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Dr Rupert Gammon

Job: Associate Professor

Faculty: Computing, Engineering and Media

School/department: School of Engineering and Sustainable Development

Research group(s): Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development

Address: Â鶹Íø, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH, United Kingdom

T: +44 (0)116 257 7877

E: rgammon@dmu.ac.uk

W: /iesd

 

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Personal profile

Rupert Gammon focusses on high-impact, needs-driven, applied research and teaching that tackles the climate crisis and its associated societal and environmental issues. 

Bringing technical expertise developed over a career in industry, consultancy and academia, Dr Gammon collaborates internationally with engineers, social scientists, businesses and policy-makers to facilitate a ‘just transition’ to a sustainable society in which all can thrive. 

Applying a whole-system approach, his research integrates clean energy pathways with practical solutions for maximising social benefit while minimising environmental harm.  Examples of this include setting up Africa’s first solar-powered electric taxi service, creating the UK’s first integrated hydrogen and renewable energy mini-grid, participating in development of photovoltaic cooking systems to reduce dependence on unhealthy and environmentally-destructive fuels like wood and charcoal, and enhancing students’ learning experience and career prospects through supervising the design and construction of an electric vehicle for Â鶹Íø’s entry into the annual Formula Student competition.

Publications and outputs

Research interests/expertise

Net-zero energy systems, sustainable transport and international development:

  • Smart grids, off-grid energy access, energy storage, demand shaping/responsive demand, hydrogen energy systems (including electrolysis and fuel cells), renewable energy, remote monitoring and control
  • Electric vehicles, hydrogen/fuel cell powered vehicles, solar recharging of EVs
  • Energy systems for the developing world, fuel-less cooking

Areas of teaching

Sustainable energy and transport systems:

  • Renewable energy, smart grids, energy storage, demand shaping, whole-system integration
  • Fuel cells and hydrogen production by electrolysis
  • Zero-emission vehicles, electric vehicle drivetrains, Mobility as a Service (MaaS)
  • Supervision of Â鶹Íø’s entry of an electric racing car into the IMechE’s annual Formula Student competition

Qualifications

Ph.D.: Hydrogen & Renewable Energy Integration, Loughborough University, 2006

M.Sc.:  Renewable Energy System Technologies, Loughborough University, 2001

B.A. (Hons): 3D Industrial Design (Eng), Leeds Polytechnic, 1988

Courses taught

Undergraduate module (BSc): Energy for Transport Applications

Postgraduate module (MSc): Sustainable Transport

Projects

  • Solar-powered Mobility-as-a-Service for Africa (Solar MaaS Africa), Principal Investigator, 2021 – 2024, Industrial Fellowship, £56,000, funded by RAEng, developing commercial solar recharging system for electric truck delivery service in Africa
  • SIGMA,  Co-Investigator, 2020 – 2024, £250,000 project, funded by ESRC, on sustainability, inclusiveness and governance of mini-grids in Africa
  • Solar Taxi, Principal Investigator, 2018 – 2019, Â鶹Íø internal funding (£8,000), plus donations from Nissan (£35,000) and Sharp (£40,000), sustainable transport and demand-shaping for renewable-powered mini-grids in developing countries
  • Battolyser, Principal Investigator, 2017 – 2019 HEIF funding (£26,000), development of a novel hybrid battery-electrolyser device for electricity storage and hydrogen production
  • RangeX Tender, Principal Investigator, 2015 – present, RCIF and HEIF funding (£84,000), development of demountable range extender, powered by fuel cell, for electric vehicles
  • ESCoBox, Principal Investigator, 2013 – 2016, £825,000 project funded by EPSRC, (Â鶹Íø budget: £220,000), applying smart grid techniques to mini-grids in the developing world to reduce the cost and improve the reliability of energy services in off-grid communities
  • Complex Adaptive Systems, Cognitive Agents & Distributed Energy (CASCADE), Senior Research Fellow, 2011 – 2013, £922,000 project funded by EPSRC (Â鶹Íø budget: £220,000), exploring and developing smart grid concepts

Consultancy work

 

Currently available to undertake consultancy in the following subject areas:

  • Sustainable energy systems:
      • Smart grids
      • Off-grid energy access
      • Energy storage
      • Demand shaping/responsive demand
      • Hydrogen energy systems (including electrolysis and fuel cells)
      • Renewable energy
      • Remote monitoring and control
  • Sustainable transport:
      • Electric vehicle (EV) applications, divetrains and battery systems
      •  Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs)
      • Smart recharging of EVs, battery swapping, recharging from renewable energy
  • International development:
      • Energy systems for the developing world (smart mini-grids)
      • Sustainable transport systems, EVs
      • Fuel-less (solar-powered) electric cooking

Consultancies undertaken at Â鶹Íø:

