Ahmed Gailani

Profile

Summary

I am a Research Fellow in industrial decarbonisation at the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC). I am currently undertaking whole system research to explore how the UK industry can reduce its greenhouse gasses emissions to reach Net Zero by 2050. I am interested in modelling industrial energy use, decarbonisation technologies and future infrastructure availability.

I previously worked as an industrial renewable energy and battery consultant for the Renewable Energy Test Center (RETC) in California. I was also employed with the UN Migration Agency when I was part of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq. I received fully funded Studentships in 2014 and in 2017 to study for MSc and PhD degrees.

Prior to joining the University of Leeds, I studied for a PhD at Teesside University, where I analysed the techno-economic effectiveness of batteries in capacity markets by developing multi-physics battery ageing models. I have experience in battery experimental characterisation using battery cycles and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. I also taught undergraduate and postgraduate modules in engineering control and renewable energy sources.

Active projects / funding

• Climate Change Committe Secondement – PI – £62k

I  awarded a prestigious secondment to join the Climate Change Committee by IDRIC with time contribution from UKERC receiving total funding of £62k as principal investigator. Throught the secondment, I will focus on the modelling framework on industrial decarbonisation pathways, which will be critical in establishing the contribution of industry towards emissions in the Seventh Carbon Budget period and the CCC advise to the UK government.

• Energy Demand Research Centre – Named Researcher

I am part of the new £15 million Energy Demand Research Centre where I will explore industrial energy demand can be reduced on a local and national level across the UK to meet net zero targets.

• UK Energy Research Centre – Research Fellow 

I am currently undertaking whole system research to explore how the UK industry can reduce its greenhouse gasses emissions to reach Net Zero by 2050. I am interested in modelling industrial energy use, decarbonisation technologies and future infrastructure availability.

Past projects / funding

• Rethinking the Design of Great Britain’s Capacity Market (RED CAT) – PI – £3.75k

I was previousely the principal investigator an EPSRC SEN hub early career research grant titled “Rethinking the Design of Great Britain’s Capacity Market (RED CAT)”. The project is in collaboration with the University of Newcastle, the University of Strathclyde and nPower. RED CAT aims to investigate how a decentralised CM can send plausible investment signals to batteries, renewables and DSR while considering carbon emissions effects on capacity delivery and capacity market clearance.  

• Humber Industrial Clsuter Plan – Consultant – £6.3k

I am was an industrial decarbonisation consultant part of the Humber Industrial Cluster Plan (HICP) project led by Element Energy.

• Fully-funded MSc and PhD studentships – £121k

I received fully funded PhD and MSc stundntsships with a total value of £121k.

UKERC Activities:

Will electricity network constraints hamper the decarbonisation of UK industry?

The impact of increased energy costs on decarbonising UK industry

Analysis of the Latest Emissions Data for UK Manufacturing

Scottish Government: Draft Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan consultation

Review of Energy Policy 2022

Early Career Researcher Activities 

• Chair of the early career researcher’s committee at the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC)
• Member of the early career researcher’s committee at the Supergen Energy Networks Hub
• Speaker – BIEE: Net zero and the future of industrial energy demand
• Chair of UKERC webinar - Impacts of the Energy Crisis on UK Business: The Way Forward
• Delegate – EPSRC Grid Scale Energy Storage Workshop: I have been selected to attend an EPSRC workshop to formulate the next funding on energy storage.
• Chair of the UK Industry Session – UKERC Research Conference 2022

Research interests

My primary research interests include:

• Industrial decarbonisation modelling
• Bottom-up modelling
• Capacity market modelling
• Physics-based battery modelling,
• Battery lifetime analysis
• Energy policy

Qualifications

• PhD in Energy - Teesside University
• MSc in Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy Systems - Univerisity of Leeds
• BSc in Electrical Engineering - Anbar University - Iraq

Professional memberships

• British Institute of Energy Economics - BIEE