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Innovation Report - Design of a proof-of-concept Hybrid Solar Concentrator System Utilising Spectrum Beam Splitting Technology to generate sustainable heat and electricity, for palm oil processing farms in South-West Nigeria
No full textSansom, Christopher L. - Associate SupervisorThis research explores the potential of a hybrid solar energy system that combines
Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and Photovoltaics (PV) using spectrum beam-splitting
technology to address energy shortages in Nigeria’s small-scale agro-industrial sector. By using
cold and hot mirrors in a dish-based setup, the system separates the solar spectrum into visible
and infrared bands for simultaneous electrical and thermal energy production, enabling
cogeneration. Laboratory experiments, backed by theoretical modelling, show that this method
can improve overall system efficiency, reduce PV overheating, and offer a reliable, modular, and
sustainable energy solution.
The innovation is situated within a design-based, neighbourhood-scale framework that aligns
with regenerative sustainability principles. A real-life application is presented using the palm oil
processing sector at Owodaiye Farms in Ijebu-Ife, Ogun State, Nigeria, as a demonstrator site.
Here, the hybrid system not only meets off-grid energy demands but also catalyses local
empowerment, circular economies, and thematic integration within agricultural tourism.
The implications of this work extend beyond energy efficiency: the proposed system offers a
replicable model for integrated rural development and community-based renewable energy
infrastructure. It bridges the gap between technology and place-based regeneration by framing
solar energy as a “Crude Sunlight Refinery”—a novel construct that envisions sunlight as a raw,
separable, and usable resource for decentralized processing.
Future research will investigate the scalability of this beam-splitting concept into modular solar
refineries featuring fluid-based thermal receivers, enhanced optical coatings, and adaptive
tracking mechanisms. Additionally, investigations into policy alignment, climate resilience
metrics, and long-term techno-economic feasibility will strengthen its potential deployment
across sub-Saharan Africa.EngD in Sustainable Materials and Manufacturin
Data for Water Services Provision in Rapidly Urbanising Villages - A Comparison of Rural and Urban Governance in Mumbai and Chennai regions in India
No full textThis work presents a quantitative study comparing drinking water services available to households in three types of towns in different stages of transition from rural to urban, located in close proximity :
• Young Census Town (young CT): recently urbanised and under rural governance.
• Old Census Town (old CT): urbanising for a longer period, still under rural governance.
• Statutory Town (ST): under urban governance.
From each of the two metropolitan regions of India, Mumbai and Chennai, three such towns were selected for study, resulting in a total of six towns. In addition to town-level analysis, the study also examines water services available to three settlement types within these metropolitan regions: low-income settlements, long-term resident settlements, and multi-storied apartments.
Parameters and Indicators of Water Supply
The data includes four principal parameters of water supply, each measured through specific indicators:
1. Accessibility
-Measured by whether the principal water source is located within the household premises.
-This is a nominal variable.
-Additional data include the type of primary source accessed by the household.
2. Quantity of Water Available
Assessed through two indicators:
(i) Whether the household receives sufficient quantity for daily needs(the bare minimum scenario).
(ii) Whether the household receives the required quantity whenever needed (the best-case scenario).
-Both are nominal variables.
-Supplementary data include reliance on supplementary sources and reasons for such dependence.
3. Regularity of Supply
Measured through:
(i) Average number of hours water is available per day.
(ii) Average number of days water is available per week.
-These are quantitative variables.
-Additional insights were gathered on household water storage practices, reasons for storing water, and details of storage infrastructure.
4. Reliability of Supply
-Measured as the average number of breakdowns per month.
-This is a quantitative variable.
Analytical Approach
Hypothesis testing was employed to examine whether town type or settlement type has a significant influence on these variables. For quantitative variables, the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied. To test whether the town type has any association with the nominal variables, a Chi-square test was employed.
