remote monitoring for cooling optimisation Thermal storage (PCM and geothermal) Magnetic cooling and piezoelectric fan technologies Waste heat recovery and heat mapping Renewable integration (solar, wind, geothermal) Socio-economic analysis, business models, and social acceptance While many of these projects are ongoing, they are already shaping research directions and strengthening industry engagement. Their impacts are expected to materialise through improved product development, optimised system design, and enhanced policy frameworks for sustainable cooling and energy integration. The resulting academic outputs from these projects will inform research agendas and contribute evidence to policymakers addressing overheating, health inequality, and climate adaptation strategies. Summary: In summary, although it is premature to quantify full economic and societal impact, REEF-UKC has: Established a nationally significant interdisciplinary and industry-engaged network Stimulated new industrial collaborations leading to improved products and services Funded socially relevant projects addressing overheating, heat vulnerability, and equitable cooling access Generated policy-relevant insights for local authorities Seeded innovation across emerging cooling and renewable integration technologies Contributed to the formation of a new cross-disciplinary research field The economic and societal impacts of these activities are expected to grow as seed projects mature, industrial collaborations progress, and research outputs translate into policy guidance, technological innovation, and commercial application. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2025 |
| Sector | Construction,Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Retail |
| Impact Types | Societal Policy & public services |
| Description | Addressing the UK's Growing Sustainable Cooling Skills Gap |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| URL | https://reef-ukc.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Policy-briefing-for-the-Department-for-Education.pdf |
| Description | Policy briefing for HM Treasury |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Implementation circular/rapid advice/letter to e.g. Ministry of Health |
| URL | https://reef-ukc.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Policy-briefing-for-HM-Treasury.pdf |
| Title | A method for AI-assisted digital Twin Development for Solar-Powered Refrigeration Systems Integrated with EVs for Cooling Transportation in Clean Air Zones |
| Description | The project delivered a high-fidelity digital twin (DT) of a solar-assisted, phase-change-material (PCM) buffered refrigerated van, together with an AI-assisted supervisory layer for energy-aware temperature control. The DT generated structured datasets for training a Random Forest model capable of predicting short-horizon battery state-of-charge (SOC) with a mean accuracy of approximately 96% across representative delivery scenarios. In operational terms, this capacity enables pretrip feasibility assessments and, during duty, anticipatory actions, such as pre-cool timing and compressor speed modulation, that reduce temperature excursions without compromising energy autonomy. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Technical and innovation impact (de-risking clean cold on EV vans): The project delivered a high-fidelity, system-level Modelica digital twin of a solar-assisted, PCMbuffered refrigerated van, coupled with an AI-assisted supervisory layer for energy-aware temperature control. This directly addresses the core barrier to adoption in clean-air-zone logistics: maintaining temperature compliance without jeopardising operational energy autonomy. Operational impact (predictive capability enabling better decisions): The digital twin generated structured datasets used to train a Random Forest model that predicts shorthorizon battery state of charge (SOC) with a mean accuracy of ~96% across representative delivery scenarios. This capability supports: (i) pre-trip feasibility checks and pre-cool planning; (ii) in-trip anticipatory control (compressor speed and setpoint shaping) to reduce temperature excursions; and (iii) a pathway to continuous improvement once telemetry is available from pilots. Market-facing impact (evidence-led value proposition and traction plan): Stakeholder engagement, including a ~30 retailer survey at Birmingham Wholesale Market, anchored modelling assumptions in real operational realities (mixed product classes, stop-dense morning routes, diesel-dominated fleets, and sensitivity to CAZ/ULEZ constraints). This evidence base informed the business model/canvas and a practical traction pathway from pilot to scale, including service-led offerings (hardware + analytics) and compliance oriented reporting potential. Policy and regulatory impact (alignment and risk reduction): The work produced a policy framework to align pilots and scaling with UK regulatory drivers affecting clean cold and vehicle operations (e.g., low-GWP refrigerant direction of travel, ZEV mandate context, and CAZ/ULEZ operational constraints). This provides a clearer compliance narrative for adopters and de-risks implementation planning. |
| Title | A method for mapping heat sources in West Midlands |
| Description | It is an interactive map and includes all the 428 sites identified in this project, with a theoretical heat recovery potential of 4.9 TWh per annum. The interactive map allows users to edit key assumptions, as mentioned in section 5, which change the total recovery potential and economic results. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | No impact recorded yet |
| URL | https://birmingham-heat-recuperation-demo.skilledmapping.com/ |
| Title | Computational modelling method to simulate the heat transfer, fluid flow, and soil-pile interactions |
| Description | This digital twin model enables real-time optimisation, making renewable cooling systems more viable and attractive for widespread infrastructure integration. This approach ensures that cooling demands can be met sustainably, with minimal environmental impact. This method is both disruptive and multi-disciplinary, combining small-scale physical experimentation with computational modelling. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Significant improvement in the cooling efficiency of energy pile systems, contributing to reduced carbon emissions and meeting growing cooling needs, while advancing the use of geothermal energy in sustainable infrastructure. |
| Title | Numerical modelling method on OpenGeoSys and TRNSYS |
| Description | Numerical modelling of mixed-circuit BHEs was developed and validated using experiments conducted at the Cheshire Geo-observatories to investigate optimal array design, and controls, to ensure passive cooling and free heating solutions. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Passive cooling and free heating. |
| Title | Business Models for Scalable Green Hydrogen Liquefaction |
| Description | It assess techno-economic feasibility, scalability, and commercial potential of this novel cooling technology in LH2 applications. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2026 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This model approach reduces high capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operating expenses (OPEX) in hydrogen liquefaction process while delivering cryogenic cooling for LH2 at a significantly lower environmental cost, achieving more than 20% reductions in both CAPEX and OPEX. |
| Title | Computational heat transfer model |
| Description | This digital twin model enables real-time optimisation, making renewable cooling systems more viable and attractive for widespread infrastructure integration. This approach ensures that cooling demands can be met sustainably, with minimal environmental impact. This method is both disruptive and multi-disciplinary, combining small-scale physical experimentation with computational modelling. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Significant improvement in the cooling efficiency of energy pile systems, contributing to reduced carbon emissions and meeting growing cooling needs, while advancing the use of geothermal energy in sustainable infrastructure. |
| Title | Integrated Renewable-Powered Green Hydrogen Liquefaction Model Using a Multi-Stage Active Magnetic Regenerative Cryocooler |
