Research Projects
USPCAS-E aims to address some of the outstanding challenges faced by the energy sector of Pakistan. Keeping in view of emerging needs of government and industry, USPCAS-E has carried out applied research for the innovation in energy technologies. The researcher has developed demos at lab scales, policy making, and system optimization with the help of national and international funding.
Collaborative Network Project for KIST-Pakistani alumni- Track 2
PI: Dr. Ghulam Ali
Funding Agency : KIST
Year :2023
Improvement of capacity retention of high energy density LiNixMnyCozO2 (NCM) cathodes for Li-ion batteries
PI: Dr. Ghulam Ali
Funding Agency: KIST
Year :2023
To combat climate calamity by promoting energy transition In Pakistan through Knowledge creation, networking, and advocacy for enabling society
PI: Dr Adeel Waqas
Funding Agency: TARA Foundation
Year :2022
Reclamation of Industrial Wastewater Using Novel Aeration- Free Oxygenic Photo granulation (OPG) Technology for bioenergy prospective
The main objective of this study is to determine the potential of OPG technology for the reclamation of industrial wastewater and simultaneous biomass generation for energy recovery.
PI: Dr. Abeera Ansari
Funding Agency: NUST
Year: 2022
Fabrication of Solid Electrolyte with Improved Interfacial Contacts and Ionic Conductivity for Lithium-ion Batteries
The project aims at synthesizing the solid electrolytes using facile solid-state route and optimizing the dopant concentration in solid electrolyte. The project-based system will be able to investigate the reaction/degradation mechanism using synchrotron based XAS.
PI: Dr. Ghulam Ali
Funding Agency: KIST
Year: 2022
White paper Biogas "An Overlooked Piece in the Renewables Puzzle in Pakistan
Solar Driven Building Integrated Heating, Cooling and Electricity Generation System
The proposed study is based on designing, construction and optimisation of renewable energy based system for sustainable heating, cooling and power generation for domestic or commercial buildings. This solar driven system is based on the integration of various innovative technologies such as Concentrated PV/T solar collector unit (CPV/T), Thermal Energy Storage (TES), Thermal Desiccant Dehumidification (TDD) and Evaporative Cooler (EC).
PI: Dr.Adeel Waqas
Funding Agency : NRPU
Year :2022
Development of long-life and high-areal-capacity rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries
The main objective of this project is to develop Li-S/Li-ion batteries for use in solar panels as a replacement to low energy lead-acid batteries, thereby to solve the energy problems of various parts of Pakistan. Furthermore, the development of Li-S/Li-ion batteries for grid-scale application, automobiles, electric bikes, and portable electronic devices such as mobile phones and laptops is also the objective of this project.
PI: Dr. Naseem Iqbal
Funding Agency: LCF-HEC
Year: 2021
Designing next generation high energy density Li-based batteries and advanced super capacitors
The project aims at development of Li-ion batteries/supercapacitors and utilize them in solar panels as a replacement to low energy lead-acid batteries to solve the energy problems in various parts of district charsadda such as Harichand, Mandani, Shakoor specifically, as well as other parts of Pakistan in general.
PI: Dr. Naseem Iqbal
Funding Agency: LCF-HEC
Year: 2021
Prototype development of a Scalable Lithium-ion battery Pack Module with integrated Battery Management System
The project aims the full storage of battery while charging as well as harvest the stored electrical energy while discharging in the large battery packs. Where the BMS will be responsible for various function such as measurement, management, evaluation, communications, and logging. Active cell balancing methodology will be a key, to overcome the issues of energy loss in case of the heat dissipation in case of the passive balancing.
PI: Dr. Hassan Abdullah
Funding Agency: NUST
Year: 2021
Fabrication of Pre-heating system for fixed bed steam reforming reactor for clean hydrogen (H2) fuel production
The proposed project aims at providing deliverables which mainly are related to economic feasibility, experimental work of proposed preheating integrated fixed bed reactor setup which will mainly use to produce high purity H2 by a more environmentally friendly exploitation of natural gas and biomass tar precursors.
PI: Dr. Asif Hussain
Funding Agency: NUST
Year: 2021
A Solar Driven Decentralized Small Scale Water Purification System for Remote Communities
The project objectives are mainly related to the experimental work and techno-economic feasibility of the proposed HDH design for electricity scarce remote areas. The proposed project is expected to deliver an improved water purification model that will be unique in its stand-alone/off-grid functionality so that it can be place in the electricity scares remote areas.
