News and Events
News
DEI’s Christopher Davidson interviewed for Voice of America TV on the impact of the US ‘shale’ revolution on future relations with Saudi Arabia
Christopher Davidson, Reader in Middle East Politics at Durham University was interviewed by Voice of America TV for article 'US Oil Surge Could Impact Mideast Geopolitics’.
(17 Jun 2013) » More about US shale and Saudi Arabia
Bursaries announced for MSc in Energy and Society
Two funded studentships are available for the MSc in Energy and Society.
(13 Jun 2013) » More about London Borough of Haringey fund two Durham MSc studentships
CLNR: The Journal and Energy Spectrum showcase DEI’s pioneering project which hopes to cut energy costs and carbon footprints.
Two new articles showcase the pioneering work being undertaken by Durham University and its partners in the Customer-Led Network Revolution and explore some of the early findings from the project.
(11 Jun 2013) » More about CLNR: Journal and Energy Spectrum
Smart meter roll-out: Professor Harriet Bulkeley gives expert evidence to the House of Commons Energy & Climate Change Committee
Professor Harriet Bulkeley gave evidence at the Energy and Climate Change Committee inquiry into Smart Meter Roll-out on Tuesday 14 May 2013 at the Palace of Westminster. Smart meters are due to be rolled out to homes and businesses across the UK between 2014 and 2019. The Committee’s inquiry explores DECC’s preparations for smart meter roll-out and some of the concerns that have been raised. The evidence provided to the Committee included some of the preliminary findings of the CLNR project.
(11 Jun 2013) » More about Smart meter roll-out inquiry
Long term monitoring of UK Shale Gas wells essential
In an interview on BBC News about UK Shale Gas reserves, Professor Davies stressed the importance of long term monitoring of the large amount of wells that are likely to be required in the UK.
(4 Jun 2013) » More about Shale Gas monitoring
CLNR regional stakeholder forum
The Customer Led Network Revolution held its regional stakeholder forum at the Centre for Life in Newcastle upon Tyne on 21st May. The DEI is a key collaborator in the project which is the UK’s biggest smart grid project.
(3 Jun 2013) » More about CLNR regional stakeholder forum
Will the lights go out on UK households? Professor Bialek speaks to the Newcastle Journal
Professor Janusz Bialek, Chair of Electrical Power and Control at Durham University and a world-leading expert in energy infrastructure, spoke to the Newscatle Journal about whether UK households and businesses are really facing electricity blackouts in just a few years.
(25 May 2013) » More about UK lights out?
Durham Masters launched in a flash
Durham University’s newest Masters course was launched on the 8th May in a “flash” event on the University’s Science Campus.
The Masters in Energy and Society was developed by the Anthropology Department, following demand from industry, government and NGO partners and has been structured to provide students with the skills to understand, analyse and deliver advanced technical and societal solutions for energy related projects. The course brings together teaching and research across the Science and Social Science spectrum, providing a unique insight into emerging energy challenges across the world.
(22 May 2013) » More about Durham launches new Masters in Energy and Society
Prof. Davies invited to advise government on Unconventional Oil and Gas
The Right Honourable Dan Byles, MP, Chairman of the APPG Unconventional Oil and Gas has this week announced the membership of the newly formed advisory panel for this Group.
(17 May 2013) » More about Prof. Richard Davies has been invited to join the advisory panel for the All Party Parliamentary Group on Unconventional Oil and Gas
New bursaries available to New Energy and Society Masters students.
Durham University Department of Anthropology has announced that they are offering 10 postgraduate bursaries for Durham undergraduates wishing to take any of Anthropology Masters courses, including the new MSc Energy and Society. These bursaries will reduce fees by 10% and will be distributed on a first come first served basis.
If you are interested in applying for the a bursary contact c.l.oneill@durham.ac.uk
(12 May 2013)
DEI welcomes Professor Nikos Hatziargyriou
Durham Energy Instiute is delighted to welcome Professor Nikos Hatziargyriou who arrived last week on a 3 month COFUND Policy and Enterprise Fellowship, based in the Institute of Advanced Study.
(26 Apr 2013) » More about New COFUND Fellow visiting DEI
Prof. Davies gives fracking evidence at Royal Irish Academy
DEI's Professor Richard Davies gave evidence this week at the Royal Irish Academy Information Briefing where the risks of fracking in Ireland were found not to have been fully explored.
(19 Apr 2013) » More about Fracking put on hold by Irish Government
DEI and Propsect Fracking event at the Royal Society
On 9April 2013 DEI and Prospect Magazine co-hosted a public event at the Royal Society on “Fracking: science and scepticism. Perspectives from the US and the UK".
