Decarbonisation of electricity supply and land transport to meet net zero in the UK

Juliette Sanders is Director of Strategic Communications at Energy UK, the UK’s only trade body with members spanning the whole energy system. Representing over 100 members, she leads on the organisation’s external affairs, and is also the lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Juliette holds a Masters in Engineering from Cambridge University, and has held a variety of roles across low carbon generation at Equinor, Orsted and EDF Energy, winning awards for her work. Juliette is passionate about inspiring and developing others in the energy sector and is an honorary lecturer at the University of East Anglia. 

Professor Martin Freer a nuclear physicist, and Director of the Birmingham Energy Institute (BEI) at the University of Birmingham. He is also Director of the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA), which comprises eight internationally-renowned Midlands universities, together with the British Geological Survey. 

Martin has overseen the development of the BEI, helped establish Energy Capital, and has led the development of the Birmingham Energy Innovation Hub and co-development of Tyseley Energy Park.

His main research area is the study of the structure of light nuclei, using nuclear reactions. He received the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Prize in 2004 and the Rutherford Medal in 2010.

Matthew Magill has worked at the National Grid for nearly 20 years and has an in-depth knowledge of the power system and its operation. He joined the National Grid upon graduation from the University of Bristol, and now oversees the Electricity System Operator (ESO) strategy for zero carbon operations. Most recently Matthew has led the ESO’s programme of works around ensuring that zero carbon operation is possible for periods by 2025. He also led the ESO’s COVID-19 response, which was a glimpse into the energy mix of the future. 

Dan recently joined Aurora as our Managing Director for the UK and Ireland. Previously, Dan was Director for Energy Security, Networks & Markets in the UK government, where he has 18 years’ experience, holding many roles in BEIS and the Cabinet Office. His most recent position involved policy and analytical advice to government ministers on energy systems & market design.

Dan has an MBA from London Business School and degrees from Magdalen College Oxford and University College London. 

Matthew Magill has worked at the National Grid for nearly 20 years and has an in-depth knowledge of the power system and its operation. He joined the National Grid upon graduation from the University of Bristol, and now oversees the Electricity System Operator (ESO) strategy for zero carbon operations. Most recently Matthew has led the ESO’s programme of works around ensuring that zero carbon operation is possible for periods by 2025. He also led the ESO’s COVID-19 response, which was a glimpse into the energy mix of the future. 

Dan recently joined Aurora as our Managing Director for the UK and Ireland. Previously, Dan was Director for Energy Security, Networks & Markets in the UK government, where he has 18 years’ experience, holding many roles in BEIS and the Cabinet Office. His most recent position involved policy and analytical advice to government ministers on energy systems & market design.

Dan has an MBA from London Business School and degrees from Magdalen College Oxford and University College London. 

Professor Martin Freer a nuclear physicist, and Director of the Birmingham Energy Institute (BEI) at the University of Birmingham. He is also Director of the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA), which comprises eight internationally-renowned Midlands universities, together with the British Geological Survey. 

Martin has overseen the development of the BEI, helped establish Energy Capital, and has led the development of the Birmingham Energy Innovation Hub and co-development of Tyseley Energy Park.

His main research area is the study of the structure of light nuclei, using nuclear reactions. He received the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Prize in 2004 and the Rutherford Medal in 2010.

Juliette Sanders is Director of Strategic Communications at Energy UK, the UK’s only trade body with members spanning the whole energy system. Representing over 100 members, she leads on the organisation’s external affairs, and is also the lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Juliette holds a Masters in Engineering from Cambridge University, and has held a variety of roles across low carbon generation at Equinor, Orsted and EDF Energy, winning awards for her work. Juliette is passionate about inspiring and developing others in the energy sector and is an honorary lecturer at the University of East Anglia. 

Dr Allan Paterson is currently Chief Technology Officer for Britishvolt, responsible for overall Li-ion cell product, research and technology development.   Prior to moving to Britishvolt, Allan was the Faraday Institution’s Head of Programme Management.  Allan previously held the position of Chief Electrochemist at both Cummins and Johnson Matthey Battery Systems, where he led a team of electrochemists, managed a range of collaborative R&D projects including investigating new battery technologies and their application in next generation low carbon EV, PHEV and HEV applications.  Allan has over 20 years’ experience in the field of lithium-ion batteries, and over ten years in automotive batteries, including developing novel high energy density materials and next-generation battery technologies. Allan holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of St Andrews on advanced cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

Paul Dodds specialises in energy systems modelling and leads the development of the UK TIMES energy system optimisation model, which is used by the UK Government to identify net zero transition pathways for the UK. Over the last decade he has carried out much research on both the future uses of hydrogen in the energy system and the importance of energy storage for renewables integration. He led the EPSRC RESTLESS and SPOT-RES energy storage projects and will discuss their insights in this talk.

