Smart Innovation Hub – Keele University
An introduction to the world of Energy Sustainability: Exploring the challenges we face
Join our panel of speakers break down the critical role clean energy will play in the future.
Smart Innovation Hub – Live Event
THE SMART ENERGY NETWORK DEMONSTRATOR
Introduction to the world of Energy Sustainability: Exploring the challenges
01 December 2020 – 12:00pm
Sustainability, Greenhouse Gases, Fossil Fuels, Solar Panels, NetZero 2050, with all these buzzwords flying around it’s easy to understand why so many people are left confused in the world of Energy Sustainability.
Join our panel of expert speakers who will discuss some of the challenges we currently face in the world of Energy sustainability.
This event offers an introduction to some of the exciting innovative technologies that have developed over the past few years including some of the great work taking place at Keele University and what changes we need to adopt to live in a world where human energy demands and nature can live in harmony.

As outlined by Professor Chris Fogwill, Director of Keele’s Institute for Sustainable Futures: ‘Keele’s Sustainability programmes – including the Smart Energy Network Demonstrator programme, provides the road map for the UK’s net zero energy transition, where digitisation and decentralisation of the energy network will be key to achieving the UK’s commitment to net zero. Here at Keele we embed sustainability in all that we do, and working with our regional, national, and international partners, including SME’s, start-ups and established names like Siemens, Cadent Gas and ENGIE we are driving integrated technological solutions that ensure consumers are at the centre of the design of future energy grids.’
The following webinar will stream live from the Smart Innovation Hub at Keele University in Staffordshire in partnership with Hixon Group. The online sessions are a great way for you to share your questions and ideas with experts in the field.</h3
To keep up with the latest business related news on sustainability and development please follow @KeeleBusiness on twitter or visit www.keele.ac.uk/send
The SEND project (ref. 32R16P00706) is part-funded through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the England 2014 to 2020 European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Growth Programme, and is available to ERDF eligible companies. The project is also receiving funds from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
Live Session Hosts
Meet the Presenters

Dr Sharon George
Course Director for MSc Environmental Sustainability and Green Technology at Keele University
Dr Sharon George is a senior lecturer, Course Director MSc in Environmental Sustainability & Green Technology, and a researcher in Keele’s Institute for Sustainable Futures. She holds....
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a PhD in chemistry and is a specialist in sustainable development, technology development and deployment. Collaborators include local government authorities, businesses, entrepreneurs and the public on engagement projects involving technology and behaviour change. Current research includes: Technology feasibility studies, LCBEP – EU funded project implementing low carbon technologies into local UK businesses and SEND (£15M) the largest single, integrated electricity, gas and heat smart energy network demonstrator in Europe. She has worked extensively on technology development with academia and businesses including the lead PI role on Innovate UK projects on barriers to EV technology, Inductive Charging for Electric Vehicles and solar cooling. She is the lead for a successful GCRF funded collaboration with key partners in Bangladesh. Current research on resource and distributed energy technology focusses internationally

Professor David Healey MBA
Managing Director at Smart Grid Solutions, Research Professor for Smart Energy Network at Keele University
For over 25 years, David has held influential “Strategic and Thought Leadership” positions in the public and private sector, across the energy, telecommunications and climate change...
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industries. Today David advises a number of Government and Commercial entities on the energy transition to a digital, distributed and decarbonised system, including;
- 2014 appointed to ongoing role of Industry Expert Advisor to the UN
- 2017 appointed as Professor in Practice at Keele University UK
- 2019 Invited to join the UK Government Energy Data Taskforce
- 2019 invited to OFGEM Industry Working Group regarding Government regulatory strategy review of energy utility industry

Ian Lloyd
Head of Microgrid Solutions at Siemens
Ian’s career started in the electricity supply industry in the apprentice scheme of the Central Electricity Generating Board at Aberthaw Power station in South Wales, and proudly...
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seving as an electrical fitter until industry privatisation.
Over the following 10 years he became a specialist in the semiconductor industry supporting the manufacturing process for integrated circuits on silicon wafers in dry plasma etch and vertical thermal chemical vapour deposition reactors.
Following the global industry decline in the value of the semiconductor market, Ian re-joined the electricity supply industry with Northern Powergrid and led the network technology aspect of the customer led network revolution project, he continued with the development and delivery of business and new technology innovation in this exciting aspect of electricity and energy distribution.
Having led the Siemens Technical programme of works and strategic growth plans, Ian now Heads up Microgrid Solutions, driving ideas and systems that will enable a smart infrastructure more suitable for our future driven by decreasing our Carbon impact and improving cost reduction techniques.
Ian is a member of the Institution of engineering and technology, lives in Tynemouth, a coastal village in the north east of England, and has three children. He is a practitioner and instructor as a 3rd Degree black belt in the martial art of Tae Kwon-do

Zoe Robinson
Director of Education for Sustainability at Keele University
Professor Zoe Robinson is a Professor of Sustainability in Higher Education at Keele University, where she also holds the role of Director of Education for Sustainability, and the Co-Director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures. Professor Robinson is a researcher, educator and practitioner in the field of sustainability transformations, and has worked...
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as a Sustainability Scientist for 15 years, in a wide range of sustainability transformation projects from educational institution change to community-based energy projects funded through Defra’s Climate Challenge Fund, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, Research Councils UK, Institute of Physics amongst others, and working in partnership with a wide range of community organisations, networks, councils and businesses Professor Robinson is currently an academic lead on the Smart Energy Network Demonstrator and HyDeploy projects at Keele University, and is carrying out research on consumer perceptions of hydrogen, and is leading on a user-centric design work package as part of a smart local energy system design project funded through the Prospering from the Energy Revolution theme of the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, as well as working in partnership with the Centre for Alternative Technology and Carbon Literacy Project supporting local councils in Staffordshire take action on the climate emergency
Event Registration
Register to Attend – Online Interactive Session.
Our Business Clinics take place online streaming live from a variety of locations across Staffordshire, so there will always be support available to you, regardless of your location. The online sessions are great a way for you to discuss your business needs and ideas with one of our qualified business advisors.
