1 00:00:11,760 --> 00:00:17,340 I'm Dr. Phillip Greenawalt, energy researcher at the University of Oxford. 2 00:00:17,340 --> 00:00:27,150 We all enjoy the benefits we get from energy. Energy is behind most of our modern life, comforts it using electricity for our phones, 3 00:00:27,150 --> 00:00:33,690 our washing machines, gas to heat our homes or fuels to drive or fly. 4 00:00:33,690 --> 00:00:41,940 Energy underpins our modern lifestyles and has become a crucial ingredient for our civilisation. 5 00:00:41,940 --> 00:00:47,700 Here at Oxford, we take a holistic approach to energy. 6 00:00:47,700 --> 00:00:55,290 This is why we have over 180 of our senior researchers devoted to energy, 7 00:00:55,290 --> 00:01:01,470 what is special here at Oxford is that these researchers cover all aspects of the energy challenge, 8 00:01:01,470 --> 00:01:10,740 including the societal challenges, economics, markets and, of course, the politics involved. 9 00:01:10,740 --> 00:01:16,740 This helps us to make sure that the cutting edge fundamental research we undertake in our 10 00:01:16,740 --> 00:01:26,940 laboratories addresses real world problems and helps us to move towards a more sustainable future. 11 00:01:26,940 --> 00:01:35,160 Chemistry is central in this effort. Chemistry helps us to understand how energy gets converted, 12 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:46,560 where and why we suffer losses of energy and chemistry helps us develop new methods which will do much better in future. 13 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:58,810 If you think of our fuels today, there's gas, oil, coal, and we always require a chemical process to get the energy out. 14 00:01:58,810 --> 00:02:08,070 Still, the most common way to do that is to set fire, to boil some water and use the steam to do the work. 15 00:02:08,070 --> 00:02:19,050 This is how all our power stations work today, and the best efficiency this process can deliver is barely 50 percent and often much less. 16 00:02:19,050 --> 00:02:27,000 Chemistry helps us to do better to make the conversion more efficient and to reduce pollution and emissions. 17 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:32,040 But ultimately, we need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels altogether. 18 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:35,940 And here again, chemistry is central. 19 00:02:35,940 --> 00:02:46,500 While our researchers have achieved a great leap to reduce the cost of renewables and they continue to do so, there's one drawback that remains. 20 00:02:46,500 --> 00:02:53,430 The sun doesn't always shine and the wind doesn't always blow when you need the energy. 21 00:02:53,430 --> 00:02:58,020 This is why storage becomes incredibly important. 22 00:02:58,020 --> 00:03:06,850 And if you want renewables to displace fossil fuels, even with nuclear power stations, you will need storage. 23 00:03:06,850 --> 00:03:12,400 That's why I'm very excited that Oxford chemists are developing catalysts to 24 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:18,400 convert renewable energy into storable fuels such as hydrogen and other gases, 25 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:26,050 which can be used for transport, for heating and even to generate electricity. 26 00:03:26,050 --> 00:03:28,000 In these short podcasts, 27 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:36,460 you have a chance to meet the researchers behind this effort and learn about the ways in which they help us move towards a cleaner, 28 00:03:36,460 --> 00:03:50,058 more affordable energy future for all.