  • University of Science and Technology (USET), Co-Investigator, 2021 – 2024, working with Gambian Government and Kwame Nkruma University of Science and Technology, Ghana, to set up a new university in The Gambia (Â鶹Íø budget: £1.5M)
  • Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS), Â鶹Íø Team Leader, 2019 – 2023, Project led by Loughborough University, funded by UK Government and World Bank, catalysing Africa’s transition to clean electric cooking (Â鶹Íø budget: £300,000)
  • My Electric Avenue, Â鶹Íø Team Leader,         2013 – 2016, Part of a £9M project, led by EA Technology, part funded by Ofgem’s Low Carbon Networks Fund, assessing the acceptability of smart EV charging for grid protection (Â鶹Íø income: £170,000)
  • 2050 Energy Infrastructure Outlook, Â鶹Íø Consultant, 2012 – 2013, funded by the Energy Technologies Institute, led by Buro Happold, future hydrogen energy infrastructure assessment (Â鶹Íø income: £18,000)
  • Technology Capability Study for the Sustainable Energy Sector in Northern Ireland, Â鶹Íø Consultant, 2013, contributing to low-carbon technology capability assessment, led by Orion Innovations, funded by NI Government (Â鶹Íø income: £4,000)

Consultancies undertaken before working at Â鶹Íø:

As co-founder and Managing Director of Bryte Energy Ltd, 2005 – 2010, consultancy services provided to private and public sector customers, from micro-companies up to international blue chips, including: E.On UK, Cenex, Hydrogenics Corp, Leicestershire County Council, Mirabaud Securities, East Midlands Development Agency.    

Current research students

  • Sylvia Delpratt, FT (1st Supervisor): Comparative Analysis of Off-grid Photovoltaic (PV) Systems and Business’s Performance in The Gambia and Kenya
  • Michaela Xuereb, PT (1st Supervisor): Feasibility of Electric Vehicle Uptake in Small Islands Using Malta as a Case Study
  • Grant Webb, PT (1st Supervisor): Management of Hydrogen Refuelling Infrastructure at a National Level for Grid Balancing in a Low-Carbon Economy
  • Zedong Zheng, FT (2nd Supervisor): Evolutionary Algorithms for Resource Allocation in Smart Grid

Externally funded research grants information

  • Solar-powered Mobility-as-a-Service for Africa (Solar MaaS Africa), funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering. Industrial Fellowship, developing commercial solar recharging system for electric truck delivery service in Africa.  Dates: 2021 – 2024. Role: Principal Investigator, collaborating with OX Vehicle Trust
  • Sustainability, Inclusiveness and Governance of Mini-Grids in Africa (SIGMA), funded by ESRC.   Dates: 2020 – 2024. Role: Co-Investigator,
  • ESCoBox, funded by EPSRC, DfID and DECC. Research project developing a smart device for monitoring, billing, control and evolution of energy systems of income-generating capacity in the developing world. Dates: September 2013 – August 2016. Role: Principal Investigator.  International partners include Durham University, the University of Nairobi, the Institute for Development Studies, access:energy, bboxx, Practical Action and Ashden.
  • Complex Adaptive Systems, Cognitive Agents and Distributed Energy (CASCADE), funded by EPSRC. Collaborative Research on smart grids. Dates: May 2010 – April 2013. Role: joined the project as a Senior Research Fellow in June 2011. Collaboration with Cranfield University.

Case studies

 

 

 

Title of the case study

Hydrogen Future Study - HyFuture

Describe the Impact

(nature of the impact, how far reaching, beneficiaries, benefits)

Formed the basis of the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association’s roadmap, now embedded in Scottish energy policy. Benefits to Scottish industry.

Impact indicator

(see list)
  • Progress towards sustainable development, including environmental sustainability
  • Better informed public policy-making or improved public services

Research which led to impact

(what, when conducted, who undertook)

Study undertaken by Dr Rupert Gammon and John Barton, while Directors of Bryte Energy Ltd, in collaboration with Orion Innovations LLP

References to key output (papers etc) which underpin impact

Hydrogen Future Study – HyFuture Report, May 2008

Scotland’s Hydrogen Future Study, All Energy, May 2008

HyFuture Stakeholders Workshop, July 2008

Evidence of impact

(external reports, statements, contact details of users which could corroborate the impact and/or the units contribution

Scottish Government’s Renewables Action Plan, 28 July 2009, and Updates: February 2010, August 2010, February 2011, March 2011

 

 

Title of the case study

British Midlands Hydrogen Forum

Describe the Impact

(nature of the impact, how far reaching, beneficiaries, benefits)
  • Regular contact with UK Government departments, underpinned by consensus building among hydrogen and fuel cell stakeholders, led to greater understanding in policy circles and reinvigoration of the sector
  • Led to creation of the UKHA (later the UK HFCA), Midlands Hydrogen Ring and UK-HyNet (the precursor to UK H2 Mobility)
  • Boosted international profile of the region and the UK in the hydrogen and fuel cell sector. Establishing the UK as a ‘fast follower’ (behind Japan, California and Germany).
  • Membership of 100+ individuals across 50+ companies and institutions
  • Beneficiaries: Hydrogen and fuel cell stakeholders in academia and industry. Also, job creation and quality of life benefits to wider community.