| Description | A system-level modelling framework has been developed for a renewable-powered green hydrogen liquefaction system based on a three-stage Active Magnetic Regenerative (AMR) cryocooler in five units. The system-level approach integrates an electrolyser, liquid hydrogen and liquid nitrogen reservoirs, cold thermal energy storage, photovoltaic panels and wind turbines as renewable energy sources, battery stacks, and the grid with the AMR cryocooler system. The work includes modelling the behaviour of light rare-earth-based magnetocaloric materials over the 77 to 20 K temperature range, helium heat transfer in eight regenerators within each stage, and process-level simulation of the hydrogen liquefaction unit. Initial case-study results indicate that the system can process about 3.6 kg/h of hydrogen for liquefaction and achieve a liquefaction fraction above 90%. Ongoing Modelica-language-based system-level simulation is extending the model towards fully integrated operation with renewable power, batteries, and storage. The numerical modelling of the regenerators within the AMR cryocooler stages is based on NIST thermodynamic properties for helium so that the flow can be treated as compressible, while empirical correlations are applied to predict frictional pressure drop within the regenerators and reduce the computational load, making the framework more suitable for optimisation studies and scalable system design in future work. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2026 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The developed system-level model provides a valuable design and optimisation tool for AMR cryocooler-based hydrogen liquefaction systems across a range of scales and integrated configurations. In addition, the developed numerical model for regenerator design makes it possible to investigate different system demands, operating conditions, and sizing scenarios more effectively, thereby supporting better optimisation and more reliable system development. The proposed solid-state cryocooler has strong potential to reduce the specific energy consumption of hydrogen liquefaction, while its modular design supports scalability, decentralised hydrogen infrastructure, easier integration with available renewable energy sources, and reduced maintenance requirements. The system also offers a pathway for compact energy storage in the form of liquefied hydrogen for later use during peak times through combustion or fuel-cell-based electricity generation. In addition, the modelling work supports the development of a robust business case to help move the concept towards practical application and future net-zero energy strategies. |
| Title | Numerical model of mixed-circuit BHEs |
| Description | Numerical model on OpenGeoSys and TRNSYS of mixed-circuit BHEs was developed and validated using experiments conducted at the Cheshire Geo-observatories to investigate optimal array design, and controls, to ensure passive cooling and free heating solutions. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | Passive cooling and free heating. |
| Title | WHARM economic model |
| Description | The WHARM economic model combines the costs of heat recovery and upgrade or generation to provide an estimate of the levelised costs of heat production at the point of connection to a DHC network. This approach follows a modular structure and combines CAPEX and OPEX figures linked to both recovery and upgrade or generation stages. |
| Type Of Material | Computer model/algorithm |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The editable inputs, a key feature of the WHARM tool, enable users to adapt values based on changing contexts and future conditions, which can have significant impacts on the feasibility of heat recovery projects |
| Title | West Midlands Heat Sources Map Dataset |
| Description | This database is a georeferenced waste heat database from cooling applications such as data centres, transformers, cold stores and supermarkets, in Birmingham City as a case study. This includes information on key parameters that define the feasibility of heat recovery projects, such as annual heat output, temperature level, heat generation and temperature profiles (weekly/seasonal), typical connection/generation costs, etc. The novelty of this project would be to provide a centralised, detailed database of waste heat from cooling systems, which has not been attempted to date. T |
| Type Of Material | Data analysis technique |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Centralised, detailed database of waste heat from cooling systems. Supports the feasibility studies and the development of business model for heat recovery projects. |
| URL | https://birmingham-heat-recuperation-demo.skilledmapping.com/ |
| Description | Academic- Abed |
| Organisation | Aston University |
| Department | College of Engineering and Physical Sciences |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has collaborated with Dr. Abed Alaswad and invited him to several project meetings. We have kept him informed of the project's events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr. Abed Alaswad is a Reader in Mechanical Engineering and an expert in sustainable energy systems at Aston University, where he directs the Engineering for Sustainable Development Research Centre and serves as Deputy Head of the Department of Mechanical, Biomedical, and Design Engineering. He has attended several project meetings and provided his expert opinion on several challenging energy system issues. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic- Faisal |
| Organisation | Technology Innovation Institute |
| Country | United Arab Emirates |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Faisal and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Faisal has actively participated in project events and workshops |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic- Luciano |
| Organisation | Aston University |
| Department | Aston Business School |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has collaborated with Dr. Luciano Batista at Aston Business School and invited him to several project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Luciano is Associate Professor (Reader) in Sustainable Operations Management at Aston Business School and the founding Director of the Centre for Circular Economy and Advanced Sustainability (CEAS) at Aston University. He is involved in a seed-funded project and provides his business modelling expertise. |
| Impact | Predicted outcomes are Development of Business modelling for seed-funded project. Contribution to white paper resulting from the seed funding project |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Abdullah |
| Organisation | Umm al-Qura University |
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Abdullah and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Abdullah has actively participated in project meetings |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Abubakr Ayub Sheikh |
| Organisation | Teesside University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Abubakr and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | He has actively participated in project events and workshops |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Alexander Harrison |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Oxford Hub |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Alex and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Alex has actively participated in project events and workshops and is also contributing to a seed fund project. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Ali Sadaghiani |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Department | Genomics Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Ali and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Ali has actively participated in project events and workshops and is also contributing to a seed fund project. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Amiri |
| Organisation | Aston University |
| Department | Chemical Engineering |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has collaborated with Dr. Amiri Amirpiran at College of Engineering and Physical Sciences and invited him to several project meetings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr. Amiri Amirpiran has been extremely supportive and has attended various project meetings and events and provided valuable guidance and support. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Andrew |
| Organisation | Durham University |
| Department | Department of Engineering |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Prof Andrew Smallbone from DurhamUniversity and have involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress at all stages and encouraged to apply for seed funding as well. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Andrew is the Director of the EPSRC Network+ on the Decarbonisation of Heating and Cooling, Co-Director of the EPSRC Network+ on Hydrogen for Transportation (Network-H2), a Fellow of the Durham Energy Institue (DEI) and a Professor in the Department of Engineering. He has proactively participated in all project events and meetings and provided his valuable expertise. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Arslan Saleem |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Arslan and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Arslan has actively participated in project events and workshops and also presented in our monthly webinar. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Asaad |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Prof. Asaad Faramarzi from University of Birmingham and has involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress at all stages. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Nothing to report yet |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Bing Xu |
