Company  Project Description School Supervisor Project Title
  Centre for Global Eco-Innovation 2012-2015      
2DHeat Limited 2DHeat Ltd has patented thick-film technology for novel, energy efficient, electric heating elements, which it is licensing to white goods manufacturers for use in mainstream domestic appliances. The technology uses mixed metal oxide powder preparations derived from Ni Cr Fe mixtures. The aim of this project is to increase the yield and control of the final metal oxide mix while eliminating intermediate production stages. It involves expertise in high temperature oxidation and micro-structural characterisation, using state-of-the-art electron microscopy and analysis facilities towards a principal eco-benefit of abating the GHG emissions from appliances using our technology. School of Engineering Dr Pete Fox Increase yield and control of final oxide mix while removing
intermediate production stages
ACAL Energy Ltd Fuel Cells promise a clean and efficient way to produce electricity for industrial, domestic and transport applications. However, their uptake is currently limited by issues of cost and durability. ACAL Energy's FlowCath® system eliminates 80% of the platinum from conventional Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cells and sidesteps the significant degradation processes, but further development is needed to meet the efficiency and size requirements of a car. This project will contribute detailed study of the core of the FlowCath® system - the chemical and electrochemical interactions between catholyte and cathode - leading to improved understanding and development of new materials. Department of Chemistry Prof Richard Nichols Electrode Surfaces in Novel Fuel Cells
Dwelle Limited Prefabricated elements and systems offer significant advantages in terms of construction time, safety, environmental impact, constructability, and cost. The aim of this project is to develop a highly efficient and sustainable building process to allow construction of adaptable, affordable and highly sustainable small-scale prefabricated buildings. Consideration will be given not only to the design of the buildings but also to the manufacturing processes used for the building materials and the building itself, leading to buildings which will be highly modular, adaptable and flexible without sacrificing  environmental credentials or affordability.  School of Engineering Dr Tim Short Development of a highly effective and sustainable building process
Gencoa Ltd Modern wind turbines are experiencing rapid growth in both physical size and rated capacity. Wind turbines require a reliable and efficient pitch angle controller to regulate power output and to damp structure flexing due to the usage of lighter construction materials. This project will design an improved pitch angle controller for wind turbines based on the Speedflo plasma controller to maximise energy conversion efficiency and minimise mechanical load of the drive train. Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics Dr Lin Jiang Development of advanced controller to improve the efficiency of wind turbines
Inteb Sustainability Limited The UK government has launched an initiative to deploy smart meters across the country by 2020 to help consumers manage their energy use, save money and reduce CO2 emissions with real-time information on their energy consumption. This project will develop an easy-to-use and low-cost web app based IT solution for remotely monitoring and controlling the on-site usage of energy and water in domestic and commercial buildings, including multi-tenanted properties. Fully exploring the benefits of smart meters, the ambition is to reduce energy and water consumption whilst increasing waste recyclability.  Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics Dr Xu Zhu An intelligent web app-based IT solution for monitoring and controlling energy, water and waste usage in buildings
Marlan Maritime Technologies Changing coastal morphology arising from climate change, storms, sedimentation and hydrodynamics affect port operations and the ability to manage coastal resources in a sustainable way. This project will investigate radar systems that address coastal navigation, safety, security, fuel efficiency, and sustainable resource use. The solutions enable decision-makers to ensure that vessel traffic and maintenance operations are safe and resource efficient. School of EngineeringS Prof Andy Plater An integrated radar system for sustainable port operationgs and coastal resource management
Versarien Ltd The Lost Carbonate Sintering (LCS) process is a patented process developed at the University of Liverpool for manufacturing micro-porous metals with controlled pore size and porosity. The project aims to develop LCS porous metals with novel structures for optimum heat exchange performance, optimising LCS conditions to create tailored porous structures and investigating the effects of structural parameters on the heat transfer coefficient. This will lead to production and commercialization of LCS porous metals for thermal management applications. School of Engineering Dy Yuyuan Zhao To develop LCS porous metals with novel structures for optimum heat exchange performance
Weir & Carmichael Ltd Packaging plays a crucial role in delivering quality products to customers. However, it is also associated with waste, cost and negative ecological impacts on the environment. This project aims to develop a tool set to support the design of greener packaging products and their supply chain. Strategies will be developed to facilitate maximum reuse of packaging products through customised reverser logistics services for improved sustainability and meet customised market needs. The amount and weight of existing materials will be significantly reduced or, ultimately, the need for existing protective wrappings on products in transit will be eliminated. University of Liverpool Management School Dr Dong Li Development of product and supply chain assessnebt and design tools for parkaging products
