UCL Energy Institute joins £7.8m sustainable energy collaboration with Mexico

A team from the The Bartlett, along with researchers from Imperial College and the London School of Economics (LSE), has joined Mexico’s newly launched £7.8 million sustainable energy research programme. The initiative is the largest bilateral cooperation with the UK in this field.

Over the last two years, UCL has been working with Mexican institutions to develop a programme of research around sustainable energy use in buildings and cities, as well as innovation to support clean energy growth. This result is three project proposals being submitted by The Bartlett's Energy Insitute and Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP). These are:

1. Intelligent and sustainable cities and communities (Energy Institute)
2. Smart and efficient energy in sustainable buildings (Energy Institute)
3. Energy innovation (IIPP)

Tackling key global challenges

Speaking at the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) marking the joint venture in Mexico City earlier this month, Professor Tadj Oreszczyn from the UCL Energy Institute said:

“UCL values the relationship it has developed with SENER, CONACYT and Mexican research institutes over the last two years in the area of energy sustainability.

UCL is committed to help tackle the key global grand challenges, [and] it is only through such collaborations that we will be able to reach global energy sustainability within the time scales required.

The MOUs we are signing today will play a critical role in laying the foundations for a strategic alliance for energy sustainability between Mexico and London.

The MOU signing ceremony was attended by Pedro Joaquín Coldwell, Mexico’s Minister of Energy, along with Imperial College’s Professor Daryl Williams and LSE’s Professor Sam Frankhauser. 

Future sustainable energy systems

All of the research projects will be jointly developed with Mexican institutions. UCL is involved in projects that include smart and sustainable cities, energy innovation policy and energy efficiency in buildings, while LSE will look at transition to a low-carbon economy and Imperial College will focus on advanced solar systems and capacity building in university-led entrepreneurship and innovation. 

UCL has invested heavily in research and education to support the development of future sustainable energy systems. The UCL Energy Institute, now home to over 200 staff and students, was founded nine years ago with the specific purpose of helping government and industry transition to sustainable energy systems.

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