| Organisation | Heriot-Watt University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Bing and has involved her in all project events and activities. Bing is also involved in a seed fund project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Bing has actively participated in project events and workshops and is also contributing to a seed fund project. Bing also presented in our monthly webinar. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Binjian |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Dr. Binjian Nie from University of Oxford and has involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress at all stages and encouraged to apply for seed funding as well. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr. Binjian Nie is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Oxford, where he leads the Energy Storage and Energy Carriers group. He has participated in project events and meetings and provided his valuable expertise. He also applied for seed funding but was unsuccessful. |
| Impact | Nothing to reprot yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Carlos Ugalde Loo |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Carlos and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Carlos has actively participated in project events and workshops |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Catarina |
| Organisation | London South Bank University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Dr. Catarina Marques from London South Bank University and has involved her in all project events and activities. We have also kept her informed of the project progress at all stages. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr. Marques is a Senior Research Fellow at London South Bank University with 18 years of experience in funded research projects focused on food science, refrigeration, and district heating and cooling. She has proactively participated in all project events and meetings and provided his valuable expertise. She is also involved EDI work package of the project and has provided her expert opinion to improve the EDI statistics for the project. |
| Impact | EDI strategy established |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Christopher |
| Organisation | British Geological Survey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Dr Christopher Brown from British Geological Survey and has involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress at all stages and encouraged to apply for seed funding as well. Christopher has been successful in seed funding. The Reef-UKC project research team announced the seed funding round during the ECR workshop in September 2024, attracting a large number of applications. As part of the selection process, the principal investigator and co-investigator, supported by senior academic members of the consortium, played a key role in reviewing and shortlisting high-potential applications. This rigorous process involved evaluating abstracts, interviewing applicants, and providing guidance to ensure that selected projects, align with the objectives of the Reef-UKC project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Christopher has proactively participated in all project events and meetings and provided his valuable expertise. He has been successful in seed funding application as well and working on working the project named "Investigating mixed-circuit injection-extraction strategies between borehole heat exchangers in a cooling dominated system " This is a seed-funded project led by Dr Christopher Brown from the British Geological Survey, who is actively investigating an innovative approach to addressing high cooling and heating demands using mixed-circuit borehole heat exchanger (BHE) arrays. With support from seed funding, they are exploring the feasibility of a closed-loop BHE network that enables efficient heat transfer via conduction within the subsurface. The key novelty of this approach is the real-time integration of cooling and heating loads within a single system, allowing for the flexible redistribution of thermal energy. This system is designed to optimize the near-constant cooling demands of data centres while simultaneously addressing the variable heating requirements of district networks, reducing reliance on grid electricity and minimizing energy waste. The project commenced in January 205 and is scheduled for completion by the end of August 2025. |
| Impact | This project will result in the following outputs: Testing at the Geoenergy observatory Interpretation of the data at Cheshire Numerical model development Presentation at European Geoscience Union 2025 Submission of journal article Contribution to white paper resulting from the seed funding project |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Daniel |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Professor Daniel Friedrich from the University of Edinburgh and has involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress at all stages and encouraged to apply for seed funding as well. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Professor Daniel Friedrich is an applied mathematician specializing in the development and application of mathematical methods to address real-world challenges, particularly in the biotechnology and energy sectors. He has participated in project events and meetings and provided his valuable expertise. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Federico Caprotti |
| Organisation | University of Exeter |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Federico and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Nothing to report yet. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Gayatri Sunder Rajan |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Oxford Hub |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Gayatri and has involved her in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Gayatri has actively participated in project events and workshops and is also contributing to a seed fund project. Gayatri is also leading ECR committee for the project. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Gioia |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Prof. Gioia Falcone from University of Glasgow and has involved her in all project events and activities. We have also kept her informed of the project progress at all stages and encouraged to apply for seed funding as well. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof. Gioia Falcone has actively participated in all project events and meetings and provided her valuable expertise. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Harjit |
| Organisation | Brunel University London |
| Department | School of Engineering and Design |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project research team has kept close contact with Prof Harjit Singh from Brunel University and have involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress at all stages and encouraged to apply for seed funding as well. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Singh is the Professor of Sustainable Energy Technologies at Brunel University of London (UK). His research focusses on concentrating solar energy technologies, vacuum insulation panels and building/industrial retrofit for improved energy efficiency with over 100 peer reviewed publications in the area. Prof Harjit Singh has proactively participated in all project events and meetings and provided his valuable expertise. He is also supporting one of the work packages. |
| Impact | Delivery of workpackage, Strategic funding planning |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Hasila Jarimi |
| Organisation | National University of Malaysia |
| Country | Malaysia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Hasila and has involved her in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Hasila has actively participated in project events and workshops and contributed to webinars. |
| Impact | Noghint to report yet |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Henrique |
