Engineering Challenges in the Hydrogen Economy 2023

Caragh McWhirr: Head of Hydrogen Strategy, Xodus Group

Caragh McWhirr leads the Hydrogen Centre of Excellence for Xodus globally and has over 20 years experience in the energy sector. She has a multidisciplinary technical base covering electrical, mechanical, process and safety engineering. This role involves leading a small team of hydrogen experts (commercial, electrical and process engineering), monitoring policy and markets globally, and providing strategic direction to the rest of the business related to hydrogen opportunities. The Xodus Hydrogen Centre of Excellence team aims to be custodians of expertise on hydrogen and hydrogen projects and to provide tools and expertise relating to Hydrogen to the rest of the business.

Steph Jones: Engineering Consultant, Frazer-Nash Consultancy

Steph is a multi-discipline systems engineer with an education in aerospace engineering. She has seven years of professional experience across multiple sectors including energy, aerospace and defence. Steph has led technical development programmes, carried out test programme planning, product design and development (including qualification). Steph is currently a Consultant within Frazer-Nash’s Technology Management group. During her time in the department, she has worked on a range of energy related programmes including projecting transport and storage infrastructure requirements relating to the Hydrogen Economy in 2035.

Camilla Evangelisti: Lead Engineer, Bertrandt Germany

Camilla Evangelisti is a Lead Engineer at Bertrandt Germany. Her focus is in on hydrogen technologies for the mobility sector: automotive, heavy duty and aerospace. She graduated with a Master degree in chemistry and then carried out her PhD in inorganic chemistry at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich. After some years of research in the field of battery and hydrogen, she started in 2019 to work for Bertrandt.

Celia Greaves: CEO, UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association

Celia Greaves is founder and CEO of the UK HFCA. She has lead the Association and its predecessor for over 15 years, and has been instrumental in its growth to be the leading pan-UK hydrogen grouping. Other hydrogen work has included managing hydrogen activities within the UK Knowledge Transfer Network for over five years and contributing to a number of reports for the US Electric Power Research Institute. Celia’s earlier career included roles with the Centre for Exploitation of Science and Technology and Mott MacDonald. Celia has an MBA, an MSc in Environmental Technology and a BSc in Geophysics.

Allan Simpson: Technical Lead, Nuclear Enabled Hydrogen, National Nuclear Laboratory

Allan is an experienced Technical Lead at the National Nuclear Laboratory, designing and delivering projects to resolve issues and questions across nuclear technology. Since 2020, he has led NNL’s internal research programme on Nuclear Enabled Hydrogen, and how nuclear can support the future development of a hydrogen economy.

Daniel Fung: Head of Strategy and Planning, Advanced Propulsion Centre UK

Dan Fung has been with the Advanced Propulsion Centre for 4 years and currently heads up the strategy and performance function. He graduated from the University of Birmingham in Mechanical Engineering and started his career in aerospace propulsion control systems before moving to the automotive industry. Dan is passionate about decarbonisation and the UK business growth opportunities offered by the road to net zero.

Ian Graffy: Senior Policy Advisor, Hydrogen Economy, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero

Ian Graffy is a policy adviser working for the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy. He works in BEIS' Hydrogen Economy team, which authored the UK's Hydrogen Strategy in 2021. His policy focus is on the regulatory and market conditions needed to support industrial manufacturing and construction sectors to transition from fossil fuels to low carbon hydrogen.

Martyn Tulloch: Head of Energy System Integration, Net Zero Technology Centre

Martyn leads the Net Zero Technology Centre’s Energy System Integration programme, which covers Hydrogen, Offshore Wind and CCUS. A chartered engineer who has worked in both the oil and gas and renewable energy sectors over the last 25 years, he believes that the skills, experience and infrastructure established over the last five decades in the UK offshore energy sector will have a pivotal role to play if Europe is to meet its net-zero targets. The Net Zero Technology Centre co-invests with industry and works in partnership with the public and private sectors, funding R&D, driving investment, building a clean energy eco-system and influencing policy to accelerate the transition and close the gap on net zero technologies.

Professor Hua Zhao: Director of Advanced Powertrain and Fuels, Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor Research, Brunel University London

Professor Hua Zhao’s research covers both spark ignition and compression ignition engines, and spans from experimental studies on thermodynamic engine experiments to fundamental optical/laser diagnostics of flow, fuel injection and combustion, of conventional liquid fuels as well as low carbon and zero carbon fuels for road vehicles, marine and power generations. Professor Hua Zhao has published over 400 papers and 6 books on internal combustion engines and laser diagnostics in combustion engines. He was the past chairman of the Powertrain System and Fuels Group in the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and has completed several dozens of research projects supported by EPSRC, Innovate UK, EU and industrial companies. He is currently leading several projects on H2 and ammonia  IC Engines supported by the UKRI and industrial companies.

Chris O'Connor: Head of Hydrogen, Equans UK & Ireland

Chris O’Connor is the Head of Hydrogen for Equans UK and Ireland. He holds a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and is a member of the Equans International Hydrogen Taskforce, coordinating expertise across Western Europe. Chris has broad project experience across the energy sector and is the Equans project lead for the Net Zero North West Cluster Plan project, developing a decarbonisation roadmap for the region. He has strong links with academia and is passionate about championing new solutions to accelerate the development of the hydrogen economy.

Tommy Isaac: Head of Hydrogen Research, Progressive Energy

As Head of Hydrogen Research at Progressive Energy, Tommy manages a number of market enabling projects seeking to unlock the deployment of hydrogen via a blend and ultimate conversion to 100% hydrogen. Primarily Tommy manages the HyDeploy project alongside providing technical & strategic support to BEIS, both ultimately in support of policy decision making and development. Tommy is a chartered chemical and mechanical engineer, as well as a fellow of IGEM.

Paul Turner: Managing Director, CMB.TECH

Degree qualified engineer with 40 years in the automotive engineering sector 36 of which has been spent in R&D.

Paul specialised in automotive powertrain and specifically engine controls/emissions development, working at Weslake Developments, Ricardo, SAGEM, Roush/Revolve and now as the Managing Director of CMB.Tech’s UK R&D centre.

Paul was the Engineering Director for Revolve Technologies for the last 21 years and is passionate about developing low carbon and emissions compliant vehicles to combat climate change.

In August 2019 Revolve Technologies was acquired by CMB to continue the development of hydrogen combustion in the marine sector and Paul leads the teams now solving the carbon challenge of the MW scale power requirements of the shipping industry.

Ian Wilkinson: Chief Operating Officer, GeoPura

Ian joined GeoPura in October 2022, having previously served as Head of UK Energy Transition Technology at Siemens Energy.  Ian has over 8 years commercial experience in decarbonisation, with a particular focus on the role of hydrogen and hydrogen carriers such as ammonia in decarbonising energy systems at nation scales. He helped develop and establish Siemens Energy’s ongoing partnership with GeoPura, and led the team that designed and built the Green Ammonia energy storage system demonstrator at a test site at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.  He holds a Masters degree and a PhD in physics, both from the University of Bristol, and an MBA from Oxford Brookes University.

Stephen Livermore: Senior Systems Modeling Engineer, LIFTE H2

Stephen is a chartered mechanical engineer at LIFTE H2 where he focuses on hydrogen product and project development. He has significant interests in the role that hydrogen can play at a system level as well as R&D of new hydrogen technologies. Previously, Stephen worked in engineering consultancy where he led a number of studies for the UK government on hydrogen. Stephen maintains close links with academia and is a member of the IMechE’s Energy, Environment and Sustainability Group. 

Norman Green: Senior Technologist, Structures, Manufacturing and Materials, Aerospace Technology Institute

An aircraft structural engineer and former head of fatigue and damage tolerance for Spirit Aerosystems saw the rise of composites to primary structures. Now a Technologist with the Aerospace Technology Institute engaged with the next generation of aircraft engineering for hydrogen and net-zero.

John Hughes: Chief Engineer, Ricardo

John Hughes is one of the Chief Engineers at Ricardo and has been working at Ricardo since 2015. To date he has over 20 years of automotive experience working with impressively talented engineers in two consultancies and numerous multinational companies in the UK. John’s current primary role is to lead a portfolio of Hydrogen ICE R&D projects. They are developing core knowledge to help their clients understand the design, simulation and controls challenges as well as performance and emissions characteristics associated with hydrogen ICE.

Ken Scott: Chief Engineer, Tevva Hydrogen Electric Trucks

Over 35 years of automotive industry experience, including leadership roles at Bentley Motors and Alexander Dennis Ltd. Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Led the development of hybrid, electric and hydrogen buses at Alexander Dennis for the global market and leading the development of electric and Hydrogen dual energy source trucks at Tevva.

Mark Eldridge: Director of Hydrogen, Element Materials Technology

Dr Mark Eldridge is the Director of Hydrogen for Element Materials Technology and is responsible for leading the Hydrogen Initiatives across the group. Prior to joining Element, Mark worked as a Consultant, led the UK Energy Business as Divisional Director for Kiwa, and their Global Hydrogen Strategy and supported the A350 and A400M programmes at GKN Aerospace. Mark holds a PhD in Welding Metallurgy and has worked closely within the materials testing industry for over 20 years, in various Technical, Operations, Senior Leadership Roles in multiple market sectors, starting out life as a Metallurgist in the Steel Industry. Enabling the Hydrogen Economy and supporting the Energy Transition through materials science expertise are his primary drivers.

Stuart Doherty: Senior Process Engineer, Atkins

Stuart is a Chartered Process Engineer at Atkins SNC-Lavalin with 14 years’ experience in the oil & gas industry. In recent years Stuart has led the process engineering design of several UK hydrogen storage projects, through feasibility, concept and pre-FEED design.

Hamid Rafiee: Applications Engineer, COMSOL UK

Hamid Rafiee is an Applications Engineer for COMSOL UK. He graduated from the University of Tehran with a BSc in chemical engineering before carrying out his PhD at Heriot-Watt University. He now specialises in reactive flow simulations.

Mike Copson: Associate Director, Arup

Mike is an Associate Director at Arup, his role focusing on Energy leadership across Hydrogen, CCUS and New Fuels. He has 2 decades of Energy experience, with the last 6 years as Hydrogen Business Development Manager for an IOC, focused on the development and implementation of integrated international hydrogen solutions. Prior to this, Mike had a successful career in the top echelons of motorsport in various engineering capacities. Mike is a Fellow of the IMechE and passionate about developing sustainable solutions to deliver the energy transition.

Alex Lattimer: New Energy Business Development Director, Flexitallic

Alex Lattimer is the New Energy Business Development Director for The Flexitallic Group. In this role he leads a team focussed on the sales, marketing, and development of business specialising in hydrogen and the new energy transition. This includes leading the fuel cell and electrolyser materials business segment. He is a member of the Flexitallic Innovation Committee and sits on the Executive Leadership Team. 

Alex has 20 years of experience in engineering, sales management, and business development in the sealing industry. He is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and has a Masters degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Bath, UK.

Mark Goodwin: Lead Design Engineer, ITM Power

Mark is the Lead Product Design Engineer at ITM Power and has spent the last 10 years working on the mechanical design and development of PEM electrolyser projects. Ranging from 50kg/year to 1,300kg/year of green hydrogen production, these projects covered applications including power to gas for grid balancing, hydrogen car, bus and heavy goods vehicle refuelling, ammonia production and oil refining. Mark is currently heading up an internal design project to optimise cost and manufacturability to allow mass production of electrolysers to meet the demand created by the rapid growth of the hydrogen economy.

Adam Madgett: Principal Hydrogen Consultant, DNV

Adam is Principal Consultant with over 18 years' experience in a variety of challenging roles. He served with the British Army as an Aircraft engineer for 11 years in the Royal Electrical Mechanical Engineers (REME). Since then he has gained further experience across two new industries in Rail and Gas. In his current role, Adam is responsible for providing technical support and project leadership on hydrogen projects which are supporting the UK's transition to a low carbon energy future.

Thomas Beard: Clean Maritime/Alternative Fuels Lead, Senior Analysis Engineer, BMT Global

Dr. Thomas Beard is a chartered engineer and the lead for clean maritime/alternative fuels in Defence at BMT. He has a PhD in Hydrogen Safety from Loughborough University, following this he has spent several years in industry working on a variety of aspects of ship and submarine design and build. He is a member of the two UK maritime hydrogen working groups and is on the steering group for a research program on ammonia in maritime. He has published and presented numerous papers on the topic of alternative fuels for maritime and naval platforms.

Rushab Shah: Digital Strategy Lead, Ricardo

Rushab Shah is the Digital Product Strategy and Program Manager, leading on the development of digital solutions in Ricardo’s Automotive & Industrial business. He has a wealth of experience in data driven environments, supporting businesses with digital decarbonisation strategies and implementation.

Combining a mechanical engineering background with expertise in data analytics, Rushab, uses digital methodologies across a broad spectrum of automotive and industrial applications to support businesses with their net zero ambitions. He focusses on advising businesses on how to develop innovative solutions through the entire value chain from strategic decision making to product development and connected vehicles.

