Battery Energy Storage 2023

Matt Aldridge: Head of Electricity Storage, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Matt is the Head of Electricity Storage Policy in the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. His policy portfolio covers all scales of electricity storage from grid to domestic. Previously Matt was the Head of Delivery for Smart Energy and has worked as the Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Energy as well as several rother roles across government including the Home Office, Department for International Trade, and the Cabinet Office. Matt holds an MSc in Social Policy from the London School of Economics.

James Whiteford: Electricity Modelling and Regional Strategy Manager, National Grid ESO

After completing a PhD investigating the interactions between the gas and electricity transmission networks in 2010, James Whiteford joined National Grid and has worked in a number of roles focussed on gas and electricity network development. His current role is in the Electricity System Operator where he is responsible for leading on the electricity supply modelling and assumptions within the annual Future Energy Scenarios. The Future Energy Scenarios represent a range of different, credible ways to decarbonise our energy system as we strive towards the 2050 target.

Tony Roulstone: Chairman, Bracchium Ltd

Tony Roulstone established and teaches on the Nuclear Energy Masters programme in the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge. His research interests are the economics and safety of nuclear power with a focus on Small Modular Reactors. He is leading several SMR research projects in the UK. Also, he is involved with projects on the industrialisation and the economics of fusion and the design of energy systems for net-zero in 2050.

He received his degree from the University of Cambridge and has spent much of his career in the nuclear and aerospace industries, starting with UKAEA working on fast reactor systems and including 20 years at Rolls-Royce becoming MD of the Nuclear Group in 1992.

He is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, a Fellow of the Nuclear Institute. He is an independent adviser on SMR design.

Richard Dawson: Technical Director, LiNa Energy

Richard Dawson, is LiNa Energy’s Technical Director. He has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College, and an MEng in Engineering Science from Cambridge University. Richard leads the team that implements LiNa Energy’s technical strategy. He helped develop the original concept for the LiNa cell and was part of the team that led the spin-out from Lancaster University. Prior to LiNa Energy, Richard gained experience in developing novel electrochemical technologies at Ceres Power, AFC Energy and at Lancaster University where he was an academic.

Paul Tillett: Commercial Director, AMTE Power

Paul has a background in the financial services industry. During his 30-year career in the city he worked at various Investment Banks, such as SBC Warburg, Lehman Brothers and Barclays Capital working in cross currency sales in fixed income, FX and futures and options.

On leaving the city he decided to pursue property development in a company that he established in 2009 and set up a consultancy looking at the property sector where he advised various companies.

Paul was an original investor in AMTE in 2014, has been both an NED on the AMTE board and subsequently an ED when he joined the company back in 2019. Paul’s role within AMTE initially focussed on maintaining investor relations and help bring to AMTE new technologies in the battery space that needed scaling of their technologies. Additionally, he established and maintained relationships with AMTE’s customer base building out a sales function and team within AMTE.

Paul resigned from the board in December 2020, and moved back into the role of Head of Special Projects, and has now become Interim Sales and Commercial Director.

Emmanuel Eweka: CTO (Cell Technology), AMTE Power

Emmanuel Eweka is a recognised battery expert world-wide with over 30 years' experience in developing novel electrochemical energy storage solutions for applications in the military, industry, and commercial sectors. Postdoctoral research fellow in the Southampton Electrochemistry Group. Emmanuel was one of the pioneers of the liquid crystal templating method for the deposition of nanoporous metal oxide cathodes for lithium batteries. Emmanuel Eweka joined DERA (now QinetiQ) in September 2000 and as Technical Lead / Chief Battery Scientist and Electrochemist, delivered several successful programmes on lithium batteries (Primary Li/CFx and lithium ion) and supercapacitors. Managed and built a multidisciplinary batteries team and state of the art R&D and cylindrical cell prototyping facility at Dyson. Whilst at Dyson, Emmanuel’s team delivered a highpower cell with competitive performance against commercial state of cells and Emmanuel established and built external battery research programmes with Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Emmanuel is currently CTO(Cell Technology) at AMTE Power where he also heads the cell development activities.

David Ainsworth: Battery Technology Advisor, BP

David holds a PhD in materials for solid-state batteries from the University of St Andrews where he was a member of Sir Peter Bruce’s research group. Prior to joining bp David spent 8 years as CTO of Oxis Energy Ltd, leading the R&D effort to develop high-energy Lithium-Sulfur batteries for a range of applications. Since joining bp in 2021,  David has held the role of Battery Technology advisor were he has been involved in  building business cases for battery energy storage in relation to bp’s transition growth engines. David’s also is responsible for investigating new battery and energy storage technologies for bp.

