The facility will feature four laboratories to research fields such as geothermal energy and hydrogen-fuelled cars, while also furthering an $239.5m collaboration with other Midlands region universities.

University of Nottingham has started building a £5.4m ($7.2m) laboratory complex aimed at generating UK-based spinouts in the new energy sector.

The Research Acceleration and Demonstration (Rad) block will support researchers and companies looking to manufacture energy-saving products. It is due to launch in March 2018.

There will be four Rad laboratories, each tailored for specific research fields such as geothermal energy and hydrogen-fuelled cars, and including one unit built over three floors to host the tall burners of a…