Dr Saeed Harati FGS, AFHEA, AMEI

Dr Saeed Harati

School of Chemical Engineering
Research Fellow

Contact details

Email
s.harati@bham.ac.uk
View my research portal
Address
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Dr Saeed Harati is a Research Fellow in the UKRI Hub on Hydrogen Integration for Accelerated Energy Transitions (HI-ACT) at University of Birmingham. His research focuses on long-duration energy storage technologies and whole-system approaches for hydrogen integration.

Qualifications

  •  PhD in Energy Engineering – Underground Hydrogen Storage, 2025
  • MSc in Subsurface Reservoir Engineering, 2020
  • BSc in Petroleum Engineering, 2016

Biography

Dr Saeed Harati’s research sits at the intersection of hydrogen, energy storage, and energy-system planning. He is interested in a fairly simple question with a complicated answer: how can we produce, store and move hydrogen at the scale needed for future low-carbon energy systems? A particular focus of his work is large-scale, long-duration underground hydrogen storage and how it can support system flexibility and resilience.

He looks at this problem from both below and above ground. His work connects the physics and engineering of subsurface storage with whole-energy-system modelling, geospatial analysis and techno-economic assessment. This allows him to examine the links between hydrogen production, storage, transport infrastructure and demand, as well as the policy and regulatory conditions that shape where and how these systems can be deployed.

He leads several externally funded research projects, with a focus on long-duration energy storage, and works with government, industry and national infrastructure organisations to use technical evidence to inform energy systems planning and policy. His background is in subsurface engineering, and his PhD at Teesside University examined the geological, engineering and operational factors affecting large-scale underground hydrogen storage in the UK.

Teaching

  • MSc Energy Systems and Policy
  • MSc Final Year Research Project

Research

  • Hydrogen integration within multi-vector energy systems

  • Long-duration energy storage and underground hydrogen storage

  • System flexibility, resilience and the value of energy storage

  • Spatial planning, siting and resource constraints for hydrogen infrastructure

  • Energy policy, regulation and security for hydrogen systems

Other activities

  • Executive Guest Editor, VSI on Hydrogen Integration, Gas Science and Engineering
  • Editorial Board Member, Gas Science and Engineering
  • Editorial Board Member, Deep Underground Science and Engineering
  • Organising Committee Member, UK ECR Net Zero Conference 2026; Chair of the Hydrogen and Alternative Fuels Panel

Publications

Recent publications

Article

Chen, P, Zhang, Y, Harati, S, Walker, S & Dearn, K 2026, 'From Ocean Motion to Green Fuel: Integration of Hybrid Wave-Tidal Energy and Offshore Hydrogen Production', Energy. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2026.140308

Harati, S, Rezaei Gomari, S, Rahman, MA, Hassan, R, Hassan, I, Sleiti, AK & Hamilton, MP 2026, 'Integrating advanced frequency-domain signal processing with machine learning for accurate leak detection in subsurface CO2 storage', Gas Science and Engineering, vol. 145, 205798. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgsce.2025.205798

Harati, S & Rezaei Gomari, S 2025, 'Designing Geometrically Stable Salt Caverns for Underground Hydrogen Storage: A Case Study from Northeast England', Energy & Fuels, vol. 39, no. 35, pp. 17067–17082. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.energyfuels.5c02957

Harati, S, Rezaei Gomari, S, Ramegowda, M & Pak, T 2024, 'Multi-criteria site selection workflow for geological storage of hydrogen in depleted gas fields: A case for the UK', International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, vol. 51, no. Part A, pp. 143-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.10.345

Harati, S, Rezaei Gomari, S, Rahman, MA, Hassan, R, Hassan, I, Sleiti, AK & Hamilton, M 2024, 'Performance analysis of various machine learning algorithms for CO2 leak prediction and characterization in geo-sequestration injection wells', Process Safety and Environmental Protection, vol. 183, pp. 99-110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2024.01.007

Harati, S, Rezaei Gomari, S, Gasanzade, F, Bauer, S, Pak, T & Orr, C 2023, 'Underground hydrogen storage to balance seasonal variations in energy demand: Impact of well configuration on storage performance in deep saline aquifers', International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, vol. 48, no. 69, pp. 26894-26910. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2023.03.363

Abstract

Harati, S, Gasanzade, F, Gomari, SR & Pak, T 2022, 'Optimization of operational parameters for geological hydrogen storage in a saline aquifer - A Sothern North Sea Case Study', 14th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Porous Media, 30/05/22 - 2/06/22.

Conference contribution

Harati, S & Gomari, SR 2025, Towards Long-Term Operational and Geo-Mechanical Stability of Underground Hydrogen Storage in Salt Caverns. in IOR+ 2025 - 23rd European Symposium on IOR . EarthDoc, pp. 1-11, 23rd European Symposium on IOR, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 2/04/25. https://doi.org/10.3997/2214-4609.202531046

Harati, S, Gomari, SR, Rahman, MA, Hassan, R, Hassan, I, Sleiti, AK & Hamilton, M 2024, Enhancing Safety in Geological Carbon Sequestration: Supervised Machine Learning for Early Detection and Mitigation of CO2 Leakage in Injection Wells. in International Petroleum Technology Conference., IPTC-23737-EA, OnePetra, International Petroleum Technology Conference 2024, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, 12/02/24. https://doi.org/10.2523/IPTC-23737-EA

View all publications in research portal

Expertise

Dr Harati's policy experience includes a fellowship secondment at the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), focused on assessing the system value of differentiated long-duration hydrogen storage options across future UK energy scenarios. In this role, they combine energy-system modelling with policy analysis to examine renewable energy balancing, energy security and system resilience, and translate scenario evidence into recommendations for hydrogen infrastructure planning. Beyond the secondment, his wider policy-facing work includes collaboration with national organisations such as the Environment Agency and NESO on hydrogen resource planning.