Cambridge has long been a crucible of discovery and innovation—particularly in the energy sphere. On a recent trip, I set out to capture both the city’s historic milestones and futuristic visions for powering our world. My journey took me from the Old Cavendish Laboratory, where nuclear physics was born, to the old town gas works, which fueled Cambridge 200 years ago, and finally to riveting conversations with PhD researchers tackling the next frontiers in solar, battery, and transport electrification.
Tracing Atomic Discoveries at the Old Cavendish Laboratory
My first stop was the Old Cavendish Laboratory on Free School Lane. Although modern physics research has mostly relocated to West Cambridge, the echoes of Nobel-winning breakthroughs still resonate in these historic halls:
- Rutherford’s Gold Foil Experiment: Revealing the atomic nucleus, setting the stage for nuclear power.
- Chadwick’s Discovery of the Neutron: An essential piece of the nuclear puzzle, ultimately enabling fission-based energy.
To this day, the legacy of the Old Cavendish underpins our understanding of atomic structure—a foundation that continues to influence everything from nuclear reactors to quantum materials research. I managed to snap a photo outside this venerable building; despite its unassuming façade, stepping onto its grounds felt like stepping into the pages of scientific history especially given my background studying physics.
Cambridge’s Town Gas Works
Delving further into the city’s energy heritage, I joined a tour of the old town gas works. For nearly two centuries, this facility supplied coal-derived “town gas” to households and businesses across Cambridge.
- Early Infrastructure: Long before natural gas pipelines, these works processed coal on-site, piping gas to local streetlamps and buildings—an enormous leap from candlelit nights.
- Shaping Modern Utilities: The challenges of transporting, storing, and metering town gas laid groundwork for today’s power grids and utility models.
While largely disused now, the preserved remnants stand as a testament to a time when harnessing and distributing energy was a new and exciting frontier—much like renewable or nuclear power is today.
Engaging with Tomorrow’s Innovators
Perhaps the most inspiring part of my visit was talking to three PhD students pushing the boundaries of contemporary energy technology:
- III-V Solar PV Research
- These advanced semiconductor materials (like gallium arsenide) offer higher efficiencies than conventional silicon.
- By refining manufacturing techniques, researchers hope to lower costs and ramp up large-scale adoption—from satellites to terrestrial solar farms.
- Vanadium Flow Battery Development
- Flow batteries store energy in liquid electrolytes, promising long-duration energy storage compared to lithium-ion systems.
- Vanadium chemistry could facilitate grid-level balancing, especially as intermittent renewables like solar and wind expand.
- Future HGV Road Electrification
- Heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) contribute significantly to transport emissions; electrifying them is challenging due to battery weight and range requirements.
- Cambridge researchers are investigating overhead power lines, conductive rails, and next-gen battery tech to enable cleaner, long-haul trucking.
What struck me most is how each student’s work connects directly to the energy revolution: more efficient renewables, robust storage solutions, and decarbonizing transport. Such projects highlight the University of Cambridge’s long-standing ethos of transformative research for real-world impact.
From the 19th-century coal-fired gas works to the 21st-century labs designing solar cells and advanced batteries, Cambridge offers a window into how far we’ve come—and how far we still need to go. The Old Cavendish Laboratory gave us the tools to understand the atom, while the gas works once epitomized cutting-edge urban energy supply. Today, brilliant minds continue to harness this spirit of inquiry to drive innovations in renewables, storage, and transport electrification.
I left Cambridge with a renewed appreciation for the city’s role as a timeless incubator of revolutionary ideas. As we grapple with global energy challenges, the lessons of the past and the promise of emerging technologies converge here—offering hope for a cleaner, more resilient energy future.