Community Forests North West There is a market for a robust service and methodology to ascribe economic values to proposed green infrastructure (GI) provision, and to enable improved modelling and assessment of land-use change. This project aims to develop a product that integrates GI mapping, evolved from the application of current spatial analysis software, to economic assessment tools, which can be used to model how GI services impact on land-use change (GI-VAL). The tool will be sector-leading, providing economic data on the services provided by green infrastructure (GI) that will support decision making at all levels. School of Engineering Prof Dave Shaw Development of tools for modelling and assessment of land-use change
LPW Technology Ltd Selective Laser Melting (SLM) is an Additive Manufacturing process that produces metallic components, achieved by melting small diameter metal alloy powders and building a part layer by layer. This project will develop new materials and processes to make SLM the most efficient way to make ultra-lightweight structural components for aerospace and automotive industries The ambition is to reduce the weight of some structural components by 50% whilst at the same time reducing their carbon footprint, which will have a significant environmental impact.  School of Engineering Dr Chris Sutcliffe Improving selective laser melting for reduced materials use
MPE Limited An anechoic chamber is a large room lined with radio absorbing materials (RAMs) on the walls, floor and ceiling to simulate the free space environment - no echoes are generated; thus all outdoor electromagnetic measurements can be conducted inside a comfortable indoor environment, which is not subject to any interference. However, the RAM is expensive and not environmentally friendly. This project aims to develop an eco-friendly RAM, and build an anechoic chamber design tool which will minimise the use of RAM but maximise the performance for given conditions, leading to wide use in the electrical and electronics industry. Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics Prof Yi Huang Developing eco-friendly radio absorbing materials for anechoic chambers
AIMES grid services The i-MOVE and i-PORT projects address urban traffic congestion to reduce carbon emissions, improve resource efficiency and improve the urban environment. The project will create 1. An IoT ecosystem for transport, focusing on urban "congestion corridors", to provide new services and applications from a scalable and interoperable information hub at the AIMES cloud computing campus in Liverpool and 2. A viable new transport optimisation application. i-MOVE will use data from local traffic systems, mobile cells, the Highways Agency, social media and transport services to create a Transport Applications Store where new products and business models will be developed for freight, public and private transport. By addressing congestion and disruption, waste carbon production will be minimised Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics Prof Lezek Gasieniec I-Move
Centre for marine and Coastal Studies Ltd (CMACS) Inshore waters traditionally provided coastal communities with their main livelihood, through the use of fisheries, tourism and recreation. The sustainability of such coastal communities has been undermined by intensive exploitation and increased degradation of inshore environments. This project will develop and test a tool-box of techniques to assess the sustainability of human activities in the inshore marine environment. The initial focus will be on biological sustainability of shellfish resources; however, the project will also consider the social and economic aspects of sustainability by means of consultation with local stakeholders regarding the issues that they face. School of Engineering Prof Chris Frid Sustainable Marine Resource Management
Invisible Systems Ltd In a world where energy costs are increasing and climate change and CO2 emissions are negatively impacting on the environment, governments around the world are working hard to tackle such global issues. Invisible Systems Ltd has recently developed a wireless radio system to monitor and control the operation of major energy appliances and devices (such as boilers) inside buildings. This project will develop the in-house developed system into a competitive eco-innovative product, towards implementing the idea of smart buildings around the world. Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics Prof Yi Huang Development of an in-house wireless radio system to monitor & control devices inside buildings
Ionotec Ltd Motive power without fossil fuel consumption depends critically on the availability of batteries that meet modern needs regarding vehicle range, power, life and cost. All present battery chemistries fall short in most of these characteristics. The sodium metal-chloride battery is a promising candidate; however the energy available is limited by various design features and by the characteristics of the cathode. This project will use high-temperature electrochemical measurements to understand the electro-kinetics of the cathode and prototype cells will be constructed to demonstrate whether the improved understanding of the core chemistry can be translated into enhanced cell performance. Department of Chemistry Dr Laurence Hardwick Electrochemical Studies of the Sodium Metal-Chloride Battery
Landlife Landlife’s Soil Inversion (SI) is a new forestry and landscape-scale habitat creation technique that involves inverting a metre of soil to expose the subsoil, bury weeds and retain moisture at depth. This project aims to fully explore the elements of soil fertility and carbon capture, utilising previous monitoring project work on biodiversity and tree growth that are critical to evaluate the carbon capture implications of landscape work using this technique. The outcome will be highly significant in relation to effecting biodiversity gains (including nature improvement areas) and delivering more resilient landscapes in the face of climate change impacts. School of Engineering Prof Rob Marrs Carbon Sequestration through Soil Inversion
Phlorum There is a growing awareness of the importance to consider the embodied and lifecycle carbon emissions of building materials, underlined by the fact that construction in the UK represents 7% of carbon emissions. However, there are few assessment tools currently available and many of these are overly simplistic and are of limited use to developers. This project aims to develop embodied and lifecycle carbon tools by linking ethnographic methods with software development and market penetration. The outcome will better prepare the construction sector for the impending changes in legislation and business, and drive the development of sustainability in the construction industry.  University of Liverpool Management School Dr Joanne Meehan Development of sustainability in the construction industry