PI: Dr. Sehar Shakir
Funding Agency: NUST
Year: 2021
Solar Driven Building Integrated Heating, Cooling and Electricity Generation System
Development of high performance ellotroc matter for next generation for sodium Li-ion batteries
Design, Sizing and Economic Feasibility of a Hybrid PV & Wind Based Water Pumping System for Farmland
The main objective of the proposed system is evaluation of water demand and Hybrid PV-wind energy which is essential for the PV pumping system. The design for a wind PV water pumping system will be optimized based on dynamic simulations.
PI: Dr. Muhammad Yousif
Funding Agency: Hashoo Foundation
Year: 2020
Designing of Improved Cooking Stove model with Biomass for cold rural population of Gilgit Baltistan
The objective of research is to provide improvement in combustion efficiency to reduce smoke and harmful emissions. Heat transfer efficiency will be improved in the designed system to achieve optimum heat utilization.
PI: Dr. Naveed Ahmed
Funding Agency: Hashoo Foundation
Year: 2020
Development of high voltage phosphate-based cathodes for Li-ion batteries
Development of Accelerated Weathering Standard for Pakistan
Retrofitting of Brick Kilns to Improve Energy Efficiency and Environmental Impact
Autonomous 11kV Distribution Line Fault Localization System
A Novel Solar Powered CCHP System Based On Evacuated Flat Plate Pv/T Collectors And Organic Rankine Cycle
Development of MOF Derived bifunctional Elecrocatlyst for Oxgyen Electrode in Metal air batteries
Provision of Solar Dryer
Functionalities Testing of Inverter/ VFD for Solar System
Green Building – Consultancy with UN Habitat & MoCC
Implementation of ISO 50001 Based Energy Management System
Transient Study /Failure Analysis of WTG Converter Module FFCEL
production of PV panels based on the study of dusty/polluted atmosphere impact on the electricity production
Enabling Women’s Access to Higher-Skilled and Non-Traditional Occupations in the Energy Sector in Pakistan
Demonstration of Technical Feasibility, Cluster Development and Commercial Viability of
Modern Biomass Energy Conversion Technologies in Pakistan
Designing and Fabrication of Semi-Continuous Stirring Tank Reactorsto Evaluate and Optimize the Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Poultry Manure
Sustainable Production of Bioenergy and Soil Conditioners from Bio-Residues in Pakistan for Energy & Food Supply Security
Energy Efficiency Improvements in Building Sector of Pakistan
Solar space Heating Systems Integrated with Thermal Energy Storage
Non-contact predictive fault analysis method for a utility transformer at DESCOs
Pseudo-Noise based Impedance Spectroscopy for Battery Health Monitoring
LV multi micro grid (MMG) setup for modification and performance evaluation under smart grid paradigm
Design and Implementation of Solar Wind Hybrid System for Rural Communities of Pakistan and Iran with the emphasis on Energy Efficiency
Smart Condition Monitoring based Design and Development of Solar Micro Grid – Community Empowerment through Access to Energy in the Rural Areas of Pakistan
Development of Hybrid Micro Combined Heat & Power System for Distributed Generation in Pakistan
Methane enhancement by pretreatment of rice husk co-digested with cow manure
Towards Emerging Perovskite and Solid-State Dye-sensitized Solar Cells
An Advance Rotor for H-Darrieus Type Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT)
Developing the Strategy for policy oriented energy research modelling at USPCAS-E
Novel Materials for Secondary Sodium-ion Batteries and Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Design and fabrication of a small wind turbine for operation in low wind speed regions
Valorization of biomass residues for methane production through anaerobic digestion technology: Green energy recovery from waste
Liquid fuel production from Coal/Biomass derived Syngas
Development of Environmentally Tolerant Materials and Coatings for Gas Turbines for Electric Power Generation and Vehicular Propulsion
Enhanced hydrogen production from algae using artificial electron donors and inhibiting agents for ferredoxin NADP reductase
Valorization of biomass residues for methane production through anaerobic digestion technology: green energy recovery from waste
The overall objective in the initial research and development phase is to utilize 240 ton/y bio-residues (Peas, Colocassia, carrot, okra, cabbage, broccoli, mango and pomegranate) from FF&F’s Sahiwal plant to produce methane as a potential feedstock for urea plant and utilization of biogas to heat the boilers.
