Sustainable technologies
Our department is advancing sustainable technologies to address critical global challenges, from energy efficiency to climate resilience.
Current research spans innovative cooling solutions, offshore renewable power generation, and infrastructure for smart cities, targeting technologies that balance human needs with environmental impact. For example, our work in passive radiative cooling seeks to reduce the energy demands of cooling systems by leveraging natural thermoregulation, transforming Earth’s surface into an effective heat sink. By pioneering such energy-efficient systems and supporting sustainable urban development, we aim to create cleaner, more resilient technology frameworks that support public health and the planet.
Explore related news, projects and case studies below.
News
Department research featured in IEEE journal special issue on climate change solutions
A recent study led by Dr Zhijie Xu has been featured in the IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, highlighting innovative optical technologies for sustainable agriculture.
28 Apr 2025
Prof Papakonstantinou's study on self-adaptive thermoregulation published in Nature Communications
A pioneering study led by Prof Ioannis Papakonstantinou has been published in Nature Communications, introducing a new self-adaptive thermoregulation technology that could revolutionise sustainable heating and cooling applications.
07 Nov 2024
UCL EEE MPhil student wins prestigious EOSAM 2024 Best Oral Presentation Award
Ahmad Alduweesh, an EEE MPhil student, has been awarded the EOSAM 2024 Best Oral Presentation Award for his innovative research on radiative cooling materials. The European Optical Society Annual Meeting (EOSAM) is one of the leading conferences in the field of optics.
11 Oct 2024
More information
Some examples of colleagues primarily associated with this area of research include:
