Dr Jonathan Radcliffe BSc PhD

Dr Jonathan Radcliffe

School of Chemical Engineering
Reader in Energy Systems and Policy
Fellow of the Institute for Global Innovation, Resilient Cities theme lead

Contact details

Telephone
+44 (0) 121 414 3685
Email
j.radcliffe@bham.ac.uk
Twitter
@UKenergyinnov8
Address
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
UK

Dr Jonathan Radcliffe is a Reader in Energy Systems and Policy, leading an interdisciplinary research team. His research interests are in energy system technology, policy and innovation, in particular the role of energy storage. He also leads the Resilient Cities theme of the Institute for Global Innovation, working with colleagues across the university to investigate the drivers of urban distress and the conditions for securing city resilience, with a focus on global cities that are undergoing transitions.

Jonathan has extensive knowledge of the policy-making process, having worked on science and innovation policy in Government and Parliament for 13 years. He has worked directly with policy makers, academics and business leaders at the highest level.

He has published on future energy innovation priorities, the role of energy storage, and flexibility options for the UK’s energy system. He has experience of working internationally, including recent projects with China, Korea, Brazil, Mexico and the EU.

Jonathan became a full-time academic in January 2015. He regularly presents at national and international conferences, and contributes articles to journals and magazines.

Jonathan's research includes cryogenic energy systems. Learn more about that research at Birmingham:

Qualifications

  • PhD in Experimental solid state physics, University of Cambridge, 1997
  • BSc in Physics, Imperial College London, 1993

Biography

Jonathan Radcliffe obtained a first-class Physics BSc at Imperial College London, with a year at Université de Paris Sud-Orsay in France. He went on to the University of Cambridge where he undertook a PhD at the Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Superconductivity, studying the physical properties of high-temperature superconductors.

Jonathan spent three years at the UK’s Meteorological Office, then in Bracknell. He was a scientist working in Numerical Weather Prediction, testing and developing the UK forecast model.

In 2000 he moved into policy, and spent eight years working around Westminster, including in Government covering the use of science in policy making, and with the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee.

Before joining the University of Birmingham, Jonathan was Head of the Analysis Team for the Energy Research Partnership, a high-level public-private body, providing strategic direction to energy innovation in the UK. He joined the Centre for Low Carbon Futures in 2013 as Energy Storage Programme Director, then as Acting Director until 2014.

Jonathan now has a position as Reader in Energy Systems and Policy at the University of Birmingham.

Teaching

  • Energy Economics’ third-year undergraduate module for engineering ‘with Energy’ courses.
  • Policy component of ‘Energy Systems and Policy’ post-graduate module.

Postgraduate supervision

PhD supervision in energy storage, systems and innovation.

Research

Research themes

Analysis of energy policy making, regulation and market frameworks under future energy system scenarios and for new energy technologies. Focus on how technologies (in particular energy storage) can enable energy systems to operate with increasing flexibility.

Research activity

Lead Energy Systems and Policy Group, and Resilient Cities theme of the Institute for Global Innovation, at the University of Birmingham.

PI and Centre Director for Manifest project (from September 2016), co-Director for SUPERGEN Energy Storage hub. Principal/Co-Investigator on several other research projects; with some smaller projects for industry and Government.

Current research projects (at April 2018):

Profile at ‘Gateway to Research’ for UK publicly funded projects: http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk/person/B1C9E6F7-2164-4BB9-ADA9-A84B0FEFED88

Principal Investigator

  • ‘Multi-scale ANalysis for Facilities for Energy Storage’ (Manifest), EPSRC (EP/N032888/1), September 2016 – August 2020 
  • ‘Energy Storage Prioritisation Assessment for Mexico’, Newton Fund (Mexico) Institutional Links, April 2018 – March 2019, with partners Instituto Nacional de Electricidad y Energías Limpias (INEEL)
  • ‘Assessing the innovation process for energy storage’, SUPERGEN Energy Storage Hub flexible fund

Co-Investigator

Previous research projects

PI for ‘Across scales in energy decision-making’ (ASCEND) June 2017 - Jan 2018
http://gow.epsrc.ac.uk/NGBOViewGrant.aspx?GrantRef=EP/R002231/1

‘Feasibility Study for requalification of marginal sites into LAES plant’, industry funded project, Mar 2016 – Mar 2017

Co-I on ‘Sub 1MW Cryogenic Low Emission Generators’ Feasibility Study, Innovate UK (131496), January 2014 – December 2014

PI for ‘Creating Business and Research Opportunities from the Development of Energy Storage Technologies’, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Prosperity Fund, May 2013 – March 2015

Other activities

  • University of Birmingham representative on Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) Research Committee
  • External Examiner for MSc Environmental Technology Energy Policy, Imperial College
  • Member of EPSRC Associate Peer Review College
  • Member of European Commission BRIDGE Working Group for smart grid and energy storage projects

Publications

Reports, Letters, Articles etc

 

From previous roles

  • Reviewer and publisher of:  ‘Liquid Air in the energy and transport systems: Opportunities for industry and innovation in the UK’, Centre for Low Carbon Futures (2013)

 Lead author for:

  • ‘Delivering flexibility options for the energy system: priorities for innovation’, Energy Research Partnership (2012)
  • ‘The future role for energy storage in the UK’, Energy Research Partnership (2011)
  • ‘Energy Innovation Milestones to 2050’, Energy Research Partnership (2010)
  • ‘Assessing UK Energy Technologies’, Energy Research Partnership (2009)
  • ‘Strategic Decision Making for Technology Policy’, Council for Science and Technology (2007)
  • ‘Pathways to the future: the early careers of researcher in the UK’, Council for Science and Technology (2007)
  • ‘Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies: A Review of Government's Progress on its Policy Commitments’ Council for Science and Technology (2007)

Expertise

Dr Jonathan Radcliffe is a Reader in Energy Systems and Policy, leading an interdisciplinary research team. His research interests are in energy system technology, policy and innovation, in particular the role of energy storage. He also leads the Resilient Cities theme of the Institute for Global Innovation, working with colleagues across the university to investigate the drivers of urban distress and the conditions for securing city resilience, with a focus on global cities that are undergoing transitions.

Policy experience

Through his role in the Energy Storage Supergen Hub and several other research projects, Dr Radcliffe has gained experience of working with policy makers and regulators at local, national and EU levels. Some published outputs include:

Previous to joining the University of Birmingham, Dr Radcliffe worked on science and innovation policy in Government, including as Deputy Secretary to the Council for Science and Technology (2007 – 2008), and as Committee Specialist for the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee (2003 – 2006).