Red Ninja Ltd Smart mobile technologies have become increasingly widespread in use and capability. Mobile phone Apps, for instance, are increasingly important. This project involves working with two experienced partners in the field to develop a city information system, accessible to mobile devices, that effectively integrates ecologically appropriate services such as those for recycling. It would also enhance and encourage ecologically sound activity by supporting integration of systems such as those for public transport. Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics Prof Andy Brown An Eco-City Mobile App
Scaled Services Ltd The impact of poorly protected and consequently inefficient systems in both the domestic and industrial arena on energy usage, and hence the environment, is well documented. The current market leading water treatment additives rely very heavily on 'inorganic' molecules, and as such are coming under greater scrutiny with respect to toxicity, discharge and disposal. This project will focus on the development of new, environmentally acceptable water treatment additives to replace the existing inhibitors used to control corrosion in closed systems. The outcome will fill the current need for an essential green alternative Department of Chemistry Dr Andrew Fogg Development of an environmentally friendly eater treatment additives
Datalase Ltd The huge growth of digital printing has fuelled a need for sustainable alternatives to ink-jet printing, such as inkless digital printing which uses a system based on light initiated colour change reactions. This has driven a demand for materials that absorb near-infrared radiation. This project will investigate the ability of a variety of sustainably sourced inorganic compounds to function as near-infrared absorbers by manipulating their stoichiometry. A variety of inorganic compounds will be designed, synthesised and characterised, leading towards further testing in ink formulation and laser imaging testing, School of Engineering Dr Troy Manning Stoichiometry manipulation of inorganic compounds to function as near-infrared absorbers
Entrust Professional Services Limited Entrust is seeking to expand its services. This project aims to achieve that goal by developing a GIS-based planning framework that encompasses all aspects of both the UK and EU’s renewable energy planning process. The software will contain the relevant planning, economic, environmental and social data necessary to assess the optimal location of new RE model, an innovative framework that will provide developers with the required planning information in an area by reason of environmental, social and economic conditions. The outcome will provide environmental benefits that are two-fold. School of Engineering Dr Karyn Morrissey An expert system service for sustainable planning in the renewable energy sector
Walkingworld Ltd Walkingworld exploits a mix of text instructions, accurate location data and digital imagery in the creation and publication of walking guides. There are now over 6000 guides delivered via the website, PDF downloads, route files for GPS and, through a web service, to 3rd party mobile and digital mapping applications. This project extends these services to build the definitive platform for immersive and interactive walking trails, guides and games, delivered to spatially aware mobile handsets. School of Engineering Dr Alex Singleton Exploring invisible landscapes by development of interactive walking trails for mobile devices
BISN Technologies Limited There is a distinct lack of research and information within the area of oil field samples, paricularly the utilization of microbiological techniques to enhance the recovery of trapped oil. Through the use of culturing and metagenomic analysis, the project aims to identify and quantify the bacterial presence of oil samples and create a genomic database of the primary bacteria involved in microbial enhanced oil recovery (MEOR), that can be scaled-up for commercial use. The project will look at multiple worldwide oil formations and assess microbial activity in relation to the chemical and physical properties, and its effect on MEOR. Furthermore, sequencing of each microcosm will allow for the identification of genes expressed in relation to MEOR. Institute of Integrative Biology Dr Heather Allison A molecular approach to Understanding the
Processes of Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery
Renephra Limited Dialysis is one the most energy and resource greedy of treatments in today’s healthcare system. This project will develop technology for a novel medical device that has the potential to revolutionise kidney dialysis treatment and reduce the environmental impact of current treatment methods.  School of Engineering Dr Riaz Akhtar Developing technology for a low-cost power free renal therapy device
John McCall Architects The research and partial development of a flexible manufacturing system that can deliver an ecological construction solution both in terms of manufacture and the materials and systems used in the built archetypes. The manufacturing solution will by nature be replicable and utilise a typical skill bases found in industry. The research must propose a solution that is both relevant for todays building needs and possible future developments in technology (environmental and envelope types) and procurement fashions.   School of Architecture Prof Andy Brown Development of an appropriate technology system for producing  pre-fabricated insulated and refined timber panels for building construction
EECO The project is to develop an intelligent Energy Efficiency Cleanroom Control Unit (iEECCU) designed for the strict air cleanliness requirements of cleanrooms while optimising energy performance. The substantial energy demand of cleanroom HVAC systems provide large opportunities for energy savings.  School of Engineering Dr Lin Jiang Intelligent Energy Efficiency Cleanroom Control Unit