51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Systems that can provide 10 billion people with equitable access to clean, healthy energy by 2050

The Challenge

To achieve intelligent, scalable, sustainable, and equitable energy systems, we are required to move beyond isolated technologies and confront the deeper systemic challenges of how energy is produced, transmitted, and consumed, and how systems are planned, governed, and integrated. 

Mission Development

We want to investigate and demonstrate that the transition to clean energy and electrification must deliver far more than emissions reductions: it must support universal access, protect human health, power digital and industrial economies, whilst operating within planetary boundaries.

From smart grids, novel architectures and novel fuels; efficiency and storage solutions, and evidenced and robust implementation strategies, we will seek to overcome the barriers that are stifling innovative solutions.

Our vision for this is to;

• Design, demonstrate and drive the implementation of next generation, integrated energy systems.
• Utilise clean energy to get the work done that drives modern societies.

We foresee there to be many projects emerging out of each mission. The first area of focus for the Powering mission is a programme called HELIX.

Helix is 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s mission-led programme to address energy challenges head-on. It brings together engineers, scientists, economists, behavioural researchers, together with industry, tech developers and policy makers, to redesign electrification as a single, integrated system linking technology, infrastructure, markets and people. This is Convergence Science in practice: tackling complex global problems by working across disciplines and sectors from the outset. 

The programme is built on deep partnerships with local universities, energy providers, regulators, industry and communities in India, alongside UK institutions. These partnerships ensure that research is grounded in local needs, builds skills and capacity, and delivers solutions that can be implemented in practice. 

Past and Future Activities

51³Ô¹ÏÍø convened the first workshop on energy demand in Dec 2025.  51³Ô¹ÏÍø researchers, Representatives from India’s and the UK joined the discussions, alongside academics and  industry contributors from , UK Power Networks, Frontier Economics, Infosys Consulting and Octopus Energy.

Read more here: Link to News Article

Going Forward

• Planned workshops to develop this missions and co-create projects within it. We welcome participation from across college, other institutions and industry to give their input and get involved.
• We are dedicated to building long term collaboration for this mission. We seek involvement from internal and external stakeholders who want to solve emerging energy challenges, and contribute to developing tangible improvements in local ecosystems and economies.

Get involved

If you are interested to get involved or want to discuss this mission with us, please get in touch;

You can email us at: sustainable-convergence@imperial.ac.uk

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