Structure of Data Sets
The analysis was conducted separately for Mumbai and Chennai, resulting in four datasets:
1. A master dataset for the Mumbai region used for descriptive analysis
2. A master dataset for the Chennai region used for descriptive analysis
3. A subset of the Mumbai master dataset used for hypothesis testing
4. A subset of the Chennai master dataset used for hypothesis testing
EP/S022066/1As cities grow, adjoining villages also start urbanising, adversely affecting primary services, including drinking water services. Switching to urban governance is posed as a solution for addressing this problem. We compared various dimensions of water services available to households across towns in different stages of transition in two metropolitan regions in India, to generate evidence on whether the transition of fast-urbanising villages to municipal governance results in improved water services. The data on dimensions of water services were collected through household surveys. Kruskal-Wallis test was adopted to determine if the differences found in quantitative dimensions of water services available to households across fast-urbanising villages and municipal towns were statistically significant, while a Chi-square test was employed for qualitative dimensions. Our results showed no better services in municipal towns for all dimensions studied. If some were better in municipal towns, others were better in urbanising villages under rural administration. We conclude that urban governance alone does not guarantee better services, and there are factors beyond governance contributing to improved services. The findings urge policymakers and programme implementers to look beyond the ‘transition-to-urban governance’ solution and work on institutional strengthening and context-specific approaches.Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC
Natural language processing (NLP)-based frameworks for cyber threat intelligence and early prediction of cyberattacks in industry 4.0: a systematic literature review
No full textThis article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cyber SecurityThis study provides a systematic overview of Natural Language Processing (NLP)-based frameworks for Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) and the early prediction of cyberattacks in Industry 4.0. As digital transformation accelerates through the integration of IoT, SCADA, and cyber-physical systems, manufacturing environments face an expanding and complex cyber threat landscape. Following the PRISMA 2020 systematic review protocol, 80 peer-reviewed studies published between 2015 and 2025 were analyzed across IEEE Xplore, Scopus, and Web of Science to identify methods that employ NLP for CTI extraction, reasoning, and predictive modelling. The review finds that transformer-based architectures, knowledge graph reasoning, and social media mining are increasingly used to convert unstructured data into actionable intelligence, thereby enabling earlier detection and forecasting of cyber threats. Large Language Models (LLMs) demonstrate strong potential for anticipating attack sequences, while domain-specific models enhance industrial relevance. Persistent challenges include data scarcity, domain adaptation, explainability, and real-time scalability in operational-technology environments. The review concludes that NLP is reshaping Industry 4.0 cybersecurity from reactive defense toward predictive, adaptive, and intelligence-driven protection, and it highlights the need for interpretable, domain-specific, and resource-efficient frameworks to secure Industry 4.0 ecosystems.Applied Science
Synergistic effects of biochar and potassium on enhancing methane production from carbohydrate-rich waste in mesophilic anaerobic digestion
No full textThis study investigates the synergistic effects of biochar and potassium additives on methane (CH4) production from carbohydrate-rich waste during two-phase anaerobic digestion. The research aims to determine the optimal concentrations of biochar and potassium that enhance CH4 yields from white bread waste. A factorial experimental design with 16 treatments, each replicated three times, was used to evaluate different concentrations of biochar (0, 5, 15, 25 g/L) and potassium (0, 1, 2, 3 g/L). Biogas production was measured daily using the volume displacement method, and the concentration of CH4 was analyzed to calculate both the cumulative CH4 yield and the daily CH4 production rate. Additionally, culture samples were collected for the analysis of the microbial community. Experimental results showed that the supplementation of biochar at a concentration of 5 g/L increased CH4 yield and CH4 production rate by 29% (from 3804.32 to 4915.78 mL/L) and 22% (from 507.24 to 616.92 mL/L/d) compared to control, respectively. Similarly, potassium supplementation at 3 g/L further boosted CH4 