| Organisation | London South Bank University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Dr. Henrique Lagoeiro from London South Bank University and have involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress at all stages and encouraged to apply for seed funding as well. We also supported him through the seed funding application and introduced to our industrial and local authority partners. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr. Henrique Lagoeiro is an expert in energy modelling for heating and cooling applications, focusing on energy efficiency and decarbonisation of district energy networks and commercial/industrial refrigeration. He has attended all project meetings and events and has been successful in his seed funding application. He is working closely with our industrial partner and Birmingham City Council on this seed funding project. |
| Impact | Predicted outcomes are Development of a heat source map Contribution to white paper resulting from the seed funding project |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Jonathan Radcliffe |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Department | Genomics Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Jonathan and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Nothing to report yet |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Judith |
| Organisation | London South Bank University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Prof Judith Evans from London South Bank University and has involved her in all project events and activities. We have also kept her informed of the project progress at all stages and encouraged to apply for seed funding as well. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof Judith Evans has actively participated in all project events and meetings and provided her valuable expertise. She has been involved in a seed funding project as well. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Khoa |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Dr. Khoa Le from University of Oxford and has involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress at all stages and encouraged to apply for seed funding as well. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr. Khoa Le is a researcher in the Future of Cooling Programme of the Oxford Martin School and Energy and Power Group at the Department of Engineering Science. He has actively participated in all project events and meetings and provided his valuable expertise. He also applied for seed funding but was unsuccessful. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Kristina Roszynski |
| Organisation | London South Bank University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Kristina and has involved her in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Kristina has actively participated in project events and workshops and is also contributing to a seed fund project. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Kumar Patchigolla |
| Organisation | Teesside University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Kumar and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Kumar has actively participated in project events and workshops. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Malcolm |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Prof. Malcolm McCulloch from University of Oxford and has involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress at all stages and encouraged to apply for seed funding as well. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof. Malcolm McCulloch is a Professor of Energy Systems and Group Leader of the Energy and Power Group at the University of Oxford. He has participated in project events and meetings and provided his valuable expertise. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Mark Cassidy |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Department | Edinburgh Innovations |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Mark and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Mark has worked on a seed fund project funded by Reef-UKC and participated in project events and activities. |
| Impact | Mark is working on a research paper following the seed fund research and we expect to see the publication soon. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Mohammad Sajad Sorayani Bafqi |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Department | Genomics Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Sajad and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Sajad has actively participated in project events and workshops and is also contributing to a seed fund project. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Moura |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Dr. Moura Mehravar from University of Birmingham and has involved her in all project events and activities. We have also kept her informed of the project progress at all stages and encouraged to apply for seed funding as well. She has been successful in a seed funding application. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr. Moura Mehravar specialises in computational mechanics and experimental modelling in geotechnical engineering, focusing on geo-energy infrastructure, including energy piles and offshore wind turbine foundations. She has proactively participated in all project events and meetings and provided her valuable expertise and has been successful in a seed funding application. |
| Impact | Predicted outcomes are Development of Optimising Energy Pile Systems for Efficient Cooling: A Digital Twin Approach. Contribution to white paper resulting from the seed funding project |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Muhammad Wakil Shahzad |
| Organisation | Northumbria University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Wakil from Northumbria University and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Muhammad Wakil Shahzad has participated in industrial visits, all other events and presented in our monthly webinar. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Neil |
| Organisation | Ulster University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project team has kept close contact with Prof. Neil Hewitt from Ulster University and have involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress at all stages and encouraged him to apply for seed funding as well. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof Neil Hewitt is recognised as an expert in heat pump technology, particularly in their development and application within energy storage and demand-side management. He has proactively participated in all project events and meetings and provided his valuable expertise. He is also supporting one of the work packages. |
| Impact | Delivery of work package Strategic funding planning |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Qiaoqiang Gan |
| Organisation | King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) |
| Department | KAUST Supercomputing Laboratory |
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Qiaoqiang and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Qiaoqiang has actively participated in project meetings and we aim to visit them in KSA in near future. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Sally Shahzad |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Department | stage@leeds |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Sally and has involved her in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Sally has actively participated in project events and workshops and also presented in our monthly webinar. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Salvador |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Department | Department of Chemistry |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Dr. Salvador Acha from Imperial College London and has involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress at all stages and encouraged him to apply for seed funding as well. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr. Salvador Acha is a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London, specializing in the transition towards Net Zero. With over 15 years of experience, he leads the Imperial College - Sainsbury's Partnership, overseeing over 100 projects focused on enhancing energy systems and evaluating low carbon technologies. He has proactively participated in all project events and meetings and provided his valuable expertise. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Stan |
| Organisation | University of Warwick |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Dr. Stan Shirefrom University of Warwick and has involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress at all stages and encouraged to apply for seed funding as well. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr. Stan Shire has participated in key project events and meetings and provided his valuable expertise. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Steven |
| Organisation | University of Warwick |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Dr. Steven Metcalf from University of Warwick and has involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress at all stages and encouraged him to apply for seed funding as well. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr. Steven Metcalf has participated in key project events and meetings and provided his valuable expertise. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Academic-Tehmina Ambreen |
