ERA Energy Research Accelerator

Hydrogen use in decarbonisation of transport
2023-01-18 12:30 - 13:30 (Europe/London)
Professor Robert Steinberger-Wilckens from the Centre for Fuel Cell & Hydrogen Research at the University of Birmingham discussed some of the latest research in hydrogen and the role of hydrogen based fuels in the future decarbonisation of road, rail, air and marine transport.
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Biofuels
2023-02-15 12:30 - 13:30
Dr. Alfred Fernández-Castané (Energy and Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) and Aston Institute of Materials Research (AIMR), Aston University) and Dr Vinod Kumar (VK) is a Senior Lecturer in Microbial Technology and Biorefining at Cranfield University discussed how biotechnology can be harnessed to accelerate biofuels production.
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The policies and economics of the Net Zero transition
2023-05-17 12:30 - 13:30 | Virtual event
During this webinar Duncan Depledge from Loughborough university will talk about the policies and economics of low carbon warfare – you can find out more about this in his recently published article Low-carbon warfare: climate change, net zero and military operations.
We are still looking for a second speaker for this webinar, please contact L.A.Foster@lboro.ac.uk if you are interested in presenting on this topic.
Book your place

Living Labs - A Net-Zero Heroes event
2023-06-21 12:30 - 13:30 | Virtual event
During this webinar we will hear from the British Geological Survey (BGS) about their observatories for researchers to investigate the subsurface, particularly in relations to shallow geothermal energy.
Our second speaker is Prof Mark Gillott who will present his work on how our homes will play an active part within community energy systems in order to reduce our energy use, cost and associated carbon emissions. His presentation will include real world demonstrators where new technical and socio economic models are being trialled and evaluated.
Mark Gillott, is the University of Nottingham’s Professor of Sustainable Building Design, has 30 years’ experience in low carbon sustainable energy technologies and sustainable building design. He is the research and project manager for the multi-award winning living lab ‘Creative Energy Homes’ low/zero carbon housing project through which he has co-designed, constructed and monitored the performance of some of the UK’s first whole house retrofits and ‘Code for Sustainable Homes’ level 4 and 6 (zero carbon) homes. He project managed the multi award winning £8 million UK Energy Research Accelerator Community Energy Demonstrator at the £180 million Nottingham Trent Basin sustainable housing development of low carbon homes. This scheme operates under a new community energy business model and incorporates what was Europe’s largest community energy battery with onsite solar PV.
Register here

Net Zero Heroes – Early Career Researcher’s Special
2023-07-05 12:30 - 13:30 | Virtual event
During net zero week we will be holding an ECR special of our monthly net zero heroes webinars. This will highlights the fantastic research that ECR in the ERA network are undertaking, come along to find out about the fantastic research Humera Ansari is doing on carbon capture and storage, Mohammad Hamdan is undertaking on digital frameworks in retrofit community buildings and Rabee Jibrin’s research into optimisation for fuel cell hybrid trains. This webinars is for industry, students, academics, professional services staff and the general public who are interested in green energy and transitioning to a net-zero society.

MDES 2024 – Medium Duration Energy Storage 2024
2024-01-12 09:00 - 17:00 | Vaillant Live, Derby, DE1 1LA, United Kingdom
About this event

MDES 2024 was held from 09:00 – 17:00 UTC on January 12, 2024 and addressed recent advances in thinking around the technologies, the policies and the commercial realities of Medium Duration Energy Storage (MDES). It covered the following issues:
– Specific technology and project updates within compressed air energy storage
– Specific technology and project updates within pumped hydro energy storage
– Short updates from MDES developments in early commercialisation stages
– Modelling that elucidates the added value of different storage technologies
– A panel discussion on latest thinking about what policy and market mechanisms are needed to elicit investment in MDES
The event was free to attend – either physically (at IMechE in London) or virtually.
This event was brought-about through funding from Research England under its “Policy Support Fund” scheme. It drew upon support from Energy Research Accelerator (where presentations and recordings will be archived), Supergen Energy Storage Network Plus, the IEA Technology Collaboration Programme on Energy Storage and EERA (European Energy Research Alliance) SP4.

View all event presentationsProgramme

09:15 – 10:45: ADVANCES IN COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE

Isothermal Compressed Air Energy Storage for Decentralised Energy Grid: Dr. Yasser Mahmoudi (Manchester Univ)Download PresentationView Video

Sustainable & Affordable CAES, Dr. Edward Barbour (Loughborough Univ)Download PresentationView Video

High Performance CAES through elevated temperature thermal storage, Dr. Wei HeDownload PresentationView Video

Offshore CAES – FLASC, Dr. Daniel BuhagiarDownload PresentationView Video

CAES with Heat: Cheesecake Energy Ltd, Dr. Mike SimpsonDownload PresentationView Video
Video of question session for Compressed Air Energy Storage

10:45 – 11:15: REFRESHMENTS

11:15 – 12:30: ADVANCES IN MEDIUM DURATION ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTIONS

Iron Air: Enabling Ultra-Low Cost Multi-Day Storage, Cillian Totterdell (FORM Energy)Download PresentationView Video

RheEnergise, Lizzi GoldDownload PresentationView Video

Small-scale Pumped Hydro projects. Mr. Jonathan Cox (AECOM)Download PresentationView Video
Video of question session for Medium Duration Energy Storage

12:30 – 13:30: LUNCH

13:30 – 14:30: THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE

Topologically Engineered Thermal Energy Storage for Carnot Batteries – Dr Adriano Sciacovelli (Birmingham)Download PresentationView Video
PRISMA: Compressor Integrated Energy Storage, Dr. Adrian Alford (Innovatium)Download PresentationView Video

SynchroStor – a Pumped Thermal E.S. system, Prof. Win Rampen (Edinburgh)View Video

14:40 – 14:50: REFRESHMENTS

14:50 – 15:35: MODELLING AND MEDIUM DURATION ENERGY STORAGE

The benefits of blending storage types, Dr. Tony Roulstone (Cambridge)Download PresentationView Video

Whole-system value of MDES&LDES solutions in Net Zero Futures, Prof. Goran Strbac (Imperial College)Download PresentationView Video

Monetising Medium Duration Storage, Dr. Iain Staffell (Imperial College)Download PresentationView Video
Modelleing Energy Systems Including Multiple Stores, Professor Seamus Garvey, (University of Nottingham)Download PresentationView Video

15:40 – 16:40: PANEL SESSION: POLICY AND MARKET ISSUES AFFECTING MDES
Panel Session chaired by Tom Bent.
– Nina Skorupska, CEO of the REA (Association of Renewable Energy and Clean Technologies)– Prof. Ian Arbon (Independent Consultant, EngineeredSolutions)– Sarah Keay-Bright from National Grid ESO (TBC)– Dr. Iain Staffell (Imperial College)
Video of Q&As for the panel session

Any questions about this event?
Please email Professor Seamus Garvey at the University of Nottingham.

Impacts of Energy Transitions and Mining Geographies in the Global South
2024-11-25 12:30 - 13:30 | Virtual event
The Veil of Progress: Unveiling Overlooked and Unforeseen Impacts of Energy Transitions and Mining Geographies in the Global South.
Join us for a webinar examining Kenya’s journey toward net zero, focusing on environmental justice and sustainable practices. Charity Mbaka will discuss the impacts of Kenya’s renewable energy transitions on local communities and the need for equitable, place-based solutions. Lindah Nelimah Wakhungu will address the environmental and health consequences of small-scale mining, exploring sustainable practices that protect both ecosystems and communities. The session will conclude with a Q&A and panel discussion, offering insights into achieving net zero with justice and sustainability at the core.

Long Term Energy Storage – The EMStor and HyScale projects
2025-07-31 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual event
Long Term Energy Storage – EMStor and HyScale
An online HyDEX HORN network event: Thursday 31st July, 13:00 – 14:00
Hydrogen will play a critical role in reducing UK CO₂ emissions over the coming decades, supporting renewable energy and enabling the decarbonisation of power, heat, transport, and industry. But storing hydrogen for when it’s needed remains a key challenge.
Join this special HyDEX HORN online session to explore two cutting-edge projects focused on long-duration hydrogen storage:
1. EMStor – East Midlands Hydrogen Storage
A Strategic Innovation Fund project investigating geological hydrogen storage in the East Midlands, where heavy industry accounts for 75% of regional CO₂ emissions. The session will explore alternative storage solutions, such as depleted oil fields and aquifers, and how they can integrate with emerging hydrogen networks.
2. HyScale – Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs)
HyScale explores LOHCs, a liquid hydrogen storage method ideal for areas lacking geological storage. The project investigates their potential to store and transport hydrogen using existing infrastructure, with insights into the UK’s first planned LOHC demonstration.
Who should attend?
Ideal for energy professionals, policymakers, researchers, and local authorities interested in hydrogen infrastructure, long-duration storage, and net-zero strategies.

Shaping Hydrogen Policy – A HyDEX HORN network event
2025-09-24 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual event
Join us for the next Hydrogen Off-Road Network (HORN) event hosted by HyDEX, exploring how the hydrogen industry can work together to shape policy and advance the low-carbon agenda.
This online session features a keynote presentation from Dr Emma Guthrie of the Hydrogen Energy Association (HEA), who will share insights into how the sector is collaborating to influence policy, address regulatory challenges, and accelerate the transition to a hydrogen economy.
Dr Guthrie will discuss:

The current hydrogen policy landscape in the UK
The role of industry collaboration in shaping effective and realistic policy
Opportunities for organisations to contribute to policy development
The importance of strategic engagement through networks like HORN

This session is designed to support dialogue and coordination across stakeholders in hydrogen, particularly those working on off-road, hard-to-decarbonise applications.
Speaker:
Dr Emma Guthrie CEO, Hydrogen Energy Association
Dr Guthrie is an experienced energy policy specialist with a focus on low-carbon and hydrogen technologies. She leads engagement with government and industry to support the development of effective policy frameworks for the hydrogen sector.
Who Should Attend:

Hydrogen technology developers and solution providers
Policymakers, local authorities, and regulators
Off-road equipment manufacturers and operators
Researchers and academics
Supply chain and logistics professionals
Anyone involved in hydrogen deployment or policy development

About HyDEX and HORN:
HyDEX (www.hydex.ac.uk) is a Midlands-based programme accelerating the development and deployment of hydrogen technologies through collaborative innovation and skills development.
The Hydrogen Off-Road Network (HORN) is a HyDEX initiative focused on supporting the use of hydrogen in non-road applications, including construction, agriculture, mining, and industrial vehicles and machinery.

The East Midlands Hydrogen Pipeline- Supplying green hydrogen to industries in the East and West Midlands (Webinar)
2025-11-13 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual event
Join us to explore the East Midlands Hydrogen Pipeline (EMP) — a landmark project set to accelerate the UK’s hydrogen economy by up to 15 years.
The EMP will repurpose a 63 km pipeline to transport green hydrogen. This network will link producers and users across the East and West Midlands, creating the foundation of a regional hydrogen infrastructure.
Beyond this first phase, EMP aims to connect additional sites across the Midlands, building a resilient, integrated system that supports the UK’s journey to net zero.
EMP is actively seeking partners — from producers and suppliers to investors and technology providers — to help make this vision a reality.
Learn more: empipeline.co.uk
Who should attend?

Hydrogen users or those planning to adopt hydrogen
Suppliers, service providers, and investors
Researchers, policy makers, and clean-energy professionals
Anyone interested in the UK’s hydrogen transition

HORN Hydrogen Marketplace
This is also an opportunity to hear from two HORN partner businesses showcasing innovation in the hydrogen sector:
Sauer Compressors UK
A global leader in compressor technology since 1884, Sauer provides hydrogen-ready compressors for production, storage, and refuelling at pressures up to 450 bar. More: sauercompressors.com
Hycomplate Ltd
A UK clean-tech company developing advanced composite bipolar plates for fuel cells, electrolysers, and energy storage systems — enhancing durability, reducing costs, and improving efficiency. More: hycomplate.com
Register today to secure your place!
Gain insight into one of the UK’s most ambitious hydrogen projects, connect with key industry players, and explore opportunities to help shape the Midlands’ clean-energy future.

ERA / C-DICE Community Fund – Guidance Webinar
2025-12-08 12:00 - 12:45 | Virtual event
Are you a doctoral or post-doctoral researcher passionate about energy or net-zero topics?
Do you want to gain valuable experience in event management, leadership, and researcher development?
The ERA / C-DICE Community Fund [Funding opportunities – ERA Energy Research Accelerator] is offering up to £2,500 to help you design, develop, and deliver your own energy and/or net-zero-focused event that engages researchers across the ERA partnership and wider!
This webinar provides a guide to the funding opportunity, how to apply and details the support available for potential applicants to the ERA / C-DICE Community fund.
Link to join webinar

GeoPura – scaling green hydrogen to replace diesel - A HORN network event
2025-12-18 13:00 - 14:00 | Virtual event
We’re pleased to welcome Matt Barney, Chief Hydrogen Business Officer at GeoPura, to our December HORN (Hydrogen Outreach and Research Network) meeting.
Matt will introduce GeoPura’s approach to delivering zero-emission temporary and off-grid power using green hydrogen and their 250 kW Hydrogen Power Units (HPUs), which are already replacing diesel generators across construction, events, broadcasting, and infrastructure projects.
GeoPura has secured over £100m of investment to scale production of hydrogen, HPUs and supporting infrastructure. This includes major funding from Siemens Energy, GM Ventures, the UK Infrastructure Bank and Barclays. Their ambition is to deploy around 3,600 HPUs by 2033, eliminating millions of tonnes of CO₂ by shifting away from diesel.
A key part of their expansion is the HyMarnham Power project in the East Midlands – a former coal plant now being developed into a major green-hydrogen hub and backed by UK Government support and a significant green loan facility. GeoPura is also expanding into Europe with new production capacity.
At HORN, Matt will outline what GeoPura does, their latest investments, and how organisations can get involved – from trial deployments to wider partnerships in the growing green-hydrogen supply chain.
Could you benefit from a Green Advantage?
Our second speaker is Christian Byron who will be sharing insights from Aston University’s Green Advantage Programme – a support scheme helping businesses develop practical sustainability skills and deliver low-carbon innovation.
Christian will give an overview of how the programme works, the impact it’s having on SMEs, and how organisations across the Midlands can get involved.
This is a great chance to learn how universities and industry can collaborate to drive real change in business sustainability.
About HyDEX and HORN:
HyDEX (www.hydex.ac.uk) is a Midlands-based programme accelerating the development and deployment of hydrogen technologies through collaborative innovation and skills development.
The Hydrogen Off-Road Network (HORN) is a HyDEX initiative focused on supporting the use of hydrogen in non-road applications, including construction, agriculture, mining, and industrial vehicles and machinery.

AI Ethics for Researchers, 15 January 2026, 12:30-13:30
2026-01-15 12:30 - 13:30 | On-line via Zoom
Join C-DICE and Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) for a focused one-hour session that guides researchers through the practical and ethical use of generative AI in day-to-day work. We look at confidentiality, data protection, academic integrity, bias, transparency and responsible decision making, with real examples from research settings. Participants leave with clear principles, workable guardrails and confident next steps for using AI safely and responsibly in their own projects.
Date and time:
Thursday 15 January 2026, 12:30-13:30, Online via Zoom
Presenter biography:
Dr Naomi Tyrrell is an ICF Accredited Coach and runs Europe’s largest advice network for alternative-to-academic careers. After 18 years in academia, Naomi now runs an evaluation consultancy and training business. She is passionate about helping people and organisations develop their strengths and navigate periods of growth, offering expertise in areas such as programme monitoring, evaluation, organisational development AI training and executive coaching.
How to register:
This event is open to postdocs, final-stage PhDs from UK universities and ERA associated PhD students.
Please register your interest by clicking the Book Online via the C-DICE webpage: AI Ethics for Researchers, 15 January 2026, 12:30-13:30 – C-DICE .
We will contact you by email if we need further information or if we are unable to offer you a place. If your registration is successful, you will receive an Outlook calendar invitation confirming your place at the workshop.

Email: nav.kaya@cranfield.ac.uk
