Energy Innovation, Decarbonisation and Sustainable Growth: 2024–25
During 2024-25, Keele University supported the transition to a low-carbon future through community engagement, business support, innovation and partnership working. Activities helped promote energy efficiency, accelerate the adoption of clean energy technologies, support low-carbon enterprise and contribute to sustainable economic growth locally, nationally and internationally.
This page covers activity from August 2024 to July 2025 and supports UN Sustainable Development Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy.
Our work in this area supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 17 global goals adopted by all UN member states in 2015 to tackle challenges such as poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Main goal
Also contributes to
- SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
- SDG 13 Climate Action
- SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Energy efficiency education in the local community
Opening Our Smart Energy Network to Schools and Communities
In 2024–25, Keele welcomed over 500 visitors during more than 40 tours of its Smart Energy Network Demonstrator (SEND) and Low Carbon Energy Generation Park, including groups from businesses, local schools, colleges and academies, Climate Ambassadors, skills bootcamps and Keele Day. The Low Carbon Energy Generation Park combines 12,200 solar panels, two wind turbines and an industrial-sized battery, generating almost 6,000,000 kWh of green energy in 2024.
| Keele lead | Matt Dean, SEND Research and Innovation Manager |
|---|---|
| Partners | Siemens (SEND); Equans (Low Carbon Energy Generation Park) |
| Who benefited | Local business, school, college and academy groups; Climate Ambassadors; skills bootcamp participants; Keele Day visitors |
| Reach | Local |
| Outcome | 228 visitors in 2024–25 |
Energy efficiency services for industry
Energy and Solar Study for the New Vic Theatre
From August 2024, two Keele MSc students worked on fully funded 100-hour projects for the New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme through Keele's Flourish programme, at no cost to the theatre. One project evaluates the theatre's environmental improvements against its existing energy consumption, with findings reported to Arts Council England. The other researches options, costs and savings for solar PV and electric vehicle charging. The improvements being evaluated, recommended by an independent energy review, are estimated to save 360,000 kWh and 68 tonnes of carbon a year. Flourish delivered 50 funded projects with local businesses and organisations in its first 12 months.
| Keele lead | Philippa Richardson, Flourish Manager |
|---|---|
| Partners | New Vic Theatre; UK Shared Prosperity Fund via Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council (part-funder) |
| Service provided | Free energy evaluation and solar PV and EV charging options appraisal |
| Reach | Local |
Find out more about the New Vic Theatre projects
Replacing a Carbon-Intensive Process with CRODA
Keele researchers are working with the chemicals company CRODA to replace a carbon-intensive industrial purification process with enzymes, making manufacturing more efficient and supporting a decarbonised chemical industry. The work was highlighted in the annual report of the Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub, reported in October 2024.
| Keele lead | Dr Sebastian Cosgrove and Professor Gavin Miller, Centre for Glycoscience Research and Training |
|---|---|
| Partners | CRODA; Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub |
| Reach | National |
| Focus | Lower-carbon industrial manufacturing |
Find out more about the CRODA research
Stronger Stafford: Business & Sustainability Together
In December 2025, Keele University hosted Stronger Stafford: Business & Sustainability Together, bringing together businesses, charities, social enterprises, suppliers and support organisations from across Staffordshire. The event provided practical guidance on sustainability, energy efficiency and organisational change, helping participants identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve environmental performance and access funding and support. Through networking, shared learning and action-planning, the event encouraged cross-sector collaboration and collective action on sustainability challenges.
| Keele lead | Tom Bedford, Net Zero and Smart Energy Training Manager |
|---|---|
| Partners | Stafford Borough Council; Support Staffordshire |
| Reach | Regional |
| Focus | Energy efficiency, decarbonisation and organisational resilience |
Sustainability Partnership with RSK Group
In December 2024, Keele signed a partnership agreement with RSK Group, an environmental and engineering group of more than 200 companies in 40 countries. The partnership gives RSK access to Keele's sustainability and green technology expertise for research and development, aligned with its work in renewable energy and climate change, and covers student placements, collaborative research, grant-funded projects and consultancy.
