Researchers at Aston University are to receive just over £1million to develop technology to help Ukraine rebuild its low-carbon energy generation capacity and boost its energy resilience.
The money has been granted by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office as part of InnovateUkraine project and funded by UK international Development.
Engineers and scientists from the University’s Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) and Engineering for Sustainable Development Centre have received the money to fund three projects. The schemes range from clean energy to restore heating and sanitation to displaced and off-grid communities to refrigerant-free cooling for conflict regions.
All three schemes are collaborations with either UK or Ukraine companies or other organisations.
After lab testing in the UK a unit of the BioSolar Nexus will be deployed in Ukraine to produce electricity, heat, cooking fuel, and fertiliser from organic waste. Led by the University’s Dr Muhammad Imran with Dr Abed Alaswad, the system is a UK-Ukraine collaboration in sustainable infrastructure which can operate in extreme winter.
A clean energy storage system called AeroVault will bolster Ukraine’s power grid. It uses compressed air and phase-change materials to store electricity and heat, then releases both through a rotary-piston expander to generate power efficiently. A lab prototype will be built at Aston University, followed by a 500 kW pilot in the Ukrainian village of Nyzhni Vorota.
Finally, a project called EcoVenturi which is led for Aston by Dr Ahmed Rezk, will introduce refrigerant-free cooling for energy-insecure and conflict-affected regions. It operates by separating compressed air into hot and cold streams - delivering efficient cooling while recovering waste heat as electricity via microturbines. The system is also renewable-driven friendly. The closed-loop system reduces cooling energy demand by more than 50% and cuts carbon emissions by up to 75% compared to traditional systems. The project is one of the outcomes from the Reef-UKC network led by Dr Rezk that promote the UK companies’ innovation in cooling resilience through renewable-powered and eco-friendly cooling systems.
Dr Muhammad Imran who is leading two of the projects for the University said: “Together, these UK–Ukraine partnerships are delivering novel, scalable energy solutions with real on-the-ground demonstrations in Ukraine, ensuring practical impact for community resilience and sustainable energy recovery.“
The new projects follow 2023 research led by Dr Imran that received more than a quarter of a million pounds to develop cascade heat pumps to provide efficient heating, cost savings, environmental protection and energy security.
The other organisations involved are Unitech Ltd, Keyvolt Energy Llc (Ukraine), Future Cycle Ltd (UK), Climhouse Energy Llc (Ukraine), National Council for Sustainable Development (Ukraine) Enskild Tech (Ukraine), International centre for the development of SMART society (Ukraine) and Association of Independent Environmental Protection (Ukraine).
Details of the projects:
Dr Muhammad Imran with Abed Alaswad (£412k, Aston lead) - BioSolar Nexus: Decentralized Energy-Food-Waste Innovation for Crisis-Affected Settlements With:
• Future Cycle Ltd (UK)
• Climhouse Energy Llc (Ukraine)
• National Council for Sustainable Development (Ukraine)
This project will develop a modular, containerised clean energy system to restore electricity, heating, and sanitation for displaced and off-grid communities in Ukraine. It integrates solar photovoltaic-thermal panels, a biodigester, phase-change thermal storage, and a biogas-fuelled combined heat and power unit. The system operates in extreme winter conditions, producing electricity, heat, cooking fuel, and fertiliser from organic waste. A digital control system with IoT sensors ensures efficient, user-friendly operation. After lab testing in the UK, 10–20 units will be deployed in Ukraine. The project supports low-carbon development, energy resilience, and UK-Ukraine collaboration in sustainable infrastructure.
Dr Muhammad Imran (£394k, Aston lead) - AeroVault: High-Efficiency Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) to Power Ukraine’s Recovery With:
• Enskild Tech (Ukraine)
• International centre for the development of SMART society (Ukraine)
• Association of Independent Environmental Protection (Ukraine)
AeroVault is creating a clean energy storage system to support Ukraine’s power grid and integrate renewable energy. It uses compressed air and phase-change materials to store electricity and heat, then releases both through a rotary-piston expander to generate power efficiently. The system is designed to be low-cost, scalable, and less reliant on rare materials than batteries. A lab prototype will be built at Aston University, followed by a 500 kW pilot in Nyzhni Vorota. With real-time control and community engagement, AeroVault aims to enhance energy resilience and provide a sustainable alternative for long-duration energy storage.
Dr Ahmed Rezk (£223k) - EcoVenturi: Sustainable Cooling for Digital Infrastructure With:• Unitech Ltd (UK, lead)
• Keyvolt. Energy Llc (Ukraine)
The TOVENVOR project introduces a novel, refrigerant-free cooling system designed for energy-insecure and conflict-affected regions. Using a patented toroidal venturi loop and vortex tube, it separates compressed air into hot and cold streams—delivering efficient cooling while recovering waste heat as electricity via microturbines. This closed-loop system reduces cooling energy demand by over 50% and cuts carbon emissions by up to 75% compared to traditional systems. With minimal moving parts and solar compatibility, it offers low-maintenance, off-grid operation. Now advancing from lab validation to real-world deployment in Ukrainian data centres, TOVENVOR aims to redefine sustainable, resilient cooling infrastructure.
About The Reef-UKC network
The Reef-UKC network
About Aston University
For over 130 years, Aston University has been making our world a better place through education, research and innovation. Our history is intertwined with the remarkable city of Birmingham, once the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and now the thriving base for an innovation ecosystem of global significance, which Aston is co-creating.
Our vision is to be a leading university for science, technology and enterprise, measured by the positive transformational impact we achieve for our people, students, businesses and the communities we serve.
Aston focuses on high-quality, exploitable research that has an impact on society through medical breakthroughs, advancements in engineering, policy and practice in government, and the strategies and performance of business.
The university offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, as well as continuing professional development solutions.
Thanks to its focus on delivering excellent outcomes for students, Aston University's reputation continues to grow. It was recognised as the Daily Mail University of the Year for Student Success 2025, is second in England for social mobility (2023 HEPI Social Mobility Index), and is top 20 for graduate salaries (2024 Longitudinal Education Outcomes).
Aston University is now defining its place in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world.
For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Nicola Jones, on 07825 342091 or email: n.jones6@aston.ac.uk