Brunel Hydrogen Community

The Brunel Hydrogen community consists of a wide range of experts across a variety of different areas. On this page you can find listed our capabilities, expertise and hydrogen activities, separated into the categories with which they cover. Should you wish to learn more about our hydrogen community you can contact us at hydrogen@brunel.ac.uk. 

Categories

Click on one of the boxes below to discover our capabilities and expertise in each area.

Hydrogen Production (10)

 

Production
 Capabilities and Expertise Hydrogen Activity 
 Dr Ioana Pisica  Optimisation of hydrogen systems in microgrids and marine applications. wind-to-hydrogen and hydrogen-to-power cycles, integrating hydrogen fuel cells into power & transport systems. Project on shoreside power from optimised hydrogen lifecycle.
Prof Dmitry Eskin Novel hydrogen production methods using aluminium.  Filed patent on aluminium-based hydrogen generation processes. Early market analysis showed economic feasibility for aluminium recycling
*Dr Abhishek Lahiri  Electrochemistry and electrocatalysis and sustainable catalyst development for hydrogen generation. Patents filed in metal processing and hydrogen production Hydrogen evolution reaction studies using nickel catalysts, functional material synthesis, and ionic liquids for energy applications. 
Prof Harjit Singh Solar photocatalytic systems for green hydrogen. Building networks to establish Brunel as a hub for solar hydrogen research.  Projects on solar photocatalytic hydrogen generation with international collaborators. Active grants in UK-India, UK-Egypt, and EU-India hydrogen initiatives. 
Prof Tassos Karayiannis Two-phase flow, plasma reforming technologies, heat transfer, reactor design relevant to hydrogen generation & thermal systems. Projects on plasma-catalysed hydrogen generation, non-thermal plasma reactors producing CO-free hydrogen from hydrocarbons. Planned project on affordable Low-Carbon Hydrogen Production for ‘Point-of-Use’ Applications.
Prof Hamid Bahai Blue hydrogen production integrated with carbon capture. Projects on sorption-enhanced processes, multi-scale modelling, and system optimisation for hydrogen generation.
Dr Ahmed Zobaa Renewable integration, smart grids, power quality, and energy efficiency. Integrating hydrogen into grid balancing and supporting energy transition infrastructure. Projects integrating hydrogen production, storage and reconversion within hosting-capacity optimisation and techno-economic planning—linking electrolyser and fuel-cell operation to distribution-level constraints, seasonal balancing and Volt/Var coordination.
Dr Salman Masoudi Soltani Blue hydrogen process development, integrated with carbon capture. Process modelling and optimisation of blue hydrogen production processes.  Projects on multi-physics and multiscale modelling for safe & feasible CO2 capture and storage; adsorption-based carbon capture, CO2/H2 conversion and upgrading.
Ali Mousavi Advanced electrolyser manufacturing, stack assembly, and hydrogen ECU development. Projects on manufacturing and system integration for hydrogen; containerised, on-demand green liquid hydrogen production, storage, and dispensing, as well as hydrogen propulsion for maritime applications.
*Prof Thanos Megaritis                                                                                      Hydrogen IC engines. Combustion, emissions control, fuel treatments, alternative fuels, exhaust gas aftertreatment. Projects in synthetic fuels

 

Hydrogen Storage and Transport (4)

 

Storage and Transport
  Capabilities and ExpertiseHydrogen Activity 
Dr Nithin Amirth Jayasree                                                                                                                                 Hydrogen storage solutions, including graphene-enhanced composite tanks with self-healing and lightweight properties. Non-metallic hydrogen transport and storage.  Project on accelerating low-carbon Hydrogen production and safe storage for utilisation in mobility. Support for hydrogen MSc teaching.
Prof Savvas Tassou  Hydrogen uses in closed systems. Metal hydride reactors for heat recovery, upgrading, and cooling; transport refrigeration. Lightweight, optimised hydrogen thermal management systems for stationary and mobile uses. Projects on sorption-based cooling system ‘HydroCool’ and thermal energy transport for heating and cooling with innovative hydrogen technologies.
Prof Gary Taylor Power system & network operation; Power system economics & electricity markets. Project on investigating effective solutions for data-driven decisions in energy market policies, coordinating energy markets in inseparable energy systems.
Marko Aunedi                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Optimisation and simulation of whole energy and power systems; investment optimisation and capacity expansion in integrated low-carbon energy systems under explicit carbon constraints; grid integration of energy storage and demand-side response; decarbonisation of transport and heat demand; role of flexible technologies in energy system decarbonisation. System-led integration of hydrogen technologies in the low-carbon domestic heating sector; cost-effective deployment of hydrogen production (electrolysers and reformers), transport and storage facilities; spatially disaggregated co-optimisation of hydrogen supply with electricity generation, transmission and storage. 

Hydrogen Applications (3)

 

Applications
  Capabilities and Expertise Hydrogen Activity
Prof Xinyan Wang Hydrogen combustion and engines. Hydrogen and other green fuel engine technologies, including hydrogen nanobubble fuel as a novel alternative. Projects on advanced fuel and propulsion technologies for low-carbon future transport. Contributions to policy briefs and follow ups. 
Prof Hua Zhao Hydrogen combustion and engines. Hydrogen and other green fuel engine technologies, including hydrogen nanobubble fuel as a novel alternative. Projects on advanced fuel and propulsion technologies for low-carbon future transport. Contributions to policy briefs and follow ups. 
*Prof Maria Kolokotroni                                                                             Building energy performance, ventilation and urban thermal environments.  Projects assessing hydrogen’s role in heating systems, building energy integration, and safety considerations in the built environment.

Hydrogen Materials (4)

 

Materials
 Capabilities and Expertise Hydrogen Activity 
Dr Ebad Bagherpour  Mechanical characterisation of metallic materials, advanced thermomechanical processing, and deformation mechanisms. Durability, safety, and mechanical integrity of storage vessels, pipelines, and structural components. To come 
Prof Shouxun Ji Specialist in metallic alloys, capable of developing magnesium alloys as a hydrogen storage materials. Magnesium alloy design as hydrogen storage materials; Feasibility study of magnesium alloy synthesis and capability test in the lab.
*Dr Myles Worsley Specialist in testing and analysis for hydrogen materials. Provides instrumentation support. Delivers hydrogen outreach including workshops and public engagement. Developing hydrogen-focused training and CPD courses.
*Dr Abhishek Lahiri                                                                                                       Electrochemistry and electrocatalysis and sustainable catalyst development for hydrogen generation. Filed patent on metal processing and hydrogen production. Projects on hydrogen evolution reaction using nickel catalysts, functional material synthesis, and ionic liquids for energy applications. 
     

Hydrogen Economy (10)

 

Social and economic
 Capabilities and Expertise Hydrogen Activity 
Prof Justin Fisher  Social perspectives of hydrogen adoption, particularly community acceptance.  Hydrogen transport and refuelling acceptance, measurement of public opinion before and after hydrogen transport trials.  Policy and social science input to Doncaster hydrogen infrastructure project. and contributed to Hydrogen Valley and CEME project applications.
Dr Grigorios Theodosopoulos                                              Accounting and sustainability applied to hydrogen. Hydrogen business models for feasibility and scalability, measuring social impact.  Response to government consultation on priced-based competitive allocation for low carbon hydrogen production
Dr Manu Savani                                                                                                                                           Methods to understand public attitudes toward hydrogen energy. Technology Acceptance Models and behavioural nudges to encourage openness to hydrogen. Impacts of messaging and information on uptake across demographic and ideological groups. Field and survey experiments and mixed methods RCTs Policy and social science input to hydrogen infrastructure project in Doncaster
Prof Monomita Nandy Sustainability and techno-economic aspects of hydrogen, including hydrogen cooling methods and AI/robotics in the hydrogen lifecycle. Carbon capture governance, finance, and community trust in hydrogen adoption. Response to government consultation on business models for hydrogen transport and storage infrastructure.
Prof Peter Jelfs Taxation, regulation, and financial reporting. Relevance to hydrogen in structuring investment, financial governance, and exploring fiscal incentives for hydrogen adoption. Not yet commenced.
Prof Nigar Hashimzade Applied microeconomic theory to hydrogen projects. Survey data analysis for public acceptance studies, total cost of ownership and lifecycle assessment methodologies for hydrogen transport, and regulatory analysis tools for UK/EU hydrogen sector compliance. Planned projects on public acceptance of hydrogen transport technologies and a Hydrogen Policy Dashboard
Dr Gareth Dale A general social scientist and historian with interests in climate change, and net zero. Publications & international seminars on the politics of low carbon fuels, including a critical parsing of hydrogen 'hope' from the hydrogen 'hype'.
Dr Alina Kumachova Computational social science in the political economy of sustainable energy; applications of machine learning and natural language processing to renewable energy policy & governance. Data-driven analysis of hydrogen regulation; development of a Hydrogen Policy Dashboard to support policy tracking and stakeholder insights.
Dr Kei Long Cheung The underlying mechanism of behaviour change and use of logic models for intervention design to address stakeholders’ perceptions and adoption behaviours. Explored perceptions of teachers and general public regards hydrogen innovations. Interested to link up where any stakeholder/public perceptions and (adoption) behaviours are involved.
Yeliz Uymaz                                                                                                        Econometric modelling and nonlinear time-series forecasting, with ongoing research in quantitative analysis for policy-relevant research in climate change and sustainability. Research paper examining whether international climate agreements have a measurable impact on carbon emissions, as well as how differences in carbon data sources and calculation methods affect analytical efficiency

