New £7m programme grant to reinvent energy storage

Rethinking energy storage

The five-year project, called EleComp (Electric Composites), brings together expertise from Durham University, Imperial College London and the University of Bristol.

It is backed by a £7m Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Programme Grant.

EleComp aims to develop a new generation of multifunctional materials that challenge conventional ideas about batteries and structures. 

Researchers will focus on structural power composites, materials that combine mechanical strength with energy storage. 

Multifunctional materials

Most products today use separate batteries that must be housed, protected and connected to the structures around them.

Structural power composites offer a different approach. They could allow energy storage to become part of an object's structure rather than a separate component. 

In future, this could mean vehicle body panels, aircraft components or consumer products can perform both a structural role and store energy. Researchers believe this could lead to lighter, more resource-efficient designs. 

Tackling scientific challenges

Developing materials that are both strong and effective at storing energy presents significant scientific challenges.

The EleComp team will investigate how structural electrodes, electrolytes and material interfaces can be designed to balance mechanical performance with electrochemical function. The project will also develop new manufacturing, testing and modelling approaches to support future applications.

Researchers will draw inspiration from natural systems and work across disciplines to better understand the performance and long-term potential of these materials. 

Development and optimisation

Dr Natasha Shirshova from our Department of Engineering is coordinating Durham’s work on EleComp. 

Our experts from Departments of Engineering and Chemistry will be leading the development of key materials at the heart of structural batteries, including advanced structural electrolytes and next-generation electrodes that combine strength with storage. 

Our researchers will also work to optimise how these materials interact and pioneer new testing methods to assess their mechanical and electrochemical performance simultaneously. 

Alongside this work, Durham is also central to shaping a sustainable roadmap to guide the responsible adoption of this technology across industry and beyond. Colleagues in our Anthropology department will lead an innovative approach to responsible innovation by coordinating collaborations between the different disciplines and stakeholders involved in the project. 

Potential benefits for society

Structural energy storage materials have attracted increasing international attention. In 2025, the World Economic Forum identified structural energy storage materials as one of its leading emerging technologies. 

The technology could support advances in sectors including transport, aerospace, consumer electronics, healthcare and infrastructure. By combining multiple functions in a single material, researchers hope to reduce material use and improve overall efficiency. 

The project will also explore wider societal questions, examining how multifunctional materials could influence the design and use of future technologies. 

Find out more:

• The EleComp project is led by Imperial College London and supported by a Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Programme Grant.
• Find out more about Dr Natasha Shirshova’s work.
• This project will also include Dr Karen Johnston from our Department of Chemistry and Dr Felix Ringel from our Department of Anthropology.
• Discover more about our Engineering, Chemistry and Anthropology departments.