‘World-leading’ facilities feature in government review

The School of Engineering’s world-leading Gas Turbine Research Centre was commended in the UK Government’s Integrated Review.

Global Britain in a Competitive Age, the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy announced by the Prime Minister on 16 March, describes the Government’s vision for the UK’s role in the world over the next decade and the action we will take to 2025.

The Prime minister’s foreword under the theme ‘A World Leader in Climate Action’ states that ‘Wales is home to world-leading hydrogen research and development facilities such as Cardiff University’s Gas Turbine Research Centre’.

Based in Port Talbot and established in 2007, the centre contributes to research in current and future electrical power and aviation gas turbines, including the development of combustion systems to accommodate net-zero fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia, novel additive-layer-manufactured components, and the development of international standards for emission measurement and industrial safety.

The Gas Turbine Research Centre has undertaken large-scale hydrogen combustion research projects since its inception and currently has an increasing portfolio of hydrogen projects, working with a range of large and small industrial sponsors including Siemens, RWE, and SMEs HiETA Technologies and Mayphil Engine Group. Researchers at the centre have recently co-authored the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy’s Hy4Heat report with Jacobs and Element Energy.

A current major project in which the Gas Turbine Research Centre is a partner is FLEXIS (Flexible Integrated Energy Systems), a £24 million research operation designed to develop an energy systems research capability in Wales.