Keith Pullen began his career with Rolls-Royce who sponsored his first and doctoral degrees at Imperial College London. After two years in the oil and gas sector, he took up academic posts at Imperial and his research in microturbine generators formed a key part of what is now Turbo Power Systems. Developing research in hybrid vehicles and energy storage, he later moved to City University of London, receiving a Chair in 2010. Following consultancies for two F1 teams and co-founding three spin outs, he received a Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellowship. This facilitated the setting up of Levistor Ltd, focussed on low-cost flywheel energy storage. He now divides his time between CTO responsibilities for Levistor, consultancy in energy technologies and retains links with City University of London as Visiting Professor.

Paul Dodds specialises in energy systems modelling and leads the development of the UK TIMES energy system optimisation model, which is used by the UK Government to identify net zero transition pathways for the UK. Over the last decade he has carried out much research on both the future uses of hydrogen in the energy system and the importance of energy storage for renewables integration. He led the EPSRC RESTLESS and SPOT-RES energy storage projects and will discuss their insights in this talk.

Keith Pullen began his career with Rolls-Royce who sponsored his first and doctoral degrees at Imperial College London. After two years in the oil and gas sector, he took up academic posts at Imperial and his research in microturbine generators formed a key part of what is now Turbo Power Systems. Developing research in hybrid vehicles and energy storage, he later moved to City University of London, receiving a Chair in 2010. Following consultancies for two F1 teams and co-founding three spin outs, he received a Royal Academy of Engineering Enterprise Fellowship. This facilitated the setting up of Levistor Ltd, focussed on low-cost flywheel energy storage. He now divides his time between CTO responsibilities for Levistor, consultancy in energy technologies and retains links with City University of London as Visiting Professor.

Dr Allan Paterson is currently Chief Technology Officer for Britishvolt, responsible for overall Li-ion cell product, research and technology development.   Prior to moving to Britishvolt, Allan was the Faraday Institution’s Head of Programme Management.  Allan previously held the position of Chief Electrochemist at both Cummins and Johnson Matthey Battery Systems, where he led a team of electrochemists, managed a range of collaborative R&D projects including investigating new battery technologies and their application in next generation low carbon EV, PHEV and HEV applications.  Allan has over 20 years’ experience in the field of lithium-ion batteries, and over ten years in automotive batteries, including developing novel high energy density materials and next-generation battery technologies. Allan holds a PhD in Chemistry from the University of St Andrews on advanced cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

After earning a BSc and an MSc in industrial chemistry with a focus on Advanced Polymer Electrolytes at Università Sapienza, Valentina Gentili pursued a PhD in nanomaterials for use as anodes in lithium-ion batteries with Professor Peter Bruce at St Andrews University. Following that she worked as an Electrochemist and as a Principal Scientist at Johnson Matthey on the characterisation and testing of commercial cells and next generation Li-ion technologies. She joined Jaguar Land Rover in 2017 as a Technical Specialist in Advanced Battery Engineering, where she led a multidisciplinary team of subject matter experts in Battery Technology. In 2018 she contributed to the launch of the I-Pace, Jaguar’s first electric SUV. In 2019 she earned an MBS from Luiss Business School. Today, as the Senior Technical Specialist, Valentina is the Head of Cell Battery Technology and Innovation at Jaguar Land Rover, and a key contributor to the electrification strategy of Britain’s largest carmaker.

Bill David is Professor of Energy Materials Chemistry in the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory at the University of Oxford and STFC Senior Fellow at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and the Royal Society of Chemistry. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society and is a member of the Society’s Net-Zero programme. Bill’s research interests are based around sustainable and scalable zero-carbon chemical and electrochemical energy storage and power provision, focussing on high-power sodium-ion batteries and exploring the options for developing ammonia as a green fuel.

Dr Penny Atkins is Deputy Director of the Advanced Engineering Centre at the University of Brighton. She has a keen interest in future sustainable fuels and societal needs in the transport sector, coupled with practical research into clean, efficient propulsion. Prior to her role at the University of Brighton, she was Head of Technology Strategy at Ricardo UK, delivering insight across transport sectors for clients in industry and government. She is Director of the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) Thermal Efficiency spoke and supports the DFT Future Fuels for Flight and Freight and Green Skies, Green Skies competition boards.

Professor Mark O’Malley is currently on secondment as the Chief Scientist of the Energy Systems Integration Group (ESIG). ESIG is a global organization that brings together industry, regulators, policy makers and the research community to further our collective knowledge and understanding in Energy Systems Integration.  He is the Professor of Electrical Engineering at University College Dublin. 

In 2020 Mark completed a three-year assignment as Chief Scientist, Energy Systems Integration at the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), USA. At NREL he co-led the establishment of the Global Power System Transformation Consortium (G-PST) and is the co-chair of the Research Agenda Group.   

Mark is recognized as a world authority on Energy Systems Integration and in grid integration of renewable energy.  He works closely and collaboratively with researchers in other disciplines, including economists and social scientists, and collaborates extensively with industry globally. He is a Foreign Member of the US National Academy of Engineering, a member of the Royal Irish Academy and a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers and has received two Fulbright Fellowships. He is also a Visiting Professor at Imperial College London.