Hydrogen Education and Training (15)

 

Education and Training
  Capabilities and ExpertiseHydrogen Activity 
Prof Yinghe He Particle technology, rechargeable battery materials, extractive metallurgy, and multiphase processes. Strong expertise in material sustainability and clean process engineering, with potential applications to hydrogen catalysts, electrode development, recycling of metals for electrolysers, and multiphase hydrogen system processes. Leads the new on-campus MSc course on Advanced Chemical Engineering MSc in Hydrogen and Low Carbon Technologies
Dr Ali Badiei  Renewable energy. Integrates academic research with postgraduate education, delivering industry-led projects and future practical training within Brunel’s hydrogen environment. Leads the development and delivery of on-line (only) Hydrogen MSc
*Dr Myles Worsley Specialist in testing and analysis for hydrogen materials. Provides instrumentation support. Delivers hydrogen outreach including workshops and public engagement. Developing hydrogen-focused training and CPD courses
Dr Stuart Andrews Public engagement and creative arts applied to hydrogen. Leads projects linking hydrogen with planetary health and public imagination. Positions arts not just as communication tools but as active components of research strategy. Management of Brunel Hydrogen Arts including 2 creative arts projects A Hydrogen Daydream and #NotAllHumans
Dr Hauke Riesch Public understanding energy technologies, carbon capture and storage, but also shale gas and biofuels; and the public understanding of risk. Contributing sociology expertise to CPD course development and delivery.
Dr Kok Siew Systems engineering, process integration, techno-economic analysis and environmental life cycle assessment. Lead for on-campus Advanced Chemical Engineering MSc in Hydrogen & Low Carbon Technologies
Prof Mike Watts  Active research involvement in people's understanding of STEM, in its many manifestations. Bringing new and exciting developments to emergent and aspiring scientists.
*Prof Maria Kolokotroni  Building energy performance, ventilation, and urban thermal environments. Advises on the Hydrogen MSc development team on on-line delivery.
*Prof Thanos Megaritis  Hydrogen IC engine applications  Supports the MSc course
Mr Raj Kakaiya  Delivery platform for Brunel’s online courses. Brunel’s apprenticeships co-ordinator Supports new online hydrogen MSc and CPD courses, and liaising with Brunel’s Digital Education Team
Dr John Cossar  On-line MSc and CPD development (in healthcare) Supports the new online hydrogen training as an advisor
Prof Joe Howe (external at present)  Hydrogen skills and training and links with many training and education bodies Supports the delivery of the online- MSc course. Industry liaison to ensure courses meet industrial requirements and there are students for the courses
Prof Graham Cooley (external)  Industrial hydrogen companies and processes Industry liaison to ensure courses meet industrial requirements and there are students for the courses
Ms Kat Pegler (external)  Creative Artist with an interest in hydrogen Created an immersive spatial sound installation and space for knowledge transfer; A Hydrogen Daydream
Ms Elinor Coleman (external)                                                                                                                                       Creative Artist with an interest in hydrogen Created the Hydrogen film #NotAllHumans and provided engagement training for academics.

Hydrogen Business and Engagement (4)

 

Business development and engagement
 Capabilities and Expertise Hydrogen Activity 
Dr Averil Horton Leadership. Translation of vision into action. Hydrogen economy networks.  Created Brunel Hydrogen. Envisioned Nexus, supports new research, develops an education & training strategy, represents Brunel Hydrogen in the UK. Developed and maintains relationship with CEME.
 Mr James Landon Business development in sustainability. Industrial networking and engagement.  Develops new research opportunities in sustainability, including hydrogen. Developed the consortium for Horizon Europe Hydrogen Valley application.
Dr Alex Reip (external) Industrial networking and engagement.  Founder of Oxford nanoSystems to improve electrolyser performance. Advanced materials, entrepreneurship, and engagement; expertise in, translating scientific innovation into commercial impact. Operates as Brunel’s Royal Society Entrepreneur in Residence. Advises multiple startups, including three in the hydrogen sector, and holds Non-Executive Directorships at several organisations.
Dr Abdulrahman Abdulaal                                                                                                                              Senior Strategic Hydrogen Advisor for the Middle East. Expertise in large-scale hydrogen project development, renewable integration, desalination for electrolysis, and strategic delivery of international hydrogen infrastructure. Executive Director of Green Hydrogen at ACWA Power, Saudi Arabia. Leads one of the world’s largest green hydrogen programmes, including NEOM’s $8.5bn hydrogen project.

Other (1)

 

Other
 Capabilities and Expertise Hydrogen Activity 
BORG, Brunel Older Peoples’ Reference Group                                                            Database of local people aged over 50 interested in Brunel’s work who also provide different perspectives and public participation in research projects. Contributed expertise & perspectives to a Nexus workshop as part of creating a robust evidence base.
     

*These academics span more than one category