In November 2023, Professor Ben Hughes joined the Energy Institute at the University of Sheffield as a Professorial Research Fellow, joining the leadership team to support innovative, interdisciplinary energy research at the University.
The appointment will enable the Energy Institute to continue its world-class activity with an expanded focus as a result of Professor Hughes’ outstanding interdisciplinary research background in low-carbon energy in the built environment.
Joining the Department of Mechanical Engineering with a secondment to the Energy Institute, Professor Hughes joins the Energy Institute with a vision to build a transdisciplinary research centre which will focus on understanding and researching energy demand reduction. His work will also support the Energy Institute in producing high-quality research outputs and exploring partnership and knowledge exchange opportunities.
Professor Hughes joins the University from a three-year term as the Head of the School of Engineering at the University of Hull, responsible for Mechanical, Electrical, Medical and Chemical Engineering Disciplines. During this role he led the School to its highest national league table position and quadrupled the School’s research income. He has held previous academic appointments at the universities of Strathclyde, Sheffield, Leeds and Heriot Watt University in both Mechanical and Civil Engineering Schools.
His personal research is in both fundamental and applied low-carbon heating and cooling in the built environment, and his current research grants include projects with the ESPRC Decarbonised Heating and Cooling Call, the EPSRC Supergen Thermal Energy Storage Challenge, Innovate UK Energy Catalyst and an Innovate UK Smart Award.
Speaking about his appointment, Professor Hughes said: “I am delighted to re-join the University of Sheffield, and excited to work with the Energy Institute as the university’s flagship research institute. At a time when the region has been awarded the UK's first investment zone, we have now created a unique opportunity to establish a truly low-carbon city region and become the heart of the UK's green economy.”
Professor Mohamed Pourkashanian, Head of the Energy Institute, said: “We are delighted to welcome Professor Ben Hughes to the Energy Institute. As an academic with an excellent track record of high-impact research and world-leading innovation, Ben is the ideal candidate to lead from within the Energy Institute, inspiring and facilitating interdisciplinary activity amongst our members and delivering more cutting-edge research into low-carbon energy.”