| Keele lead | Professor Anna Meredith OBE, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences |
|---|---|
| Partners | RSK Group |
| Reach | National and international |
| Focus | Research and development in sustainability, green technology and renewable energy |
Informing clean energy policy
Mid & East Antrim Borough Council Visit to SEND and HyDeploy
In October 2024, Keele University hosted a delegation from Mid and East Antrim Borough Council and regional industry partners at the Smart Energy Network Demonstrator (SEND) and HyDeploy project. The visit brought together local authority officers responsible for climate action, net zero delivery, investment and strategic projects alongside representatives from the energy, manufacturing, construction and education sectors. Through knowledge exchange and demonstrations of integrated energy systems and hydrogen technologies, Keele shared practical insights to support clean energy planning, decarbonisation strategies and future energy policy development.
| Keele Lead | Matthew Dean, SEND Research and Innovation Manager |
|---|---|
| Participants | Mid and East Antrim Borough Council officers responsible for net zero, climate and investment; representatives from B9 Energy, Clarke Facades, Dowds Group, Firmus Energy, GES Group, Moore Concrete, Northern Regional College, Phoenix Energy and TST Group |
| Focus | Knowledge exchange on integrated energy systems, hydrogen technologies, decarbonisation and approaches to low-carbon transition and energy planning |
Hosting an International Energy Policy Delegation at SEND
In October 2024, Keele University hosted a Brazilian Low Carbon Hydrogen Trade Mission at the Smart Energy Network Demonstrator (SEND). The delegation included senior representatives from government departments, environmental agencies, investment bodies, hydrogen associations, energy companies and ports responsible for energy transition and infrastructure development across Brazil. Through the site visit and knowledge exchange, delegates explored hydrogen production, integrated energy systems and decarbonisation technologies, supporting international learning on clean energy policy, investment and low-carbon transition pathways.
| Keele Lead | Matthew Dean, SEND Research and Innovation Manager |
|---|---|
| Delegation members | Representatives from ABH2 (Brazilian Hydrogen Association), Bahiainveste, CELA, Green Energy Park, IDEMA, SEMIL (State of São Paulo), Seenemar (State of Rio de Janeiro), SDEC (State of Pernambuco), SINDIENERGIA, Port Industrial Complex of Suape, Voltalia, Santander and other public and private sector organisations |
| Focus | Low-carbon hydrogen, clean energy technologies, energy transition, international knowledge exchange and policy development to support decarbonisation and future energy systems |
Net Zero Neighbourhoods: Informing Regional Decarbonisation
During 2024–25, Keele University led the community-centred design and engagement of a Net Zero Neighbourhood in Brockmoor, Dudley, working with Dudley Council, Equans, Connected Places Catapult and other partners. Funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority, the project adopted a place-based approach to carbon reduction through improvements to home energy systems, travel and green infrastructure. Learning and evidence generated through the project is informing the delivery of six further Net Zero Neighbourhoods across the West Midlands through the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero's Local Net Zero Accelerator programme. This has helped support local and regional approaches to decarbonisation, community engagement and net zero policy implementation.
| Keele lead | Professor Zoe Robinson |
|---|---|
| Participants | Dudley Council, Equans, Connected Places Catapult, West Midlands Combined Authority, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and local communities |
| Focus | Place-based decarbonisation, community engagement, energy efficiency and net zero delivery |
| Outcome | Learning used to inform six additional Net Zero Neighbourhoods across the West Midlands |
Support for low-carbon start-ups and innovation
Supporting Low-Carbon Businesses at Keele Science and Innovation Park
Keele's Science and Innovation Park hosts more than 50 organisations, from established businesses to high-growth start-ups, including an Energy and Environment cluster. The park is powered by on-site renewables from the Low Carbon Energy Generation Park, which save about 1,500 tonnes of carbon emissions across the campus and park. Resident companies can draw on Keele's academic expertise and student capacity as they develop their own approaches to carbon reduction. In October 2024, it won the UK Science Park Association's Building Environmental Sustainability and Innovation award.
| Partners | Siemens (SEND); Equans (Low Carbon Energy Generation Park) |
|---|---|
| Who benefited | More than 50 organisations, including high-growth start-ups |
| Reach | Regional |
| Outcome | UKSPA Building Environmental Sustainability and Innovation award, 2024 |
Find out more about the Science Park award
Last reviewed: 3 November 2026
