About the centre

The CDT aims to grow the next generation of research leaders and innovators, allowing them to develop a broad economic, societal, and contextual awareness, as well as strong technical skills that will enable them to operate within multi-disciplinary team. We will create a group of over 50 experts in related fields who will underpin a low carbon future.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) is integral to the culture of the CDT in Resilient Decarbonised Fuel Energy Systems.

The CDT aims to reduce CO2 emissions and support an environmentally friendly but reliable energy world by developing and implementing:

Techniques to allow carbon neutral fuels such as biomass and hydrogen to be used in systems designed for fossil fuels.
Use of CO2 as a chemical feedstock for industry and manufacture – turning waste into a product.
Use of biomass as a feedstock for chemical processes as a replacement for fossil fuels.
CO2 capture technologies for a range of industrial sectors, including power, iron, steel, cement and glass-making.
Automation of energy-intensive processes to improve flexibility and emission performance.

Why study with us?

Please note that recuitment into this CDT has now ended.

The CDT offers four-year studentships with an enhanced, tax-free stipend, tuition fees and a generous research training support grant.
The CDT is the only EPSRC-funded doctoral programme in these areas in the UK, with internationally leading universities in the Energy Systems field - Nottingham (lead), Cardiff and Sheffield.
Our research leaders have the transdisciplinary understanding of the technical, political, and public perception issues of energy technologies which will determine how they can be applied in the real world.
All studentships will have an accompanying industrial sponsor from the Energy sector giving you first-hand experience of academic and industrial research.
Build your network for the future: The CDT has outstanding links with future employers through an established CDT Industrial Advisory Group comprising 40+ of the leading large and small (SME) companies in Energy Systems.
Breadth of experience: your first two years will include practical training on large-scale energy system facilities plus seminars, industrial guest lectures, and site visits will give you practical experience and an opportunity to build your network across three Universities, policy makers and more.
You will have access to a unique range of large-scale, research facilities as part of the programme.
You will have the opportunity to attend UK conferences plus at least one international conference during the programme.

Our Universities

The Centre is an equal partnership of the Universities of Cardiff, Sheffield, and Nottingham, with Nottingham as the host University. Students can be based at any University. All partners have expertise in Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS), combustion, fuel science and technology, biomass and energy systems.

Cardiff’s expertise covers gas turbines, including multi-component fuels and offers access to major gas turbine research facilities at GTRC (Margam).

Sheffield’s expertise includes power plant simulation and modelling of both biomass and gas turbine combustion and offers access to the UK Pilot-scale Translational Energy Research Centre (TERC).

Nottingham facilities include the analytical facility for research on fuel characterisation, CCUS and thermochemical conversions of biomass, a hydrothermal carbonisation facility and a sorbent capture looping facility.

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)

EDI is integral to the culture of the CDT in Resilient Decarbonised Fuel Energy Systems. The student-led CDT EDI working group actively advises the management on EDI matters for all our activities. The CDT values and promotes talent regardless of protected characteristics. We foster an inclusive culture in which everyone feels free from discrimination, respected, comfortable, and valued. There is a zero-tolerance policy towards bullying and harassment of any kind in the CDT.

CDT supervisors undertake training in unconscious bias and managing diversity.

Adjustments arising from a disability, or flexible working patterns to facilitate childcare are accommodated to the best of our ability. Additional support is available for disabled students through EPSRC’s Disabled Student Allowance.

The CDT and universities support flexible working patterns and adhere to Athena Swan best practice in limiting out of hours meetings and events. The Faculty of Engineering at the University of Nottingham was awarded the Athena Gold Award in 2020, an accreditation which rewards excellence in advancing gender equality across higher education and research.

Please find more information on EDI from each of the partner universities: