Newcastle University professor to lead on energy tech hub project

A Newcastle University professor has been chosen to lead the next phase of the Supergen Programme – a project to establish new hubs investigating ground-breaking approaches to sustainable energy technology.

Energy systems engineering expert Prof. Phil Taylor is one of three to receive a six-month grant of £149,944, which will be used to bring together consortia, devise research strategies and create networking and engagement plans to maximise impact.

If successful at the second stage of the programme next year, a further £5m in funding will be awarded for Prof. Taylor to establish the Supergen Energy Networks Hub.

The aim of the hub, according to Newcastle University, will be to nurture a “vibrant, well-connected, diverse, open and communicative energy networks community with a deeper understanding of whole systems approaches to energy networks”.

The Supergen Programme is managed by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

Prof. Taylor, deputy pro-vice-chancellor of the university’s Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, said of the EPSRC’s announcement: “The Supergen programme is all about exploring areas of energy research that can secure a lower carbon future and transform our energy system for future global society.

“This award gives Newcastle University the chance to build and lead a consortium of academic and industrial partners who want to change the way our global energy system works and achieve carbon reductions.”