yield and CH4 production rate by 14% (from 4833.72 to 5510.04 mL/L) and 34% (from 586.81 to 785.94 mL/L/d) compared to the control. The combination of 5 g/L biochar and 3 g/L potassium yielded 5899.17 mL/L CH4, higher than that of adding the individual contribution from the biochar (4915.78 mL/L) and the potassium (5510.04 mL/L), indicating synergistic benefits. Microbial community analysis showed a 53.8% increase in Methanosaetaceae under the combined treatment, promoting more efficient CH4 generation pathways. This combination utilizes biochar’s ability to create a microhabitat for methanogenic microbes and potassium’s function as a metabolic cofactor. The novelty of this study lies in the synergistic use of biochar and potassium, which significantly accelerates CH4 production by enhancing microbial activity and stabilising the digestion process.Partial financial support for this research was received from the Directorate of Research and Community Services Universitas Brawijaya (DRPM UB) 00145.19/UN10.A0501/B/PT.01.03.2/2024 and the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya.Biomass Conversion and Biorefiner
Assessing scope 3 transportation emissions: a calculation tool for sustainable manufacturing
No full textScope 3 emissions, particularly those arising from transportation activities, pose a substantial challenge for manufacturing organisations seeking to reduce their carbon footprint. This study presents the development of a carbon dioxide emissions estimation tool designed to enhance the accuracy and practical application of emissions measurement for inbound transport within the supply chain. The tool integrates key variables, namely vehicle type, distance travelled, and load carried and employs Monte Carlo simulation to account for data uncertainty. Using empirical data from a manufacturing firm, the study evaluates the emissions impacts of various transportation scenarios. Results indicate that distance travelled and vehicle load are the primary determinants of emissions magnitude. While larger vehicles offer improved efficiency when fully utilised, emissions per unit of goods transported depend on load optimisation and vehicle selection. The analysis further reveals the considerable variability introduced by multi-stop routing and uneven load distribution, underscoring the complexity of real-world logistics. These insights underscore the value of scenario-based modelling for emissions estimation and provide a foundation for developing more effective decarbonisation strategies in transport logistics.The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technolog
Secure and decentralised swarm authentication using hardware security primitives
No full textThis article belongs to the Special Issue Unmanned Aircraft Systems with Autonomous Navigation, 2nd EditionAutonomous drone swarms are increasingly deployed in critical domains such as infrastructure inspection, environmental monitoring, and emergency response. While their distributed operation enables scalability and resilience, it also introduces new vulnerabilities, particularly in authentication and trust establishment. Conventional cryptographic solutions, including public key infrastructures (PKI) and symmetric key protocols, impose computational and connectivity requirements unsuited to resource-constrained and external infrastructure-free swarm deployments. In this paper, we present a decentralized authentication scheme rooted in hardware security primitives (HSPs); specifically, Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) and True Random Number Generators (TRNGs). The protocol leverages master-initiated token broadcasting, iterative HSP seed evolution, randomized response delays, and statistical trust evaluation to detect cloning, replay, and impersonation attacks without reliance on centralized authorities or pre-distributed keys. Simulation studies demonstrate that the scheme achieves lightweight operation, rapid anomaly detection, and robustness against wireless interference, making it well-suited for real-time swarm systems.Electronic
Quantitative sustainability assessment of in situ thermally enhanced bioremediation for carbon efficient groundwater remediation
