Progress towards UN SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy
Our research
Engineers from the University of Glasgow have used sophisticated computer simulations of bladeless wind turbines (BWTs) to identify for the first time how future generations of the technology could be built for maximum efficiency.
The findings could help the renewables industry take BWTs, which are still at an early stage of research and development, from small-scale field experiments to practical forms of power generation for national electricity grids.
BWTs take the form of slim cylindrical structures which sway in the wind, like lampposts in inclement weather. As the wind blows against them, BWTs create vortices - alternating swirls of air that rock the entire structure back and forth. When the frequency of the rocking matches the structure’s natural tendency to vibrate, the motion is amplified significantly, and the increased motion is converted into electricity.
In a new paper published in the journal Renewable Energy, the team show how they used computer modelling techniques to simulate the performance of thousands of variations of BWT design. The results cast valuable new light on the interplay between mast dimensions, power output, and structural safety in winds between 20 and 70 miles per hour.
Researchers at the University have helped develop a landmark international roadmap demonstrating how superconducting technologies could transform transport and significantly reduce global carbon emissions. Led by Dr Wenjuan Song of the James Watt School of Engineering and developed through collaboration with more than 60 researchers and engineers from over 40 organisations worldwide, the study explores how superconductors could accelerate the transition to cleaner, electrified transport systems.
The roadmap highlights how superconducting motors, cables and power systems could dramatically improve performance while reducing energy consumption and emissions.
Aviation is identified as a major opportunity, with superconducting motors offering power-to-weight ratios capable of overcoming one of the biggest barriers to electric flight. The technology could also support zero-emission shipping through highly efficient propulsion systems and enhance rail networks with lighter, more efficient transformers and power infrastructure. Real-world demonstrations are already under way, including superconducting aircraft powertrains, ship propulsion systems and high-speed rail applications.
The roadmap estimates that if superconducting technologies were adopted across 50% of the transport sector, they could help avoid around 23 gigatonnes of carbon emissions over 25 years. While challenges remain around cost, cooling systems and large-scale deployment, the research provides a clear agenda for future innovation and commercial adoption.
Learning & teaching
The Masters in Sustainable Energy is an interdisciplinary programme that equips students with skills for employment within the international energy sector. This programme addresses all the key aspects of sustainable energy, from the most advanced technologies through to ethical and economic considerations.
This programme provides an in-depth knowledge of the social and economic drivers of the current UK and international energy industry, and insights in the behavioural, business and technical aspects concerned with energy production and distribution.
The MSc Sustainable Energy is accredited in the “Further Learning” category accredited by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE), the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT), and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).
In 2026, the University was selected to lead the Skills Centre for Advancing Nuclear Systems (SCANS), a major doctoral training initiative designed to address critical skills shortages in the UK nuclear sector. Supported through the UK Government’s Doctoral Focal Awards programme, SCANS forms part of a national effort to expand the pipeline of highly skilled researchers and engineers needed to support the UK’s clean energy, economic growth, national security and net-zero ambitions.
SCANS brings together the Universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University, SUERC: Centre for the Isotope Sciences, and 25 industry and national partners. Operating across integrated hubs in Glasgow and Edinburgh, the centre combines expertise in chemistry, radiochemistry, engineering, physics, mathematics, environmental science and data science.
Over seven years, more than 120 supervisors will support over 60 doctoral researchers through a cohort-based training model. Students will benefit from access to leading research facilities, industry placements, specialist training and collaborative research projects co-created with sector partners.
University operations
The University has been working to explore the potential of using the city's existing wastewater infrastructure to provide low-carbon heat for some of our 350 campus buildings.
The Partick pumping station – a stone's throw from the new campus development – could offer a means to generate a renewable source of energy from the wastewater running through the city’s sewers system. The approach would work by extracting thermal energy from already warm wastewater held at local pumping stations via heat exchangers – passing this to heat pumps connected to our district heating network and onward to use across the estate.
The University is currently exploring feasibility of the work and will consider it as an option in our approach to the University’s aim of achieving carbon neutrality.
The Glasgow Centre for Sustainable Energy (GCSE) marked its second anniversary in 2025. Established in December 2023, the centre brings together expertise from across the University’s four colleges to address the complex technical, environmental and societal challenges of the global energy transition.
Since its launch, the centre has expanded rapidly, representing more than 370 researchers, including over 100 early-career researchers, and engaging with more than 450 external collaborators from industry, government and the third sector. Led by Professor Gioia Falcone, the centre promotes a vision of sustainable energy futures that deliver inclusive development while avoiding unintended environmental and social consequences.
The centre’s collaborative approach has generated significant impact. Researchers associated with GCSE secured more than £19 million in research funding over the previous year, supporting projects across sustainable energy, decarbonisation and climate resilience.
By connecting disciplines, sectors and stakeholders, the Glasgow Centre for Sustainable Energy demonstrates the University’s commitment to accelerating innovation, supporting net-zero ambitions, and delivering practical solutions for a sustainable energy future.
Alongside a programme of live music from grassroots artists, the Dear Green Music Scene festival created opportunities for dialogue between researchers and the public on topics related to clean energy and sustainable development.
Civic engagement
The University’s Dear Green Music Scene Festival 2026 demonstrates how universities can combine culture, research and public engagement to promote sustainability and climate action. Hosted at the Advanced Research Centre (ARC) and St Mungo Square, the festival brought together researchers, community partners, musicians and the public to explore the opportunities and challenges of the clean energy transition in an accessible and inclusive way.
The event was delivered through a collaboration involving the ARC, the College of Arts and Humanities Sustainability Forum, GALLANT, Glasgow Science Festival, Music in the University, and WestFest. A key feature of the festival was its commitment to sustainability, with performances taking place across two stages powered by hydrogen and solar energy.
Alongside a programme of live music from grassroots artists, the festival created opportunities for dialogue between researchers and the public on topics related to clean energy and sustainable development. The festival received funding as part of the University’s EPSRC and AHRC Impact Acceleration Accounts.
