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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/R001294/1
Title: LUSTER - London Urban Sub-Terrain Energy Recovery
Principal Investigator: Maidment, Professor GG
Other Investigators:
Altamirano, Dr H
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Sch of Built Environment & Architecture
Organisation: London South Bank University
Scheme: Standard Research
Starts: 01 September 2017 Ends: 30 November 2019 Value (£): 181,780
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Energy Efficiency
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
16 Feb 2017 Energy Feasibility 2017 Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
London Urban Sub-Terrain Energy Recovery - LUSTER - proposes a collaborative research project to identify and quantify the potential for inclusive heat energy recovery from urban subterranean structures (e.g. sewers, railway tunnels), using London as a case study.

The UK is committed to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 80% by 2050. Our vision, through LUSTER, is to scope the feasibility of technically and economically viable systems for recovering heat from subterranean sources, so as to enable this 2050 target to be met in a resource efficient manner. Subterranean infrastructure systems, such as sewers, electricity and data cable tunnels, water mains, railway tunnels etc., are potent and untapped energy sources. They are normally in close proximity to areas of high heat demand and could potentially provide a year-round heat supply. The majority of these structures can be found in big cities, such as in London, but are also prevalent in most urban areas in the UK and elsewhere.

The project will be carried out by two teams with complementary expertise in energy research, heat transfer and systems simulation. The lead team will be based at London South Bank University (LSBU), with University College London (UCL) as the principal research partner. A key outcome of the investigation will be a map which will identify urban subterranean structures and applications with the greatest energy recovery potential. A successful feasibility study will yield many opportunities for urban subterranean energy recovery, not only across the capital, but also in other cities and urban areas with underground infrastructure systems.

Key Findings
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Potential use in non-academic contexts
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Impacts
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Summary
Date Materialised
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Project URL:  
Further Information:  
Organisation Website: http://www.lsbu.ac.uk