October 23, 2025
A researcher at Aston University in Birmingham, UK, has been granted a £625,000 fellowship to pioneer a novel fiber-optic solution aimed at tackling the rapidly escalating energy demands of data centers.
Dr. Aleksandr Donodin of the Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies (AIPT) is one of only 12 early-career engineers nationwide to receive the prestigious research fellowship from the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering this autumn. The program, funded by the UK Government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, is designed to support engineers in addressing critical societal challenges, with data center energy demand highlighted as "one of today’s most pressing challenges."
The urgency of this research is underscored by projections from the International Energy Agency (IEA), which predicts that from 2024 to 2030, data centers' energy consumption will grow by approximately 15% per year. This rate is more than four times faster than the growth of total electricity use from all other sectors.
Dr. Donodin's project, titled "Next Generation of Energy-efficient Optical Regional and Data Center Connections," will explore a unique combination of two technologies: bismuth-doped fiber amplifiers and optical frequency combs. This marks the first time this specific combination will be investigated in detail.
According to the university, a successful outcome "could cut power consumption in optical networks by 30–50% per bit." The technology would also enable the O-band range of light wavelengths to achieve transmission capacities exceeding 200 terabytes per second.
"I am delighted to receive this fellowship for my research," said Dr. Donodin. "Beyond its technical ambitions, the project strengthens Aston University’s role as a hub for sustainable, next-generation optical networks - reinforcing the UK’s leadership in critical digital technologies."
To ensure the research translates into real-world applications, the project will involve collaboration across the telecom supply chain. Dr. Donodin confirmed partnerships with device suppliers Lightera and Pilot Photonics, equipment manufacturers Coherent and Nokia Bell Labs, and the Japan-based telecom operator KDDI for implementing the developed technologies.
Professor Jonathan Cooper, chair of the Academy’s research fellowships steering group, commented on the cohort: “This cohort will work on ambitious programs of research that address many of today’s societal challenges, including those around healthcare and an ageing population as well as the environment, sustainability and net-zero.”
The fellowships provide funding over five years, offering awardees the freedom to concentrate on foundational research that aims to advance excellence in engineering.
SOURCE optics.org
