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Funding green economy research

Researchers from the University’s James Watt School of Engineering will play leading roles in new projects to accelerate the growth of the UK’s sustainable industries, supported by millions in funding from the UK Government.

Professor Jeff Kettle will lead the £5.5m Responsible Electronics & Circular Technologies Centre (REACT), and Professor Gioia Falcone will be part of the £5.6m Centre for Net-Zero High Density Buildings, led by the University of Edinburgh.

REACT, the UK’s first sustainable electronics centre, will drive the transition to net-zero electronics, addressing both the environmental and economic challenges faced by the industry, while promoting the adoption of green technologies through collaboration between academia, industry and policymakers.

The University will lead and coordinate the four-year project in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University, and the Compound Semiconductor Applications Catapult Scotland.

The electronics industry is primarily driven by technical and economic considerations, often neglecting sustainability principles. This has led to significant challenges, including large amounts of 'WEEE' (waste electrical and electronic equipment), high emissions across the supply chain, and widespread use of critical raw materials such as gold, palladium and indium – materials with limited reserves.

In Scotland, however, the electronics industry is vital to the regional economy, driving economic growth, environmental commitments and national security. With over 130 companies and 10,300 employees contributing to an annual turnover of more than £2.8bn, this sector plays a crucial role in fostering productivity and growth.

However, as more prominent manufacturers and buyers increasingly demand that suppliers commit to decarbonising their products, alongside growing legislative pressure, it is clear that the industry must adapt.

Professor Kettle, who will lead and coordinate the REACT Hub, said: “The centre will unite leading researchers to drive the industry’s transition toward a net-zero economy. Its primary focus will be developing solutions to reduce electronic waste, minimise reliance on critical raw materials and reduce carbon footprints.”

The Centre for Net-Zero High Density Buildings is setting out to investigate how densely populated urban areas can be made more energy efficient. It has received £4.5m from UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), with a further £1.1m in support from industry, education, the public sector and the community.

The centre is led by Professor Sean Smith of the University of Edinburgh and supported by the universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde, West of Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University and BE–ST, Scotland's construction innovation centre. Together, they will test new prototypes and retrofit buildings with low-carbon materials, heating and cooling systems, and energy storage technologies.

Professor Gioia Falcone, Rankine Chair of Energy Engineering and Director of the Glasgow Centre for Sustainable Energy, will lead the University’s contribution to the new centre. “We are committed to making a positive impact where technical, economic, social and planning constraints make it particularly challenging to decarbonise through retrofit.

“As part of the research team, we will test and reconcile solutions at different scales, from within buildings to community-scale to the wider energy networks. It is vital that we integrate energy supply, storage and use for high-density buildings in a sustainable and equitable way.”

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