PI: Dr. Rabia Liaquat
Funding Agency: USAID
Year: 2016
An Advance Rotor for H-Darrieus Type Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT)
This applied research project is aimed at developing an advanced rotor for VAWT with a comprehensive roadmap and clear implementation to supplement the Pakistan’s renewable energy sector and indigenous engineering capacity building
PI: Dr. Adeel Javed
Funding Agency: USAID
Year: 2017
Pseudo-Noise based Impedance Spectroscopy for Battery Health Monitoring
The project deals with the most critical part of the EV. These batteries require a carefully designed Battery Management System (BMS) to provide long life and safety. The most critical functions of this BMS that directly affecting the consumer are the estimation of state of charge, state of health and remaining useful life.
PI: Dr. Dr. Khawaja Arsalan Habib
Funding Agency: USAID
Year: 2018
Designing and Fabrication of Semi-Continuous Stirring Tank Reactors to Evaluate and Optimize the Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Poultry Manure
The six-laboratory scale semi continuous stirring tank reactors (CSTRs) will be designed in the proposed research. The research is aimed at evaluation and optimization of anaerobic digestion of organic waste.
PI: Dr. Muhammad Hassan
Funding Agency: USAID
Year: 2018
Liquid fuel production from Coal/Biomass derived Syngas
The present work deals with fundamental understanding of the catalysis in FTS for liquid hydrocarbon production from coal/biomass derived syngas. The proposed research is aimed at synthesizing and characterization a series of HT based Co catalyst with promoters for the FT process. The study is based on the catalytic activity for FT process of theses HT based Co catalyst
PI: Dr. Naseem Iqbal
Funding Agency: USAID
Year: 2016
Developing the Strategy for policy-oriented energy research modelling at USPCAS-E
The proposed project is aimed to contribute to the establishment of a research group within USPCAS-E, NUST to work on energy planning modeling in Pakistan in synchronization with the government, industry, private sector, and international stakeholders. Accumulation and maintenance of necessary resources such as data, human resource, technology, and finance will be used overcome the barriers to sustainability of the project.
PI: Dr. Kafait Ullah
Funding Agency: USAID
Year: 2017
Development of Hybrid Micro Combined Heat & Power System for Distributed Generation in Pakistan
The joint proposal between NUST and Oregon State University is in the thematic area of hybrid-system Testbed for a remote community based on solar, thermal and biomass resources for distributed generation in Pakistan. The goal is to develop a micro-combined heat and power system to provide power to off-grid rural areas and urban areas replete with an unreliable power supply in Pakistan.
PI: Dr. Muhammad Zubair
Funding Agency: USAID
Year: 2017
Retrofitting of Brick Kilns to Improve Energy Efficiency and Environmental Impact
This project is aimed at improving energy efficiency of buildings in Pakistan and promoting sustainable buildings. Buildings typically account for nearly one third of the global energy demand. Improving the energy efficiency in existing buildings results in nearly 10 – 40% savings in energy bills. Moreover, certified green buildings not only use energy efficiently but also demonstrate other features of sustainability e.g. water conservation, waste minimization, indoor air quality etc.
PI: Dr. Bilal Sajid
Funding Agency: HEC(TDF)
Year: 2018
Smart Condition Monitoring based Design and Development of Solar Micro Grid – Community Empowerment through Access to Energy in the Rural Areas of Pakistan
The project aims at design and development of comprehensive condition motoring system testbed on an existing solar micro-grid that can give the energy demand estimate in correlation with the weather conditions and the trend in social life cycle. The project gives the most viable solution for the effective implementation Pakistan’s Energy vision 2030.
PI: Dr. Syed Raza Kazmi
Funding Agency: HEC(TDF)
Year: 2017
Solar space Heating Systems Integrated with Thermal Energy Storage
The project primarily focuses on designing and preparation of the specialized phase change materials, and establishment of a test facility for integrated solar space heating system. The developed testbed will be useful for rural community and the people who rely on electric and natural gas in winter season for heating due to load shedding and also reduces their amount of bills.
PI: Dr. Majid
Funding Agency: HEC(TDF)
Year: 2018