(10 Apr 2013) » More about DEI and Propsect Fracking event at the Royal Society
New fracking research led by Durham University finds it is “not significant” in causing earthquakes
A new study of hundreds of thousands of hydraulic fracturing (or “fracking”) operations has found that the process has only caused earth tremors that could be felt on the surface in three cases. Hydraulic fracturing is the method by which sedimentary rock is deliberately cracked to recover oil and gas, including shale gas.
(10 Apr 2013) » More about New fracking research led by Durham University finds it is “not significant” in causing earthquakes
Three major new projects have successfully secured funding through DEI funded trip to Nairobi…
Three major new grants have been awarded to Durham Energy Institute researchers through the EPSRC Energy and International Development call.
The three projects are: Green Growth Diagnostics for Africa; Supporting Sub-Saharan Africa's Municipalities with Sustainable Energy Transitions (SAMSET); and ESCoBox
(26 Mar 2013) » More about Three new projects secure EPSRC funding
DEI Award two BP Travel Bursaries
Durham Energy Institute has this week awarded two BP travel bursaries of £1000 each to post-graduate students studying at the University. The grants will support projects researching off-grid solar projects in India and Africa and are available to anyone with a relevant energy related project.
(1 Mar 2013) » More about DEI Award two BP Travel Bursaries
Latest video update on the CLNR project
The lastest video update on the Customer-Led Network Revolution (CLNR) project has been uploaded to Youtube. CLNR is the UK's largest smartgrid project, involving 14,000 homes and businesses and with a budget of £54 million.
(15 Feb 2013) » More about CLNR youtube video update
Where should the UK get its energy and is government policy on course to take us there?
On the morning of Monday 11th February, Professors Richard Davies and Jon Gluyas from Durham Energy Institute (DEI) were part of a high level roundtable event with the Right Honourable Ed Davey MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. The 90-minute meeting, which also included Professor Sir David King, formerly the government’s chief scientific adviser and Angela Knight, Chief Executive of Energy UK amongst others, was presented in partnership by DEI, the BG Group and Prospect Magazine to facilitate discussion of the UK’s future mix of energy supplies.
(15 Feb 2013) » More about DEI Professors attend ministerial roundtable on Energy
DEI and Durham University Anthropology Department are launching a new Masters called 'Energy and Society'
Unique among Masters programmes, the new MSc in Energy and Society emphasizes the insights that the social sciences can offer to energy and development, and vice versa. It will be led by the Anthropology Department, in association with the Durham Energy Institute and its partner departments (including Engineering, Social Sciences and Humanities).
(6 Feb 2013) » More about MSc Energy and Society
DEI and Prospect roundtable event on The Future of the UK Energy Mix
Prof Richard Davies of the DEI will be co-hosting a breakfast roundtable attended by the Rt Hon Ed Davey MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on the 11th February. The focus of the breakfast event will be ‘The Future of the UK Energy Mix’,and will seek to engender debate between energy companies, academic experts and of course DECC regarding all the relevant energy platforms including oil & gas, solar power, wind, tidal and nuclear.
(6 Feb 2013) » More about Future of UK Energy
Volunteers Wanted for Electric Vehicle Project at the DEI
Researchers from the Durham Energy Institute (DEI) are looking for people who own or regularly use electric cars to be interviewed as part of a project looking into the prospect of homes producing their own power for household electric cars.
An article in the Journal by Tony Henderson (January 15) looks at the DEI project which will investigate the technical issues surrounding where and when people choose to charge their electric vehicles, and which micro-generation systems fit best with the demand from electric cars. The project involves a collaboration between Durham’s departments of engineering and computing sciences and anthropology.
(15 Jan 2013) » More about Electric Vehicle volunteers needed
Shale gas in the UK: it's not all about the science
Professor Richard Davies, Director of the Durham Energy Institute was invited by the New Statesman this week to comment on the current debate on shale gas extraction in the UK.
Shale gas exploitation was given the go ahead by UK Energy Minister, Ed Davey on the 13th December and has been debated widely by the press and public ever since. Professor Davies latest article reminds us that researching the risks in an open and honest way is an essential element in gaining the social acceptance of the technology that will be required.
(11 Jan 2013) » More about Durham Professor leads on Shale Gas Debate
Durham Study quoted in 'misleading statement' by Energy Minister
Energy Minister, John Hayes has recently been accused of misleading the public on the risks of water contamination from shale gas mining using a Durham University Study. In an interview on Radio 5 Live on 13th December he said that the study concluded that the hydaulic fracturing process of gas extraction from shale, otherwise known as "fracking" could not contaminate drinking water. The Study, led by Professor Richard Davies, Director of the Durham Energy Institute reviewed hundreds of records from shale gas mining operations, mainly in the US
(3 Jan 2013) » More about Durham Study quoted by Energy Minister
New Statesman: ‘Will the UK’s largest smart grid project revolutionise energy policy?’