| Organisation | University of Hertfordshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Tehmina and has involved her in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Tehmina has actively participated in project events and workshops and also applied for seed funding but was unsuccessful in final stage. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Vincent luo |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Vincent from Cardiff University and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Nothing to report yet. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Zhibin Yu |
| Organisation | University of Liverpool |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Zhibin from University of Liverpool and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Zhibin has actively participated in project's events and workshops. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Academic-Zhiwen Luo |
| Organisation | Cardiff University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Zhiwen and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Zhiwen has actively participated in project events and workshops |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Aston-Co-I |
| Organisation | Aston University |
| Department | Energy & Bioproducts Research Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has actively engaged with Prof. Patricia Thornley (Director, Energy & Bioproducts Research Institute) at Aston University throughout the project. We have maintained close communication with her, ensuring his involvement in all project events and activities. Additionally, we have kept her informed of project progress at every stage, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange. This engagement has strengthened our partnership and facilitated valuable contributions to the project's success. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof. Patricia Thornley is also Co-Investigator in the project. Professor Thornley is director of the UK's national bioenergy programme: the Supergen Bioenergy hub. A fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, she has worked in low carbon energy for over 30 years, during which time she led multiple national and international research projects in engineering, physical and biological sciences, with research awards of £28M from UKRI as principal investigator and a further £20M as Co-investigator in the last 12 years. Prof. Thornley has been an invaluable partner in this collaboration, providing expert guidance and support throughout the project. She has attended all project meetings and events and contributed to the project's activities. |
| Impact | Successful Kick off of the project Formation of steering committee Successful first round of seed funding |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | BGS |
| Organisation | British Geological Survey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Reef-UKC project research team announced the seed funding round during the ECR workshop in September 2024, attracting a large number of applications. As part of the selection process, the principal investigator and co-investigator, supported by senior academic members of the consortium, played a key role in reviewing and shortlisting high-potential applications. This rigorous process involved evaluating abstracts, interviewing applicants, and providing guidance to ensure that selected projects, align with the objectives of the Reef-UKC project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | This is a seed-funded project led by Dr Christopher Brown from the British Geological Survey, who is actively investigating an innovative approach to addressing high cooling and heating demands using mixed-circuit borehole heat exchanger (BHE) arrays. With support from seed funding, they are exploring the feasibility of a closed-loop BHE network that enables efficient heat transfer via conduction within the subsurface. The key novelty of this approach is the real-time integration of cooling and heating loads within a single system, allowing for the flexible redistribution of thermal energy. This system is designed to optimize the near-constant cooling demands of data centres while simultaneously addressing the variable heating requirements of district networks, reducing reliance on grid electricity and minimizing energy waste. The project commenced in January 205 and is scheduled for completion by the end of August 2025. |
| Impact | This project will result in the following outputs: Testing at the Geoenergy observatory Interpretation of the data at Cheshire Numerical model development Presentation at European Geoscience Union 2025 Submission of journal article |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Edinburgh |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has approved a seed funding call from University of Edinburgh led by Dr. Dan van der Horst. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr. Dan van der Horst supported by Dr. Connor Smith and Prof Daniel Friedrich have been successful on the seed fund project named "Exploring the social acceptability of diverse cooling technologies". They have actively participated in project events and meetings. |
| Impact | Predicted outputs: Identification of most promising technologies Development of business models Examination of potential social impacts Policy recommendations Publication of white paper |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | International Academic-AdilNour |
| Organisation | King Saud University |
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Dr. Adil Nour has recently joined the project and project team has kept close contact with Dr. Adil Nour informed of the project progress and activities lined up in the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Nothing to report yet |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | International Academic-Amrita Sharma |
| Organisation | Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Amrita and has involved her in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Amrita has actively participated in project events and webinars. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | International Academic-Josphat Musyoki |
| Organisation | African Centre for Technology Studies |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Josphat and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Josphat has participated in project webinars |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | International Academic-Piyush Rawat |
| Organisation | Delhi Technological University |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Piyush and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Piyush has actively participated in project events and webinars |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | International Academic-Rajesekar |
| Organisation | Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Dr. Rajesekar Erlangan from Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India and have involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress |
| Collaborator Contribution | Nothing to report yet |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | International Academic-Satya |
| Organisation | Indian Institute of Technology Madras |
| Country | India |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project research team has kept close contact with Dr. Satyanarayanan Seshadri from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India and has involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr. Satyanarayanan Seshadri has attended a few virtual meetings with the project team and is very interested to attend one of the events organised by the project. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | International Academic-Yanzhao |
| Organisation | Tianjin University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project research team has kept close contact with Dr. Yanzhao An from Tianjin University, China and has involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress |
| Collaborator Contribution | Nothing to report yet |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | International Academic-Yosr |
| Organisation | Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) |
| Country | Norway |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Dr. Yosr Allouche from Norwegian University of Science and Technology and kept her informed of the project progress. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Nothing to report yet |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | International Non Academic-Jim Schubert |
| Organisation | Neom |
