The Birmingham Energy Institute hosted the first Shaping the Way Ahead event (Thursday 28 May), which bought together academics and professional services staff who work in energy and energy related areas across the University of Birmingham.

The event explored activities within the Institute and the recent announcements relating to the Energy Research Accelerator investments in the region.

Professor Martin Freer, Director of the Birmingham Energy Institute hosted the event and shared the vision, ambition and mission of the institute.

Toby Peters, Visiting Professor in Power and Cold Economy at the University also discussed his views on the latest policy commission on ‘Doing Cold Smarter’, Chaired by Lord Teverson, Spokesman for Energy and Climate Change in the House of Lords, and led by Toby Peters and Professor Martin Freer, and the wider opportunities that exist.

The event concluded with a discussion of areas for future policy commissions, inviting ideas and applications for one day workshops to bring together stakeholders to explore new research opportunities. This followed with a discussion about where the institute might target some of its efforts and resources.

 Professor Martin Freer, Director of the Birmingham Energy Institute said:  

The complexity of the energy challenge requires systems level thinking, drawing on the breadth of our capabilities from policy and economics to new technologies. With our national and international collaborators, from both academia and industry, we are helping to define the landscape for the future. The Birmingham Energy Institute brings together people and ideas, it enables funding and training and delivers creative solutions and human talent.

This event sets the foundations for a new series of collaborative events to bring together researchers across the University of Birmingham. 

About the Birmingham Energy Institute
140 academics at the University of Birmingham are engaged in energy and energy related research and development. The Birmingham Energy Institute is a focal point for the University and its national and international partners, to create change in the way we deliver, consume and think about energy. The focus being ‘Energy systems’, ‘The Business of Energy’, ‘Energy and Transport’ and ‘Breakthroughs in Energy Technologies’. Co-ordinated research, education and the development of global partnerships is at the heart of the Birmingham Energy Institute vision drawing on recognised centres of excellence in Energy Storage, Nuclear Energy, Fuel Cells and their Fuels, Railway and Automotive Systems and Energy Policy and Economics.