New clean energy research laboratories officially open at Cranfield University
New labs at Cranfield University will enable researchers to develop and test materials and technologies for use in hydrogen, ammonia, biofuels and other alternative fuels.
The Cranfield Future Energy Laboratories was officially opened on Thursday (October 30) by Dr Kim Hackett, director for system health and sustainability at Research England – a major funder of the project.
The laboratories will bring together university researchers, students and industry partners to develop technologies aimed at reducing emissions in sectors including aviation, transport, manufacturing and heavy industry.
They form part of the wider Cranfield Future Energy programme, which is supported by a £69 million investment from Research England and industry partners.
Dr Hackett said: The Cranfield Future Energy Laboratories is a high-impact facility that will turn theoretical science into scalable technologies.
"It is an environment where new ideas can be rapidly developed and demonstrated, accelerating our journey towards clean, affordable and resilient energy systems. The key ingredient is collaboration – bringing together academia, government and industry - and this is something that Cranfield does particularly well."
The university said the new labs were designed to allow researchers to create, analyse and test materials used in fuel production and other industrial processes.
They will also support work on technologies intended to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
The labs join other research infrastructure at Cranfield, including the Power and Propulsion Laboratories, which opened in November 2025, and facilities for testing hydrogen technologies and developing synthetic fuels.
Professor Dame Karen Holford, Cranfield University's chief executive and vice-chancellor, said the investment would help researchers and businesses work together to address energy challenges.
"This is a major investment in the facilities, talent and partnerships needed to deliver a more sustainable future," she said.
"We hugely appreciate the contributions we have already received from our industrial partners and welcome our new partners who are very much part of the future energy agenda.
"The new laboratories are a space where academia and industry can work together to accelerate innovation, overcome technical challenges, and translate research into real-world impact."
The university said the wider programme would support research covering energy production, storage, distribution and environmental impact, with applications ranging from sustainable aviation to cleaner industrial processes.