| Country | Saudi Arabia |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Jim and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NA |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | LSBU-Co-I |
| Organisation | London South Bank University |
| Department | School of Architecture and Planning |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has actively engaged with Prof. Graeme Maidment from London South Bank University throughout the project. Prof. Graeme Maidment is also a CO Investigator for the project. We have maintained close communication with him, ensuring his involvement in all project events and activities. Additionally, we have kept him informed of project progress at every stage, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange. This engagement has strengthened our partnership and facilitated valuable contributions to the project's success. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof. Graeme Maidment is a leading expert in refrigeration, air conditioning, and sustainable energy systems with over 40 years of experience in the field. He has been an invaluable partner in this collaboration, providing expert guidance and support throughout the project. His contributions have been instrumental in shaping discussions and activities during project-related events. His insights and expertise have greatly enhanced the project's direction and impact. |
| Impact | Successful Kick off of the project Formation of steering committee Successful first round of seed funding Seed funded project on Waste Heat Assessment and Resource Mapping |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Non Academic- Aakriti Arora |
| Organisation | West Midlands Growth Company |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Project team will kept close contact with Aakriti and involve her in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Nothing yet |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2026 |
| Description | Non Academic- Andy Lewis |
| Organisation | Weatherite Air Conditoning Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Project team has recently connected with Andy and will keep close contact with him and involve him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Nothing yet |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2026 |
| Description | Non Academic- David Horsfall |
| Organisation | Tyseley Energy Park Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with David Horsfall Singh from Tyseley Energy Park and has involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress at all stages. |
| Collaborator Contribution | David has been very supportive and Tyseley Energy Park has provided a letter of support with £30000 in-kind contribution. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Non Academic- Debbie Caldwell |
| Organisation | Belfast City Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Debbie Caldwell from Belfast City Council and has involved her in all project events and activities. We have also kept her informed of the project progress at all stages. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Debbie has been very supportive and has provided a letter of support with in-kind contribution of £1500 |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Non Academic- Derrick Taylor |
| Organisation | Birmingham City Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Derrick Taylor from Birmingham City Council and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Derrick Taylor has been very supportive and attended all major events and workshops, and provided guidance in terms of challenges the city council faces for cooling and heating requirements. Derrick is a member of the steering committee for the project and provides strategic guidance for project activities. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Non Academic- Florian Schabus |
| Organisation | Barocal |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Florian Schabus from Barocal and has involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress at all stages and encouraged to apply for seed funding as well. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Barocal has engaged in several project meetings and is delivering a presentation during one of the webinars organised by the project. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Non Academic- Frank Mills |
| Organisation | Institute of Mechanical Engineers |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Frank and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Frank has actively participated in project events and workshops |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Non Academic- Jakub Vrba |
| Organisation | Energy Saving Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Jakub and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Jakub has actively participated in project events and workshops |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Non Academic- Liya Bensy |
| Organisation | Energy Saving Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Liya and has involved her in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Liya has actively participated in project events and workshops |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Non Academic- Mary Aladegbola |
| Organisation | NHS England |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Mary and has involved her in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Mary has actively participated in project events and workshops and webinars |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Non Academic- Michael Reid |
| Organisation | Solar-Polar Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Michael and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Michael has actively participated in project events and workshops and presented at our webinar |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Non Academic- Miriam Rodway |
| Organisation | Institute of Refrigeration |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Miriam and has involved her in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Miriam has actively support network's activities |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Non Academic- Neil Wilson |
| Organisation | Camfridge Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Neil and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Bing has actively participated in project events and workshops and is also contributing to a seed fund project. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Non Academic- Paul Huggins |
| Organisation | Carbon Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Paul and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Paul has actively participated in project events and workshops |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2026 |
| Description | Non Academic- Tommy Allsopp |
| Organisation | Tyseley Energy Park Ltd |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Tommy Allsopp from Tyseley Energy Park and has involved him in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress at all stages. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Tommy has been very supportive and Tyseley Energy Park has provided a letter of support with £30000 in-kind contribution. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Non Academic- Xavier Moya |
| Organisation | Barocal |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Private |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Xavier and has involved him in all project events and activities. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Xavier has actively participated in project events and workshops. |
| Impact | Nothing to report yet. |
| Start Year | 2025 |
| Description | Non Academic-Tonia Clark |
| Organisation | Birmingham City Council |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Project team has kept close contact with Tonia Clark from Birmingham City Council and has involved her in all project events and activities. We have also kept him informed of the project progress at all stages. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Tonia Clark has been very supportive, has attended all major events and workshops, and has provided guidance in terms of the challenges the city council faces in terms of cooling and heating requirements. Tonia is a member of the steering committee for the project and provides strategic guidance for project activities. Tonia has attended several meetings with our academics and industrial partners as well and she is involved in a seed funding calls as well. |