Daniel Murrant: Networks and Energy Storage Practice Manager, Energy Systems Catapult

Dr Dan Murrant leads Energy System Catapult’s projects providing modelling, analysis and insight into the role of energy storage, flexible technologies, and energy networks within complex multi-vector future energy systems. He also provides expertise in these topics to other business areas within ESC. A chartered engineer, he is an experienced subject matter expert with over 10 years’ experience in renewable energy systems, energy system flexibility and electricity networks. He has previously held roles at the University of Birmingham and National Grid ESO.  Dan holds a PhD in the Water-energy nexus from the University of Birmingham.

Ben de Laune: Research Project Manager, The Faraday Institution

Ben de Laune joined the Faraday Institution as Research Project Manager in November 2021. He is responsible for managing the ReLiB, SafeBatt, Degradation and Nexgenna projects as well as the Industry Sprints programme.

Ben completed his PhD at the University of Birmingham in the field of advanced material chemistry. During this time, he discovered some new, rare, properties of a little explored class of materials that displayed technological potential. He went on to secure EPSRC post-doctoral funding to further the research with the intention of providing technological proof of concept.

Ben subsequently worked in the nuclear industry for Radioactive Waste Management, part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, charged with siting and designing a final, safe, resting place for the UK’s radioactive waste.

Nick Provost: Commercial Manager, Balance Power

As Commercial Manager at Balance Power, Nick is responsible for developing strategies to maximise Balance Power’s commercial position over both short, and long-term periods. This has involved working with external parties to determine revenue impacts for projects that have unconventional grid connection parameters and characteristics. Starting in 2023, Nick’s role has expanded to include being the General Manager of Net Zero Power, a Balance Power group company set up to deliver energy project development expertise direct to businesses to help them unlock more challenging decarbonisation projects.

Prior to joining Balance Power, Nick spent over 10 years working within the sales and pre-contract commercial environment for an energy solutions company and big-six utility supplier. He successfully built a reputation as the ‘go-to’ person for all energy modelling requirements which was used to underpin energy performance contracts worth £150m+ in both the UK and USA.

Tristram Denton: Business Development Director, MoltexFLEX

Tris Denton has more than 15 years’ experience developing projects in the UK energy sector. Initially a Government Relations, PR and Policy specialist, Tris later re-trained in major programme delivery, with particular focus on programme development and commercial structuring.

Starting his career with the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tris then spent four years with the UK’s nuclear trade association, NIA, at the time of the much-anticipated global nuclear renaissance. Following this, Tris helped establish nuclear joint venture Horizon Nuclear Power in the UK after it was established by E.ON and RWE, staying with the Development Company through its sale to Engineering giant Hitachi. A spell outside nuclear followed with consultancy Edelman, before Tris re-joined Hitachi to support development of the programme team to deliver the Wylfa Newydd nuclear plant. More than five years with Hitachi saw Tris play a crucial role in the management teams which delivered GDA of the ABWR reactor, establishment of an EPC delivery team, re-structuring of the programme, and ultimately the managed exit of Hitachi from UK nuclear.

In 2019, Tris joined the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) to help lead establishment of the STEP Fusion programme. Accountable for all Commercial and Programme Development, Tris notably ran the process to select and acquire the West Burton site for STEP, as well as designing the Target Operating Model and Industrial Delivery model for the world-leading programme.

In January 2023, Tris returned to the private sector, joining UK SME MoltexFLEX. Here, he is working to establish the commercial route to market for the FLEX nuclear reactor, and leading work to advance the businesses cutting-edge GridReserve Energy storage product.

Tris is a father of two, and is passionately committed to modernising the workplace for all - ensuring home-life balance, parent-friendly working, and inclusivity in the workplace.

Michael Willemot: COO/Sales Manager , OXTO Energy

Michael has contributed to the development of a global sales pipeline. He has established several partnerships with engineering firms & distributors. He works with engineering teams to address customer needs.

Michael has worked in energy sectors several years, in the renewables, oil & gas and forestry industries. His background is IT engineering and geography; he worked 10 years on geographic information systems. He has been involved with the energy storage industry for the past 6 years, establishing key networks and participating as a speaker at international conferences related to energy storage and renewable energy.