Sustainability is a key part of ongoing research at the University of Twente in many academic disciplines. Not only will you be taught by leading professors in this field, as a student of the Master’s in Sustainable Energy Technology, you will also have the opportunity to contribute to high-end research yourself. In the second year of your Master’s, you will join a research group and complete your master’s thesis there.
Do you want to know which groups you could join within this Master’s? Below you can find a selection of the related research groups and the research they are conducting.
- Centre for Studies in Technology and Sustainable Development
The Centre for Studies in Technology and Sustainable Development specialises in governance, emphasising sustainable development, environmental quality and resilience, social inclusiveness, and technological innovation – from both developed and developing country perspectives. Research is built around the Agenda 2030’s Sustainable Development Goals. Examples of research subjects include the technical and economical optimisation of (international) biomass supply chains, human behaviour in and organisation and governance of smart grids, or the implementation of bioenergy technology in the province of Overijssel.
- Computer Architecture for Embedded Systems
The Computer Architecture for Embedded Systems group focuses on energy efficiency. One important research topic is the design and development of smart grids. These are energy networks that can intelligently integrate the behaviour and actions of all units connected to it – generators, consumers and those that do both – in order to match the demand and supply of energy in an efficient, sustainable, economic and secure way.
- Design, Production and Management
The Design, Production and Management research group focuses on many diverse research subjects, of which sustainable energy & design is one. Research in this area includes the applications of photovoltaic (PV) technologies for the generation of solar energy. For example, research projects focus on improving PV modules in the context of the situation of use (e.g. in buildings), simulating irradiance on and performance of PV systems in various dynamic environments using Virtual Reality or integrating PV in products, for example, PV powered boats.
- Energy Materials and Systems
The Energy Materials and Systems group is internationally recognised for its expertise in applied superconductivity and cryogenics. Research in this group aims to develop technologies, materials and systems that play a key role in our future energy chains. For example, research focuses on developing superconducting magnets for nuclear fusion reactors, magnetic storage of electrical power or superconducting generators for wind turbines.
- Engineering Fluid Dynamics
The key activity of the Engineering Fluid Dynamics research group is connecting the fundamental physics of fluids to engineering (and medical) applications. In the case of sustainable energy technology, research in this group focuses on environmental acoustics, wind turbine aerodynamics and reduction of aeroacoustic noise.
- Inorganic Materials Science
Materials research, fundamental as well as applied, plays a central role in the development of more efficient and cost-effective energy applications such as fuel cells, solar cells, batteries, thermo-electrics, gas separators and systems for the production of solar fuels. The Inorganic Materials Science group focuses, amongst others, on the design and fabrication of innovative, advanced materials for energy applications. For example, research is conducted on the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy and on the development and optimisation of new semiconductor systems.
- Photocatalytic Synthesis
The main focus of the Photocatalytic Synthesis group is on the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy, i.e. to drive thermodynamically uphill reactions such as the synthesis of fuel by CO2 activation. Furthermore, this research group focuses on the purification of waste streams, including contaminated water or air.
- Production Technology
Sustainable energy technology involves the development of new equipment, in all cases with specific requirements. Research into materials and processes is required before any of the ideas can be put into reality. In this perspective, the Production Technology group focuses on the optimisation of both the manufacturing process and the performance of lightweight materials in structural applications. For example, research focuses on the development of lighter composite integrated PV, the design and manufacturing of lightweight or self-healing materials for wind turbines or structural health monitoring of wind turbine systems.
- Sustainable Process Technology
Amongst others, the Sustainable Process Technology group focuses on the thermo-chemical conversion of biomass. For example, process concepts are being explored to convert lignocellulosic biomass to bio-oil, which can subsequently be upgraded to liquid transportation fuels, e.g. by co-processing in a conventional oil refinery. Moreover, research in this department focuses on the capture and re-use/storage of CO2 and the thermal decomposition of organic materials, to name some examples.
- Thermal Engineering
The research in the Thermal Engineering group is concerned with questions related to industrial applications of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat and mass transport. Research subjects within this research group include the thermal conversion and application of biomass into energy and fuels, gas turbine engines, furnaces, domestic heating with micro-CHP systems and heat pumps and energy system integration.
- Water Engineering and Management
The department of Water Engineering and Management aims to increase our understanding of the natural processes in water systems and the socio-economic processes that affect these systems, for example in the case of water scarcity, pollution or flooding. The group is world-leading in water footprint research. Energy extraction of many kinds – coal, nuclear, bioenergy, etc. – requires the use of water. Research focuses on finding water-efficient ways to generate energy and calculating water footprints of, for example, wind energy, hydropower and biodiesel.