The New Statesman has published an article reviewing the 'pioneering smart grid project' the Customer Led Network Revolution, one of Durham Energy Institutes leading projects.
(3 Dec 2012) » More about New Statesman CLNR article
DECC announces £647,441 funding to Durham-led consortium on ‘Carbon Storage Monitoring using Muon technology’
A Durham-led research consortium has won government and industry funding of over £1.4m to develop a novel and more cost effective technique for the continuous monitoring of future carbon capture and storage (CCS) sites for carbon dioxide (CO2) by using cosmic rays.
(27 Nov 2012) » More about Carbon storage Muon
Shale Gas: the debate continues. The DEI gives evidence to the Parliamentary Select Committee
Professor Richard Davies, Director of the Durham Energy Institute, gave evidence today at a The Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy and Climate Change in Westminster. This was the first evidence session held by the Committee on the ‘Impact of Shale Gas on Energy Markets’.
(27 Nov 2012) » More about Select Comm Shale Gas
Podcast of Sustainable Energy TalkScience Debate at British Library
Professor Phil Taylor joined a panel of experts for a dynamic discussion around the energy mix of the future at the TalkScience@BL debate on the 23 October. Podcast of the TalkScience debate is now available to download on the British library website.
The debate, entitled "Sustainable energy for the 21st century: Can we ensure a bright future?", addressed issues such as:
- why our current energy supply situation is unsustainable;
- the role of behavioural change;
- the capability of technology to provide a sustainable energy future, and
- whether it will be possible to achieve the Government's energy targets without resorting to fossil fuels or nuclear power.
(6 Nov 2012) » More about Energy TalkScience debate
Durham Energy Institute funds 10 new interdisciplinary Energy projects
In October Durham Energy Institute awarded £90,000 towards interdisciplinary Energy related projects. The DEI small grant scheme aims to develop Durham University’s interdisciplinary research capacity and to enhance the external representation of the ground-breaking research being undertaken on Energy technology.
The 18 projects funded represent cutting-edge research which is interdisciplinary across the social sciences and sciences with successful cross-departmental applications from Durham University departments of Anthropology, Physics, Geography, Biology, Engineering, Archaeology, Earth Sciences, Mathematics and the School of Economics, Finance and Business. The funding helps to achieve one of the key goals of the DEI to encourage radical interdisciplinarity in Energy-related research.
(5 Nov 2012) » More about DEI funds 10 new projects
Durham University energy students to test electric car in 600-mile road trip
Two Durham University students are to drive an electric car on a 600-mile round trip to Cardiff and back to demonstrate the possibilities of Smart Grid power and low carbon electricity.
Smart Grids are advanced electricity networks that intelligently integrate the requirements of all connected users - generators, consumers and those that do both – to efficiently deliver sustainable, economic and secure low-carbon electricity.
(19 Oct 2012) » More about Electric Car journey
DEI's Phil Taylor presents at IET Smart Grid Conference
Durham Energy Institute's Professor Phil Taylor gave a presentation at the IET Smart Grid 2012 Conference last week.
The conference, which took place in London on 19 September, covered the latest government and Ofgem influences on smart grid innovation as well as collaborative work emerging from the Smart Grid Forum.
(25 Sep 2012) » More about Phil Taylor presents at Smart Grid Conference
Sustainable Energy TalkScience Debate at British Library
(25 Sep 2012) » More about Sustainable Energy TalkScience Debate at British Library
CLNR project dissemination event held at Durham
(20 Aug 2012) » More about CLNR project dissemination event held at Durham
DEI's Chris Dent Awarded IET Young Engineer Career Achievement Award
(14 Aug 2012) » More about DEI's Chris Dent Awarded IET Young Engineer Career Achievement Award
Durham University awarded 2014 Probabilistic Modelling Applied to Power Systems conference
(27 Jun 2012) » More about Durham University awarded 2014 Probabilistic Modelling Applied to Power Systems conference
Durham's Richard Davies speaks at Geological Society Briefing on fracking and hydraulic fractures
(21 Jun 2012) » More about Durham's Richard Davies speaks at Geological Society Briefing on fracking and hydraulic fractures
Durham's Blue Green Electric Car
Durham Energy Institute is undertaking research to investigate the effect of electric vehicle charging on electricity networks, following its recent purchase of one of the new electric vehicles.
(19 Jul 2011) » More about Durham's Blue Green Electric Car
£1.3M of work to capture and store the Northeast's CO2 offshore
Plans to develop Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in North East England have taken a further step forward with £1.3m of major new development work announced as part of the Tees Valley Industrial Programme (TVIP).
(10 Aug 2010) » More about £1.3M of work to capture and store the Northeast's CO2 offshore
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