UCLAN teams up with BAE on energy research

THE University of Central Lancashire has agreed a £1m partnership with the defence giant BAE Systems to conduct research into energy and power management.

The three-year project will be led by Professor Xiongwei Liu who was appointed professor of energy and power management in October.

His department also has £1.1m from the European Regional Development Fund to research small wind turbine technology.

Prof Liu said: “In recent years and months we have seen increasing attention being paid to the issues of energy security and sustainability. There are wide ranging concerns over fossil fuel depletion, rising natural disasters and terrorism, greenhouse gas emission and climate change, and fluctuations of renewable energy sources.

“I feel that it is incredibly important to highlight these issues now and bring them to the forefront of the education and research agenda. With the help of our research partners we are already making headway in developing energy solutions that can help safeguard our long term future.”

Lambert Dopping-Hepenstal, director of systems and strategy at BAE, said: “BAE Systems is delighted to be supporting the work of the University of Central Lancashire and working with them on energy and power management research. Professor Liu’s ambitions for UCLan are matched by our own as we recognise too the need for real innovation and delivery when it comes to putting in place what is needed for a sustainable future.”