Nathan Walker

Location: F2, Thoday Building

Duration of study: 2017-2021

Biography

I completed my BSc in 'Environment and Sustainability' graduating with first class honours and recently completed my MSc in Environmental Sustainability with Green Technology with a distinction, both at Keele University. My undergraduate research involved creating a sustainability assessment framework for deep geothermal plants that are in the planning phase. Then during my MSc research, I conducted a life cycle assessment on the exergy and environmental impacts of smart energy meters. After spending a lot of time looking at how different processes are performing or can perform in the context of environmental sustainability, it seemed a natural progression to undertake a PhD at Bangor University assessing the efficiency of water and energy usage in various major water users.

Qualifications

BSc Environment & Sustainability, 1st
MSc Environmental Sustainability with Green Technology, DIST

Research Area and Supervisor

Benchmarking and auditing across major water using industries as well as the water sector itself within Ireland and Wales.

Supervised by Dr Prysor Williams

Research Overview

The research being undertaken is part of the Dŵr Uisce project, a cross boarder project between Bangor University and Trinity College Dublin, funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Cooperation programme. The Dŵr Uisce project has the aims of improving the long-term sustainability of water supply, treatment and end-use in Ireland and Wales through the development of innovative technology platforms, undertaking economic and environmental impact assessments, and developing policy and best practice guidelines to facilitate integrated low-carbon and smart energy solutions for the water sector. For further information visit https://www.dwr-uisce.eu/. My research is within work packages 5 and 6 and enables other parts of the project to have further validity, whilst also providing a different approach to performance analysis in water management.

The performance analysis will be carried out through extensive benchmarking and auditing and will encompass assessing major water using industries, as well as the water sector itself across Wales, Ireland and across the globe. Ultimately these results will enable a ‘best practise’ to be sought, taking elements from all over the world. Additionally, the work will allow an energy rating system to be created which monitors the efficiency of water and energy users. The increased awareness, transparency and competition of methods within companies in the water-energy nexus is then anticipated to result in more efficient practices being put in place, saving both money and carbon.

Research Interests

Renewable technology
Performance analysis
Environmental sustainability
Energy efficiency