| Impact | Active participation is a seed funding calls Collaboration with Birmingham wholesale market. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | UOB-Co-I |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Department | School of Chemical Engineering |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Project team has actively engaged with Dr Xinfang Wang from University of Birmingham throughout the project. Dr Xinfang Wang is also a CO Investigator for the project. We have maintained close communication with her, ensuring her involvement in all project events and activities. Additionally, we have kept her informed of project progress at every stage, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange. This engagement has strengthened our partnership and facilitated valuable contributions to the project's success. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Xinfang Wang is Member of The Senate, and Group Leader of Resilient Systems for Energy and Cooling (ReSet Cool) in Birmingham Energy Institute. She is also the UK Energy Research Centre's (UKERC) EDI champion and sits on the UKERC Research Committee, advising on its strategy and priorities of flexible fund. She has been an invaluable partner in this collaboration, providing expert guidance and support throughout the project. Her contributions have been instrumental in shaping discussions and activities during project-related events. Her insights and expertise have greatly enhanced the project's direction and impact and the growth of the network. |
| Impact | Successful Kick off of the project Formation of steering committee Successful first round of seed funding Seed funded project on Optimising Energy Pile Systems for Efficient Cooling: A Digital Twin Approach |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Title | A provisional for an agentic AI-assisted tool for adaptive control clean cooling transportation |
| Description | Cooling transportation in clean air zones requires greater use of passive cooling methods, such as pre-cooled Phase Change Material (PCM) panels and, in some cases, solar panels mounted on the roofs of cooling vans. To achieve this, an adaptive control methodology is needed that incorporates self-learning capabilities to continuously update the control strategy. Based on the outcome of initial seed funding, an agentic AI tool was developed using real data from a solar-powered cooling truck. An internal declassification process has been undertaken, and the tool is on its way to being licensed. |
| Type Of Technology | Physical Model/Kit |
| Year Produced | 2026 |
| Impact | The main effect is to aid in the decarbonisation of cooling in the UK. Additional benefits include the technical knowledge gained and foundational research on the application of AI in everyday cooling practices. |
| Description | Announcement of round 1 of the seed funding call |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Reef-UKC Round 1 Seed Funding application was launched on September 23, 2024. Comprehensive guidance on the funding call, along with the abstract template and application forms, was shared with all network members, encouraging submissions that involve Early Career Researchers (ECRs) and industry partners. Applications were set to be assessed over three stages, 200 Words Abstract submission. Presentation Full application |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://reef-ukc.net/23rd-september-2024/ |
| Description | Announcement of seed funded projects in Round 1 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Five innovative projects were selected for funding in the first round of our seed funding initiative, supporting cutting-edge research in sustainable cooling solutions. The projects cover a diverse range of topics, including waste heat assessment, digital twin development for solar-powered refrigeration, social acceptability of cooling technologies, optimization of energy pile systems, and borehole heat exchanger strategies. The intended purpose of this initiative is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, drive technological advancements, and support impactful research that contributes to sustainable cooling solutions. By providing seed funding, we aim to accelerate early-stage research and enable researchers to explore novel ideas that could lead to significant real-world applications. While it is still early to assess the full impact, the selection and announcement of these projects have already generated excitement and engagement within the research community. The funding has empowered researchers to advance their work, and we anticipate that these projects will lead to valuable insights, collaborations, and potentially scalable solutions in the coming months. We look forward to seeing their progress and contributions toward a more sustainable future. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://reef-ukc.net/round-1-seed-funding-announced/ |
| Description | Cold Chain Federation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | A meeting was arranged with the Cold Chain Federation to explore the possibility of becoming a member and creating connections within their supply chain network for the Reef-UKC project. The purpose of this activity was to expand Reef-UKC's influence in the cold chain sector, fostering partnerships with key stakeholders and facilitating collaboration on sustainable cooling solutions across the supply chain. By joining the Cold Chain Federation, Reef-UKC aimed to enhance engagement with industry leaders, share expertise, and drive innovation in energy-efficient cooling technologies. As an outcome, the meeting has opened the door to potential membership, and Reef-UKC is now positioned to build valuable relationships within the cold chain industry. This collaboration is expected to broaden the network, encourage knowledge sharing, and strengthen the adoption of sustainable cooling practices within the sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Cold Chain Federation Membership |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We became a member of Cold Chain Federation and a social media post was released to announce the membership |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7326172774341701632/?actorCompanyId=105230687 |
| Description | Kick off Meeting and First ECR Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Reef-UKC project held a successful kick-off meeting and workshop on the 5th and 6th of September for ECRS and network members! The event brought together 60 plus participants from various academic institutions across the UK, along with our industrial partners and members of Birmingham City Council, and UKRI. Tony Dodd, Deputy Dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences at Aston University, opened the workshop with a warm welcome. Prof. Dodd highlighted how this grant and the Reef-UKC network unite academics, industry professionals, and local government to focus on the critical and often-overlooked areas of cooling technology and energy consumption. Keynote speakers James C., Energy - Net Zero Innovation Lead at UKRI, and Dave Pearson, Director of Innovation at Star Refrigeration, sparked insightful discussions on sustainable cooling and cooling from heat technologies. During the two-day event, we also announced a £100K Seed Funding Call to support 8-10 innovative projects across two rounds. Network members were encouraged to involve early-career researchers (ECRs) and industrial partners in their applications. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://reef-ukc.net/5th-6th-september-2024-kick-off-meeting-and-first-workshop/ |
| Description | LinkedIn social media platform launch |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Social media page on LinkedIn was launched for wider reach of the Reef-UKC project to relevant academic and industrial people working in cooling sector. Project page has singed more than 100 followers. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/company/renewable-energy-for-future-uk-net-zero-cooling-reef-ukc/?viewAsMem... |
| Description | Other Hubs |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Reef-UKC project coordinator emailed project managers of Supergen hubs and other UKRI-funded projects to explore potential collaborations and encourage them to share Reef-UKC activities within their networks for a wider reach. The purpose of this activity was to strengthen partnerships, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and enhance the visibility of Reef-UKC among key stakeholders in the energy and sustainability sectors. By engaging with established UKRI-funded initiatives, the project aimed to create synergies, exchange knowledge, and expand its network of researchers, industry experts, and policymakers. As an outcome, the outreach has initiated discussions on potential collaborations, helping to broaden Reef-UKC's influence and ensuring that its activities gain wider recognition. Increased engagement from related research networks is expected to lead to joint initiatives, knowledge-sharing opportunities, and greater collective impact in the field of sustainable cooling. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Paper published by Ehsan |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Reef-UKC network issued a supporting statement on LinkedIn to highlight and promote a recent publication by Ehsan titled "Exergy-economic based multi-objective optimization and carbon footprint analysis of solar thermal refrigeration systems", published in Case Studies in Thermal Engineering. The purpose of this activity was to recognise and amplify research contributions within the network, foster engagement with relevant industry and academic professionals, and encourage discussions on innovative cooling technologies. By sharing this publication, the network aimed to raise awareness of cutting-edge research, inspire collaboration, and support knowledge exchange in sustainable cooling solutions. As an outcome, the LinkedIn post has increased visibility and engagement with the publication, attracting interest from academia, industry, and policymakers. It has also facilitated discussions on the role of solar thermal refrigeration in reducing carbon footprints, further strengthening the network's thought leadership in this field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7263162472788807680/ |
