Transforming the energy industry
Find out how we are leading the future development of technologies that will decarbonise the energy supply industry and enable the responsible management of our natural resources.
Our work supports global initiatives to mitigate the effects of climate change and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy.
This includes work on new energy systems such as:
- hydrogen power and geothermal energy
- subsurface energy storage
- changes in individual and societal awareness and decision making
- buffering mechanisms such as carbon capture and storage
We have led the way towards the development and deployment of carbon capture and underground storage (CCS) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our internationally renowned research on CCS and negative emissions has underpinned the development of crucial technologies needed to deliver economy-wide decarbonisation for the UK and global industry.
Through our work, we have established the feasibility of a net-zero target for CO2 emissions. We work within the UK and across the world, supporting the development of technologies to deliver emissions reductions from industry and fuels and enable the delivery of net-zero emissions targets to meet the UN Paris Agreement.
We have also expanded our research into the field of negative emissions, also known as greenhouse gas removals. This involves the direct removal of CO2 from the atmosphere to enable reaching net-zero emissions required to stabilise climate change.
We appointed the first professor in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in the world, Professor Stuart Haszeldine, and have unrivalled expertise in this critical area including one of the largest CCS research groups globally.
Scottish Centre for Carbon Capture and Storage
We are partners in the Scottish Centre for Carbon Capture and Storage (SCCS), and Professor Haszeldine is the SSCS Director. SCCS has the unique position to act as the conduit between academia, industry and government.
Influencing policy

Influencing industry

Want to know more?
We've provided some useful links for you. To see the information, simply click on each heading below:
Study with us, and join one of the largest and most successful groupings of geographers and geoscientists in the UK as we address the most compelling issues of our time.
The following degrees may be of interest to you:
Undergraduate study
Postgraduate study
Postgraduate research
Check out more of our diverse undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees and help us change the world.
We are partners in the Scottish Centre for Carbon Capture and Storage (SCCS), which acts as the conduit between academia, industry and government.
Research groups
Edinburgh Earth Resources This research group studies a wide variety of natural resources from our planet. Our researchers are dedicated to understanding how to utilise these resources responsibly for the benefit of all. |
Visit the Edinburgh Earth Resources research group |
Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate of the Anthropocene This research group investigates key processes and drivers in the atmosphere and climate system, and predicts present-day and future changes in climate, atmospheric composition and air quality. |
Visit the Atmospheric Chemistry and Climate of the Anthropocene research group |
Research institutes
Our research is carried out across our three interdisciplinary research institutes. There are also a number of research groups within each institute. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of our research, academic staff may belong to one or more groups across the institutes.
Earth and Planetary Sciences Institute | Global Change Institute | Geography and the Lived Environment Institute |
External centres and networks
Our research enables people from different institutes within the School, other departments within the University as well as external partners and organisations to work together to address local and global challenges.
We work with various organisations in the private sector, from start-ups, consultancies and SME's to large multi-national corporations, facilitated through our Business Development Team.
We have over 100 academics engaged in world-leading research that can help organisations address today's big challenges. Our academic staff regularly engage with organisations worldwide, providing independent advice and specialist expertise.
We've provided more information on our work and the role of the IPCC: