ERA Energy Research Accelerator

Keele University and ERA Skills School: Smart Energy Networks & Low Carbon Generation Technologies
2026-09-17 09:00 - 16:30 (Europe/London) | Keele University, Keele, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, United Kingdom
Join us at Keele University on 17 September 2026 for an exciting ERA-sponsored collaborative skills event focused on Smart Energy Networks and low carbon generation technologies. Bringing together doctoral and postdoctoral researchers, academics and industry partners from across the ERA partnership, this full-day event will provide excellent opportunities to learn about Keele University’s unique Local Energy Grid, Smart Energy Network Demonstrator, and green hydrogen production. Doctoral researcher lightning talks will offer the opportunity to present research from across the ERA partnership and the day will culminate in teams engaging in a real-world challenge data hackathon
Attendees can expect a dynamic programme running from approximately 10.00am to 4.00pm, including:

Research showcase presentations, including lightning talks from PhD researchers across ERA partnerships and CDTs
Infrastructure tours of Keele’s local grid system and green hydrogen generation hub
A hackathon-style real-world data challenge, with the data from Keele’s SEND system.
Dedicated networking opportunities with academic and industry partners over lunch and breaks

With places provisionally limited to 50 attendees, this event offers an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas, raise your profile, and spark future collaborations in the transition to a net zero future.

How to optimise Copilot as a researcher
2026-09-23 10:00 - 12:30 | On-line via MS Teams
Join Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) and C-DICE for a two and a half -hour online workshop designed for researchers who already understand the basics of AI and are ready to unlock Copilot’s full potential. Learn how to tailor Copilot to your specific research context – saving time, improving quality, and boosting confidence in your outputs.
Discover

How to use Copilot for optimised analysis, summarising, synthesis and idea development
Practical prompt crafting techniques to generate clearer, more accurate and relevant results
Ways to customise Copilot for academic, applied and evaluation focused research
How to navigate real world ethical, data handling and transparency considerations when working with AI

Receive:

Workshop slides and notes
Customisable prompt templates
Recommended AI Tools list

About the presenter:
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.
This event is open to doctoral and postdoctoral researchers from ERA partners and final-stage doctoral researchers and postdoctoral researchers from UK universities (non-ERA partners).
Booking Link: How to Optimise CoPilot as a Researcher – Fill out form , contact n.p.radford@lboro.ac.uk
ERA will contact you by email if they need further information or if they 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.

Using Generative AI Responsibly: Environmental Impacts, Net Zero and Research Practice
2026-10-07 12:00 - 13:00 | On-line via MS Teams
Join Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) and C-DICE for this one-hour workshop exploring the environmental impact of Generative AI use in research and how to use it responsibly.
Generative AI is becoming part of everyday research practice, from literature reviewing and writing support to data analysis, coding, grant applications and project management. This one-hour session will give researchers a clear, practical introduction to the environmental implications of using generative AI, with a particular focus on energy use, carbon emissions, water consumption, data centres, model training and everyday AI use. We will explore what is currently known, where the evidence is still developing, and why this matters for researchers working in energy, sustainability and net zero.
The session will also focus on practical mitigation. Participants will consider how to use AI more responsibly, including when AI is genuinely useful, when simpler digital tools may be more appropriate, how to reduce unnecessary prompting and file uploads, and how to build environmental awareness into research workflows. By the end of the session, participants will have a better understanding of the environmental costs and trade-offs of generative AI, and a practical set of principles for using AI in ways that support thoughtful, proportionate and net-zero aligned research practice.
About the presenter:
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.
This event is open to doctoral and postdoctoral researchers from ERA partners and final-stage doctoral researchers and postdoctoral researchers from UK universities (non-ERA partners).
Booking Link: Using Generative AI Responsibly: Environmental Impacts, Net Zero and Research Practice – Fill out form , contact n.p.radford@lboro.ac.uk
ERA will contact you by email if they need further information or if they 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.

Online Writing Retreat series for Postdoctoral Researchers and PhD Students (October 2026)
2026-10-12 13:30 - 15:30 | On-line via MS Teams
Join C-DICE and Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) in a quiet, structured space for postdoctoral researchers and PhD students to focus on your writing. This series of four writing retreats are designed to give you protected time to work on your own projects, benefitting from peer presence to support focus and momentum.
You can register for as many of the remaining sessions as you like.

Monday 12 October, 13.30 – 15.30
Monday 9 November, 13.00 – 15.00
Monday 7 December, 13.00 – 15.00

You are welcome to work on any form of academic writing, including journal articles, thesis chapters, grant applications, reports, or other research outputs. If you have been meaning to make progress on something but haven’t had the space, this is a chance to step back and write.
Why attend
Many researchers find it difficult to protect time for writing during busy working weeks. This retreat provides:

Dedicated writing time – 100 minutes (plus optional break half way through)
A clear structure to support focus, including brief welcome, informal goal setting and brief progress reflection
A shared space with other researchers working quietly alongside you

Who is this for
This session is open to:

PhD students at any stage
Postdoctoral researchers

You do not need to have a finished draft. The retreat is suitable whether you are starting, revising, or trying to move a stalled piece of writing forward.
Access and joining
The event will take place online via MS Teams. Registered participants will receive joining details in advance. You will be expected to bring a writing project to work on.

Online Writing Retreat series for Postdoctoral Researchers and PhD Students (November 2026)
2026-11-09 13:00 - 15:00 | On-line via MS Teams
Join C-DICE and Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) in a quiet, structured space for postdoctoral researchers and PhD students to focus on your writing. This series of four writing retreats are designed to give you protected time to work on your own projects, benefitting from peer presence to support focus and momentum.
You can register for as many of the remaining sessions as you like.

Monday 9 November, 13.00 – 15.00
Monday 7 December, 13.00 – 15.00

You are welcome to work on any form of academic writing, including journal articles, thesis chapters, grant applications, reports, or other research outputs. If you have been meaning to make progress on something but haven’t had the space, this is a chance to step back and write.
Why attend
Many researchers find it difficult to protect time for writing during busy working weeks. This retreat provides:

Dedicated writing time – 100 minutes (plus optional break half way through)
A clear structure to support focus, including brief welcome, informal goal setting and brief progress reflection
A shared space with other researchers working quietly alongside you

Who is this for
This session is open to:

PhD students at any stage
Postdoctoral researchers

You do not need to have a finished draft. The retreat is suitable whether you are starting, revising, or trying to move a stalled piece of writing forward.
Access and joining
The event will take place online via MS Teams. Registered participants will receive joining details in advance. You will be expected to bring a writing project to work on.

Online Writing Retreat series for Postdoctoral Researchers and PhD Students (December 2026)
2026-12-07 13:00 - 15:00 | On-line via MS Teams
Join C-DICE and Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) in a quiet, structured space for postdoctoral researchers and PhD students to focus on your writing. This series of four writing retreats are designed to give you protected time to work on your own projects, benefitting from peer presence to support focus and momentum.
The remaining session will be on:

Monday 7 December, 13.00 – 15.00

You are welcome to work on any form of academic writing, including journal articles, thesis chapters, grant applications, reports, or other research outputs. If you have been meaning to make progress on something but haven’t had the space, this is a chance to step back and write.
Why attend
Many researchers find it difficult to protect time for writing during busy working weeks. This retreat provides:

Dedicated writing time – 100 minutes (plus optional break half way through)
A clear structure to support focus, including brief welcome, informal goal setting and brief progress reflection
A shared space with other researchers working quietly alongside you

Who is this for
This session is open to:

PhD students at any stage
Postdoctoral researchers

You do not need to have a finished draft. The retreat is suitable whether you are starting, revising, or trying to move a stalled piece of writing forward.
Access and joining
The event will take place online via MS Teams. Registered participants will receive joining details in advance. You will be expected to bring a writing project to work on.