| Description | Personalised emails |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | To expand the Reef-UKC network, personalised emails were sent to key individuals from the heating and cooling industries, inviting them to join the initiative. In addition, targeted LinkedIn connections were made, encouraging relevant professionals from both academia and industry to engage with the network. The intended purpose of this activity was to strengthen collaborations, enhance knowledge exchange, and foster partnerships between researchers, industry experts, and policymakers in the field of sustainable heating and cooling. By reaching out directly to key stakeholders, the initiative aimed to build a diverse and engaged community. Although the outreach is ongoing, initial responses have been positive, with increased engagement and interest from professionals across sectors. The activity has helped raise awareness of the Reef-UKC network and has begun to establish valuable connections that could lead to future collaborations, joint research opportunities, and knowledge-sharing initiatives. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024,2025 |
| Description | Press Release |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A press release was published announcing the successful £500,000 UKRI funding awarded to Aston University for the Reef-UKC (Renewable Energy Access for Future UK Net-Zero Cooling) network. The press release highlighted the network's mission to explore renewable energy solutions for clean cooling technologies, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of one of the UK's fastest-growing energy demands. The intended purpose of this activity was to increase awareness, attract stakeholders, and promote engagement with the newly established network. By publicly sharing this achievement, the press release sought to generate interest among researchers, industry experts, policymakers, and the wider public, encouraging collaboration and innovation in sustainable cooling solutions. Following the publication, the press release has helped boost visibility for Reef-UKC, leading to increased engagement from key stakeholders in both academia and industry. It has also facilitated discussions on potential partnerships and research collaborations, further strengthening the network's reach and impact. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.aston.ac.uk/latest-news/aston-university-researchers-receive-half-million-pounds-lead-ne... |
| Description | Press Release |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Press release was issued by Cold Chain Federation and ReeF-UKC workshop was highlighted |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.coldchainnews.com/reef-ukc-research-network-workshop/ |
| Description | Project Update |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A LinkedIn post was issued to update all stakeholders on the progress of the Reef-UKC project, highlighting key milestones such as the deployment of a fully functional website and the successful completion of the first round of seed funding applications. The post also served to encourage more professionals from industry and academia to join the network. The purpose of this activity was to keep stakeholders informed, celebrate achievements, and foster further engagement within the community. By sharing these updates, the network aimed to increase visibility, attract new members, and strengthen collaboration opportunities in the field of sustainable cooling. As an outcome, the post generated interest and engagement, leading to increased awareness of the project, positive interactions from stakeholders, and potential new collaborations. It also reinforced the network's credibility and commitment to driving innovation in renewable and sustainable cooling solutions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/posts/renewable-energy-for-future-uk-net-zero-cooling-reef-ukc_home-activit... |
| Description | Project Website Launch |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | The Reef-UKC Project website was successfully launched to provide a central platform for stakeholders to access project-related information. Following the launch, emails were sent to all stakeholders, inviting them to review their bio profiles and other relevant content, ensuring accuracy and completeness. Additionally, stakeholders were encouraged to share the website within their wider networks to enhance outreach and engagement. This initiative aimed to improve visibility, foster collaboration, and ensure up-to-date project information. While it is still early to measure long-term impacts, initial engagement has been positive, with stakeholders actively reviewing and sharing the website. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://reef-ukc.net/about/ |
| Description | Season's Greetings |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A LinkedIn post was issued to thank all stakeholders and network members for their valuable contributions before the Christmas break. The purpose of this activity was to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of collaborators, reinforce a sense of community within the network, and maintain engagement as the year came to a close. By expressing gratitude, the post aimed to strengthen relationships with stakeholders, encourage continued collaboration, and set a positive tone for the upcoming year. As an outcome, the post received engagement from network members, with likes, comments, and shares reflecting appreciation and goodwill. It helped maintain a strong connection with stakeholders, ensuring ongoing enthusiasm and commitment to the network's goals in the new year. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/company/105230687/admin/page-posts/published/ |
| Description | WHARM project |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | A LinkedIn comment post was issued to express gratitude to the Heating and Cooling Research Group for mentioning the Reef-UKC project in relation to their involvement in a seed funding project funded via Reef-UKC. The purpose of this activity was to acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of the research group, strengthen partnerships, and highlight the impact of Reef-UKC's funding support. By publicly recognizing their involvement, the post also aimed to encourage further engagement from researchers and industry professionals, fostering a collaborative environment within the network. As an outcome, the post enhanced visibility and engagement, leading to positive interactions from stakeholders and reinforcing Reef-UKC's role in supporting impactful research. It also contributed to strengthening relationships and encouraging further participation in future funding opportunities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7297970450616266752/?actorCompanyId=105230687 |
| Description | Webinar Announced |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The Reef-UKC project announced an upcoming webinar on Innovation in Renewable & Sustainable Cooling to engage stakeholders from academia, industry, policy, and funding organizations. The purpose of this activity was to facilitate knowledge exchange, showcase cutting-edge research, and foster collaboration on sustainable cooling solutions. By promoting the webinar, the network aimed to attract a diverse audience, encourage discussions on innovative technologies, and strengthen connections among experts in the field. As an outcome, the announcement generated interest and engagement, with stakeholders registering for the event and sharing it within their networks. This activity is expected to lead to valuable discussions, potential partnerships, and increased awareness of advancements in renewable and sustainable cooling technologies. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| URL | https://reef-ukc.net/webinar-innovation-in-renewable-sustainable-cooling/ |