Sustainability Hub: Low Carbon Devon

A project supporting Devon enterprises to shift to a low-carbon economy
Sustainability Hub: Low Carbon Devon

Welcome to Sustainability Hub: Low Carbon Devon

The Sustainability Hub: Low Carbon Devon project will provide an exciting new catalyst for low-carbon economic growth in Devon.

Supported by an investment from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the three-year £2.6 million programme, will support Devon-based organisations to access research, business support, and engage with the University of Plymouth around the low-carbon agenda.

Covid-19 update – the project team is working remotely for the time being, in line with the government’s current measures, and please note that the University of Plymouth’s city centre campus is only open for key functions (please refer to our Covid-19 FAQ page for current information). 

Although booking the Sustainability Hub is not currently possible, all other aspects of the project are progressing, so if you would like to register your interest in being involved, please complete our expression of interest questionnaire for enterprises or researchers. 

We continue to review the latest guidance and would be happy to discuss your plans for events in the Sustainability Hub for later in the year at sustainabilityhub@plymouth.ac.uk.

Get involved

Sustainability Hub

The Sustainability Hub is a SKA gold rated refurbished building that provides a physical, collaborative space where businesses, social enterprises and community groups can mix with researchers and students around the issue of sustainability.

For further information on how you can use the building, visit the Sustainability Hub webpage.

Knowledge exchange

Events – Our events support the low-carbon sector in Devon, supporting enterprises from any sector to shift to low carbon and supporting enterprises to engage with the University of Plymouth around the low-carbon agenda.


Forthcoming events

Climate Action - The Time is Now | Thursday 22nd April 2021, 4.30pm - 5.30pm. 

Future Plymouth 2030 - series of webinars exploring low carbon and sustainable development in Plymouth. 


Watch our past events here;

Mission Possible: Art and Enterprise for a Zero Carbon World 

Low Carbon Devon: A Catalyst for your Enterprise


Low Carbon Devon Internships – Applications are now open for the June/July/August internship cohort. To find out more and how to apply visit Future Shift, the Low Carbon Devon Internship and Leadership Programme webpage. 

Research and innovation

The Sustainability Hub is a living lab – a place where we can research and test low carbon solutions. Four industrial research fellows are now in place to carry out research, lead interactive events and bring together enterprises operating in the following areas; 

  • Green wall sector
  • Power electronics (PV & LEDs)
  • Creative Industry sector
  • Energy Efficiency in Buildings (Occupant Behaviour)

We also have ten small grants for short research projects with Devon enterprises that are developing new low carbon products/processes.

If you have projects that could benefit from collaborating with University of Plymouth researchers, please fill out one of the above Expression of Interest questionnaires.

Carbon Reduction Project

The Low Carbon Devon project brings significant energy savings through delivering an LED lighting retrofit programme in four University buildings. Within one of these buildings the Low Carbon Devon project is trialling an innovative energy efficiency technology. The results of the trial will be disseminated, along with other energy efficiency approaches that have been demonstrated at the University.

If you are interested in finding out more about energy efficiency, please fill out one of the above Expression of Interest questionnaires.  


Green Walls

Our Green Wall Industrial Research Fellow Thomas Murphy is interested in the use of nature-based solutions to tackle local and global environmental issues. The project will optimise the performance and viability of green walls in sustainable building design and share information and best practice. Our thriving internal and external green walls showcase the latest research and technologies in this area. 

Thomas says, 

“With an expanding urban population, ‘green infrastructure’ provides an opportunity to tackle climate change, air pollution and biodiversity loss, whilst facilitating low carbon economic growth. Green walls can offer heating/cooling savings (CO2), improved air quality, noise reduction and elevated health and well-being. This project is a fantastic opportunity to kick start innovation by local enterprises to engender sustainable low carbon growth in Devon.”

Industrial Research Fellow Thomas Murphy studying soil insulation capacity.

Industrial Research Fellow Thomas Murphy studying soil insulation capacity.

Energy Efficient Buildings and Occupant Behaviour Industrial Research Fellow Sepideh Korsavi

Energy Efficient Buildings and Occupant Behaviour Industrial Research Fellow Sepideh Korsavi

Energy Efficiency in Buildings (Occupant Behaviour)

The Energy Efficiency in Buildings (Occupant Behaviour) research area of the Low Carbon Devon project will assist Devon enterprises developing building management systems to improve the control strategies and visual communication of their products. 

The wider Devon business community will be supported by our specialist Industrial Research Fellow, Sepideh Korsavi, to identify opportunities to reduce their energy consumption. 

The Sustainability Hub on campus at the University will be used as the initial pilot and solutions will be later tested, implemented and disseminated to other businesses.


Creative Industries

Low Carbon Devon is supporting the creative industries by offering:

  • Research to assist in the development of a practice, process, product or service within the low carbon agenda.
  • Free events, symposia and workshops to learn about the circular economy or reducing carbon emissions.
  • Opportunities to network and collaborate by featuring on our creative industries LCD map.
  • Creative practice – could you engage others by telling the story of how your enterprise is engaging with the low carbon agenda?

We are researching the low carbon practices of creative industries and asking, what are the narratives of low carbon and how can we take action for positive change?

Dr Emma Whittaker, our Industrial Research Fellow, will draw upon the University’s broad spectrum of research expertise to facilitate and advocate the global shift to low carbon within Devon based Creative Industries.

Low Carbon Devon Creative Industries

Low Carbon Devon Creative Industries

Power Electronics

Our Power Electronics Industrial Research Fellow Jonathan Bloor is supporting businesses across Devon to utilise electrical energy in a smarter way through physical or virtual adaptations to existing and new infrastructure. 

Jonathan says,

“In a future where our reliance on green electricity will become dominant for all our energy needs, it’s important that efficiencies for power conversion, transmission and usage are optimised. Our current focus on solar micro-inverters, innovative circuit design and big data will enable Devon-based SMEs to make decisions on how to reduce carbon. Our hope is to bring together the local business community – on land and at sea – to implement power efficiency methodologies to help achieve net zero carbon by 2030.”

Our team

<p>Sustainability Hub - green wall for research</p>
<p>Sustainability Hub Forum</p>
<p>Sustainability Hub - green wall</p>

European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

The University of Plymouth is proud to be supported by the European Regional Development Fund. As one stream of funding under the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Growth Programme 2014–2020, the ERDF focuses on smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

The main priorities involve contributions to research and innovation, supporting and promoting small and medium size enterprises (SMEs), and the creation of a low carbon economy.