Andrea Trevisan: Head of Sales, IE-DRIVE, Intelligent Energy

Andrea is head of Fuel Cells sales at Intelligent Energy for the IE-DRIVE system, the high power fuel cell solution for industrial and automotive applications.

He has 20 years experience in the automotive and energy sector. He covered both technical roles as chief engineer for engines and business development roles in all transport sectors including on and off highway heavy duty vehicles, marine, rail and stationary power generation. Before joining Intelligent Energy he worked with FPT Industrial and Ricardo.

In the past 5 years he transitioned from fossil fuels based technologies to low emission and electrified solutions for the transport and energy sector before focusing on hydrogen and fuel cell at Intelligent Energy.

Ryan Williams: Systems and Design Engineering Manager, Johnson Matthey

Ryan Williams is a chartered mechanical engineer, with significant experience designing high volume, automotive products, and a passion for business and leadership. Before moving into fuel cell design he spent 10 years designing fuel injection equipment to meet challenging, emissions driven targets. Ryan is passionate about design engineering, and the core principles involved in designing successful products.

Iain Scott: Business Development Manager, Veolia

Iain Scott spent the first half his career 100% in the offshore oil and gas industry, initially Offshore Drilling and more recently Offshore Production Technology. Iain is a relatively new addition to the team at Veolia joining only in 2021 but now has the pleasure of developing Veolia’s Offshore Energy Transition strategy. In the 16 years he has worked in the Energy Sector he has never seen as much momentum behind energy transition projects as there is today. Iain is excited for what the next half of his career holds as we bring the experience gained in the offshore sector to bear on the challenges of the Hydrogen market.

Bahman Amini Horri: Senior Lecturer of Chemical Engineering, University of Surrey

Dr Bahman Horri is a Senior Lecturer of Chemical Engineering and the leader of the MSc programmes Batteries and Fuel Cells at the University of Surrey. He coordinates the research studies in green Hydrogen, solid oxide fuel cells and electrolysers (SOFCs/SOECs), and energy materials, holding 5 US/European patents, 50+ papers in top-tiered journals, five book chapters, and 30+ presentations in national and international conferences. He received his PhD in Chemical Engineering from Monash University in 2012 (Australia). The national and international communities have recognised his research in Hydrogen and fuel cell with multiple awards, including the "Leverhulme Trust Fellowship Award" (2021), IAAM Lecture Award (2020, Sweden), Innovation Award in Emerging Technologies (2018, UK), Postgraduate Publication Award (2012, Australia), FEIPRS award (2009, Australia), MGS Award (2008, Australia). Currently, he is the PI of three projects in energy and sustainable chemical technologies sponsored by EPSRC, Innovate-UK, and the Royal Academy of Engineering. He is a member of IChemE (CEng and CSci qualifications), member of the scientific board of H2FC-Supergen (the hydrogen and fuel cell hub, UK), a member of the International Society of Electrochemistry (ISE), an associate Editor of Frontiers (in Materials Process Engineering) and a Guest Editor of Energies, and Fellow of Higher Education Academy (UK FHEA).

Tristan Davenne: Principal Engineer, Energy Research Unit, Science and Technology Facilities Council

Chartered Engineer with a degree in mechanical engineering from Bath and a MPhil and PhD in engineering science from Cambridge. Four years working on vacuum pump development for BOC Edwards followed by sixteen years as a research engineer at the Science and Technology Facilities Council including an 18 month stint as a part-time visiting researcher in energy storage at Nottingham University. Now focused on R&D that can help us reach net zero.

Jeremy Bowman: Chief Technology Officer, Hypermotive

As Chief Technology Officer of Hypermotive Ltd, Jeremy is responsible for defining the company’s range of hydrogen fuel cell integration products. He additionally leads their team of engineers specialising in the development and integration of fuel cell systems and associated technologies, for motive and other applications.  He is a chartered engineer with 23 years’ experience, technically specialising in embedded controls in the aerospace, defence and automotive sectors.  His experience includes more than 10 years’ addressing the practical and commercial challenges of deploying fuel cell systems in motive applications.

Dominic Wynne: Senior Technical Solutions Specialist, ROSEN UK

Dominic is a Pipeline Integrity Engineer focussed on supporting clients looking to repurpose existing pipelines to hydrogen operation. He advises on integrity concerns, how to inspect and assess them, and what actions should be taken to ensure safe future operation. He has held various technical and commercial roles in both the UK and US during his 10 years in industry and holds a Masters in Pipeline Engineering from Newcastle University.