Researchers from the Universities of Nottingham, Newcastle and Bristol have officially launched a major collaborative research programme entitled Sustainable, Multi-sector Electrification using Advanced Integrated Motor Drive Technologies (AIMD) which focuses on Integrated Motor Drives (IMDs), a key enabling technology for the UK’s transition to net zero.

The programme was formally inaugurated at a kick-off meeting bringing together academics, industry partners and policymakers. Led by Programme Director Dr Liliana de Lillo (University of Nottingham), and with Dr Xu (Daisy) Deng (Newcastle University lead) and Professor Nick Simpson (University of Bristol lead) as core collaborators, the initiative combines expertise across electrical machines, power electronics, thermal management and manufacturing.

IMDs integrate electric motors and power electronics into compact, high-efficiency systems. As electrification is expected to deliver the majority of emissions reductions needed to meet the UK’s legally binding 2050 net zero target, improving the efficiency, sustainability and manufacturability of motor drives is critical.

The research programme is structured around three themes: underpinning technologies, application demonstrators and impact acceleration. Demonstrators will span sectors including wind energy, pumps, propulsion and high-power-density systems, while lifecycle analysis, standards development and policy engagement will ensure pathways to real-world adoption.

Industry perspectives, including input from Daniel Fung, Head of Strategy and Planning at the Advanced Propulsion Centre, highlighted the importance of integration, thermal management and collaboration in overcoming barriers such as reliability, supply chains and customer acceptance.

By combining multidisciplinary research with strong industry engagement, the programme aims to deliver sustainable, high-performance motor drive technologies that support UK innovation, skills development and net zero ambitions.

By combining multidisciplinary research with strong academic leadership, active industry engagement and a clear focus on impact, the AIMD research programme aims to deliver technologies that are not only high-performing, but also sustainable, repairable and ready for real-world deployment.

“This project is about more than technology,” said Prof. Bill Drury, who chaired the morning session. “It’s about aligning research, industry and policy to deliver solutions that work – for the economy, for society and for net zero.”

Dr Peter Tavner, Emeritus Professor at Durham University who attended the meeting added: ” As an electrical machines person I’ve often pondered our technology’s backwardness. I’ve seen how power electronics flexibility has progressively overshadowed machines’ technology. That’s beginning to change and the AIMD project is part of making it happen.”.

Researchers from the Universities of Nottingham, Newcastle and Bristol have received a £7 million grant from a funding council to develop sustainable technologies to reduce energy wastage.

Sustainable electrification is set to become increasingly important. The next two decades will see a massive change in the utilisation of renewable energy sources, driven by the Government’s target to deploy low-carbon resources for 95% of energy generation by 2030. This will lead to greater use of electric generators and at the same time, almost all propulsion, heating and cooling, and industrial processes will require an electric motor.

There is a major risk of a dramatic increase in energy loss, CO2 emissions and precious raw material usage in both the manufacture and usage of generators and electric motors, as a result of these changes.

Currently, 50% of the world’s electrical energy is used to power rotating motors, however, the systems they drive are typically very inefficient and contribute to a large amount of wasted energy.

50% of the world’s electrical energy is used to power rotating machines, integrated motor drives can reduce energy consumption by 55%

By adopting a multi-disciplinary approach, this program will focus on removing technological barriers to enable true integration of power converters with electrical motors and generators to become the answer to the problem of achieving more sustainable electrification. This will also allow for more efficient and lower weight industrial and transport applications and dramatically reduce CO2 emissions from manufacturing.

From Quantum sensors and cryogenic cooling to rare earth free motors and integrated power electronic solutions, researchers from the Universities of Nottingham, Newcastle and Bristol will investigate and deliver solutions that reduce energy wastage and minimise life cycle impacts. These innovations will result in an increase in energy efficiency and reductions in environmental impact– accelerating the route to Net Zero and long-term sustainability.

Programme Director Dr Liliana de Lillo, from the University of Nottingham said: “We are living through a new industrial revolution and this is a crucial time in the quest to find sustainable solutions to electrification across all industrial sectors. Through this research programme, we want to change the way we use energy. Renewable energy sources and electrification are key enablers of the aim to achieve Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions.

She continued: “We can achieve that aim through the integration of power electronics and electric motors, using common structures and systems to greatly reduce material usage and energy consumption.

“The ambition is to investigate and deliver innovative solutions that reduce energy wastage and minimise life cycle impacts and the quantity of precious materials used.”

Dr Kedar Pandya, EPSRC Executive Director for Strategy said: “Sustainable electrification is an important part of the work EPSRC is supporting to help secure a low-carbon future and meet UK net zero targets.

“This research highlights how innovative new technologies and approaches will play a key role in reducing energy waste across industrial sectors and cutting carbon emissions so that we can build a greener future for us all.”