Seris Information

SERIS is based in Sheffield, the UK's fifth largest city with a population of 512,200. The city is situated in South Yorkshire - the heart of Britain - and the southernmost District of the Yorkshire & Humberside Region, itself roughly coextensive with the historic County of Yorkshire. Originally famous for its steel and neighbouring coal industry, today 80 per cent of Sheffield's working population are employed in the Services Sector. Only two local coal mines survive - Maltby and Rossington. However, the city has a growing 'knowledge-based' energy sector with a strong emphasis on renewable energy, energy conservation, the 'clean' combustion of fossil fuels and the dissemination of energy-related economic and statistical information. Sheffield Heat & Power Company, originally established by the city council, operates Britain's largest district heating system. Fuelled by an incineration plant burning municipal rubbish,120 GWh per year of heat is despatched through 38 Km of pipelines to over 3,000 dwellings and 100 major city centre sites including the University of Sheffield. The University of Sheffield itself plays an important role developing this 'knowledge base' for the region's energy systems. The Combustion and Incineration Group within the University's Department of Chemical Engineering, has a worldwide reputation for its research into combustion of fossil fuels, gasification and pyrolisis of biomass/waste. It also specialises in several areas of environmental concern including flue gas clean-up systems, emissions monitoring and pollution control and has made a significant contribution to the development of combined heat and power (CHP) systems for cities. The city now also hosts an Energy Conservation and Solar Centre. SERIS, specialising in the economic and business aspects of energy systems is also a part of this new, 'knowledge-based' energy economy of Sheffield and South Yorkshire.