UK and Taiwanese universities partner to advance geoenergy
Signing of MoU between Heriot-Watt University and National Central University in Taoyuan, Taiwan (source: Heriot-Watt University)
Carlo Cariaga
3 Feb 2025
UK's Heriot-Watt University and Taiwan's National Central University have partnered up to advance research on geothermal energy and carbon capture and storage.
The Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland and Taiwan’s National Central University (NCU) have entered into a partnership to jointly advance research and innovation in the field of GeoEnergy, specifically in the subjects of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Geothermal Energy.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the two universities was signed in Taoyuan City in Taiwan with Professor Andreas Busch, Professor of Earth Sciences at Heriot-Watt, and Professor Shu-Kun Hsu, Dean of the College of Earth Sciences at NCU.
Beyond research, the MoU includes a commitment to share equipment and facilities, co-supervise PhD students, joint industry projects, enhancing innovation activities and enriching the learning experience for students and early career researchers. The MoU, effective immediately, commits both institutions to collaborate over the next few years. Joint initiatives will include workshops, student placements, co-developed teaching programmes, joint funding applications, and shared access to world-class facilities.
“This partnership is a significant milestone in our mission to drive sustainable solutions to global energy challenges,” said Professor Busch.
“NCU is strong on education and research in the field of Earth Sciences and recently have put much efforts on energy transition, renewable energy (especially on offshore wind, geothermal, ocean energy), carbon capture and storage and geological disposal of high-level nuclear waste. These fields of study match very well with Heriot-Watt’s GeoEnergy initiatives. The collaboration between two universities will definitely bring profound impacts on both societies,” said Professor Shu-Kun Hsu.
Dr Uisdean Nicholson, Associate Professor of Geoscience, who initiated this collaboration, further said: “By combining Heriot-Watt’s research excellence with those of National Central University, we aim to unlock new opportunities and work to find innovative solutions to renewable energy from geothermal sources and to decarbonise industry through CCS. Together, we will deliver meaningful impact through cutting-edge research and knowledge-sharing that benefits both students and society.”
The NCU had previously entered into a partnership with CPC Taiwan and Academia Sinica to cooperate on geothermal research, development, and exploration. This is only one of many partnerships formalized in the past year as a response to the Taiwanese government’s energy transformation policy and the call to promote the research and development of green energy and carbon reduction technologies.
Source: Heriot-Watt University