No full textIn situ thermally enhanced bioremediation (ISTEB) is a promising approach for remediating contaminated soil and groundwater, yet comprehensive quantitative sustainability assessments of its sustainability remain scarce, especially for field-scale applications using hot water injection (TEB-HW) or thermal conductive heating (TEB-TCH). This study addressed this gap by developing the first fully quantitative sustainability framework integrating life cycle assessment (LCA) with best management practices (BMPs), comprising 108 indicators derived from extensive literature review and policy analysis. Using full-scale operational data from ISTEB implementations, we quantified the environmental, economic, and social performance of TEB-HW and TEB-TCH relative to conventional thermal treatment (TCH only). Results show that compared with TCH only, TEB-HW and TEB-TCH reduced carbon emissions by 78% and 31%, and achieved cost savings of 72% and 38%, while also improving community engagement and satisfaction. Normalized multi-criteria sustainability scores indicate overall performance gains of 31% and 13% compared to TCH only. Further optimization of BMPs, such as electric vehicle transport, green injectates, and renewable energy integration, could enhance ISTEB sustainability by up to 45%. These findings provide novel evidence for the practical viability and environmental benefits of ISTEB, offering actionable strategies for low-carbon, cost-effective, and socially acceptable remediation that align with sustainable production principles and contribute toward global net-zero carbon goals in contaminated site management.This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2019YFC1805700, No. 2019YFC1805703 and No. 2019YFC1805705).Sustainable Production and Consumptio
Data relating to Supplementary feedstock and compost
No full textCocoa is a valuable global commodity but its management results in residues such as cocoa pod husk, leaves and placenta which are under-utilised as a resource. This study sought to address this by evaluating the impacts of different mixing ratios of cocoa pod husk (CPH), placenta (PL) and locally sourced poultry manure (PM) on compost quality and which mixing ratio will enhance compost NPK stoichiometry required for cocoa organo-mineral (OMF) fertiliser formulations. The composting study considered 8 treatments consisting of different combinations of PM, CPH at ratios of 1:1, 2:1, 1:2 and 1:3 in combination with PL. PM and CPH ratio with PL recorded the maximum (32.45 %) organic carbon at the end of the composting period. Highest available N (5918.68 mg kg-1) was observed in ratios with PL and the lowest (277.8 mg kg-1) was observed without PL. CPH and PM ratios without PL and with PL recorded the highest available P (3843 mg kg-1) and yielded the lowest (2167 mg kg-1), respectively. Addition of PL to CPH and PM causes an increase in organic carbon, available N, available K but reduces available P. Compost PM+CPH (2:1) and PM+CPH (1:2) have NPK stoichiometry which aligns with nutrient requirements of young cocoa (<7 years old) and matured cocoa (≥8 years), respectively. This study demonstrates the use of circular economy to improve resource efficiency in cocoa farms
Data "Technology Exploration on Zero-Emission Regional Aircraft"
No full textThe present datasets are the results of the exploration and comparison of zero-emission technology strategies for regional aircraft. A novel, holistic approach that captures inter-dependencies, synergies and combined impact of technologies is developed to evaluate the feasibility of such aircraft over 2 horizons, quantify performance and emissions through various phases of the life cycle, establish technology bottlenecks and required step changes and classify developments in terms of impact and risk. Three variants are considered: a fuel cell aircraft, a battery aircraft and a hybrid fuel cell / battery aircraft
Stable fluid-rigid body interaction algorithm using the direct-forcing immersed boundary method (DF-IBM)
No full textThe direct-forcing immersed boundary method (DF-IBM) algorithm previously developed by the authors is extended by coupling the Navier-Stokes equations with the Newton-Euler equations for rigid body dynamics within the DF-IBM framework. This coupling broadens the applicability of the previous development, from stationary or prescribed motion to flow-induced (free) motion cases. To address fluid-rigid body interactions under a partitioned approach, an implicit coupling algorithm is developed to handle strongly coupled interface conditions. Stability and convergence issues, particularly stemming from critical solid-fluid density ratios and from the rigid body approximation of internal mass effects in rotational dynamics, are mitigated using a fixed relaxation technique for the rigid body kinematics to ensure numerical robustness. Additionally, the proposed algorithm leverages the previously developed DF-IBM formulation and the predictor-corrector strategy of the pressure implicit with splitting of operators (PISO) algorithm by omitting the momentum predictor step and the costly corrector loops from the implicit iterations. The method is validated against several benchmark cases, demonstrating robustness, stability, and efficiency in capturing complex fluid-rigid body interactions across a range of challenging scenarios.This research was supported by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (Grant No. EP/T518104/1, Project Reference No. 2676291).Journal of Fluids and Structure