Social anthropologist Professor Simone Abram has been announced as the new Durham University Ørsted Chair of Green Energy Systems and Director of Durham Energy Institute (DEI). She is the first social scientist to lead the DEI.

Researchers in our Physics Department will receive funding for the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Fusion Power from the UK’s biggest-ever investment in engineering and physical sciences doctoral skills.

Last week the Durham Energy Institute (DEI) was in the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to hold an exhibition in the prestigious Upper Waiting Hall, to showcase our research towards bringing people together for a clean and just energy transition.

This new policy briefing explores the possibilities for regional decarbonisation energy planning in the North East of England. Local Energy Planning is considered important due to the opportunity for local low carbon energy technologies to deliver benefits in local communities.

We’re part of a world-leading renewable energy research collaboration that has received almost £5.3million from the UK government to expand its work.

We’re supporting the creation of a new research centre to advance cutting edge solutions to offshore wind challenges and drive the UK’s transition to Net Zero.

Our congratulations to Dr Andrew Crossland FEI, who has been appointed as an Associate Professor in Practice with the Durham Energy Institute commencing on 1st January 2024.

Last week, academics, government leaders and industry experts from across the energy sector gathered in Durham City for a thought-provoking discussion on the future of energy and how to ensure a just transition to a cleaner future. This event brought together speakers from finance, policy, technology and advocacy backgrounds to share their insights on the policies and finance needed to achieve a Just Transition.

This week sees the return of Lumiere, the dazzling light art event hosted in Durham bi-annually. This year’s event includes three installations drawing on some of our ground-breaking research.

Congratulations to Professor Jon Gluyas who has been elected as an Honorary Fellow of the Geological Society of India.

DEI fellow Professor Gavin Bridge from our Department of Geography has co-authored an article in The Conversation which claims that Rosebank shows the UK’s offshore oil regulator no longer serves the public good.

Professor Chris Groves, of our Department of Engineering, has led a national research team to design solar cells with efficiency that improves as the amount of sunlight reduces.