Impact indicator

(see list)
  • Delivering highly skilled people
  • Creating new businesses, improving the performance of existing businesses
  • Attracting R&D investment from global business
  • Progress towards sustainable development, including environmental sustainability
  • Better informed public policy-making
  • Cultural enrichment, including improved public engagement with science and research 

Research which led to impact

(what, when conducted, who undertook)

Research into the integration of hydrogen and renewable energy systems and whole-system energy modelling, undertaken by Rupert Gammon as a PhD student at CREST, Loughborough University, and while Director of Bryte Energy Ltd, 2001 – 2011, in collaboration with Dr John Barton (also a Director of Bryte Energy and an RA at CREST) and many others (e.g. Universities of Birmingham, Coventry, Nottingham, Leicester, Loughborough, plus various companies)

References to key output (papers etc) which underpin impact
  • UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association Response to the Energy and Climate Change Committee’s Consultation on Energy Security, March 2011
  • A new and compelling case for hydrogen – clean fuel from smart grids: a new green currency, UK HFCA presentation to Prof David MacKay (chief scientific adviser to DECC), October 2010
  • A new and compelling case for hydrogen – clean fuel from smart grids: a new green currency, UKHA presentation to DECC, May 2010
  • A Hydrogen Framework for the East Midlands, July 2010
  • Opportunities for hydrogen and fuel cells in the East Midlands, December 2009

Evidence of impact

(external reports, statements, contact details of users which could corroborate the impact and/or the units contribution
  • The Technology Strategy Board call, Fuel Cells and Hydrogen: Whole System Integration, announced in Sept 2011 indicated a significant shift within various Government Departments (e.g. DECC, DfT, BIS) in their perception of the hydrogen and fuel cell sector to align exactly with the view championed by the BMHF
  • Increased interest in the use of hydrogen and fuel cells in low-carbon transport 

 

 

Title of the case study

Future Energy Scenario Assessment (FESA) model

Describe the Impact

(nature of the impact, how far reaching, beneficiaries, benefits)
  • Enabled key insights into market evolution of hydrogen, fuel cell, smart grid, clean coal (with CCS), nuclear, low carbon transport, low-carbon heat and energy storage markets.
  • Led to greater understanding in policy circles and reinvigoration of hydrogen energy the sector.
  • Establishing Bryte Energy as a ‘thought leader’ in UK and abroad.
  • Guided technology development of several companies (Hydrogenics Corp, Axon Automotive, RE Hydrogen, etc)

Impact indicator

(see list)
  • Improving the performance of existing businesses
  • Commercialising new processes
  • Attracting R&D investment from global business
  • Progress towards sustainable development, including environmental sustainability
  • Better informed public policy-making

Research which led to impact

(what, when conducted, who undertook)

Research into the dynamic operation of integrated energy networks across power, heat and transport sectors in low carbon scenarios. Software model development carried out by Rupert Gammon as a PhD student at CREST, Loughborough University, and while Director of Bryte Energy Ltd, 2001 – 2011, in collaboration with Dr John Barton (also a Director of Bryte Energy and an RA at CREST)

References to key output (papers etc) which underpin impact
  • Barton, J., Gammon, R., (2010). The production of hydrogen fuel from renewable sources and its role in grid operations, Journal of Power Sources 195, No.24, pg8222-8235, issued in conjunction with the Eleventh Grove Fuel Cell Symposium, London 2009
  • Hydrogen Future Study – HyFuture Report, May 2008
  • Scotland’s Hydrogen Future Study, All Energy, May 2008
  • HyFuture Stakeholders Workshop, July 2008
  • UK Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association Response to the Energy and Climate Change Committee’s Consultation on Energy Security, March 2011
  • A new and compelling case for hydrogen – clean fuel from smart grids: a new green currency, UK HFCA presentation to Prof David MacKay (chief scientific adviser to DECC), October 2010
  • A new and compelling case for hydrogen – clean fuel from smart grids: a new green currency, UKHA presentation to DECC, May 2010
  • A Hydrogen Framework for the East Midlands, July 2010
  • Opportunities for hydrogen and fuel cells in the East Midlands, December 2009

Evidence of impact

(external reports, statements, contact details of users which could corroborate the impact and/or the units contribution
  • The Technology Strategy Board call, Fuel Cells and Hydrogen: Whole System Integration, announced in Sept 2011 indicated a significant shift within various Government Departments (e.g. DECC, DfT, BIS) in their perception of the hydrogen and fuel cell sector to align exactly with the view championed by Bryte Energy.
  • Increased alignment of IEA Annex 24 group towards FESA findings

 

 

Title of the case study

Infrastructure and Renewables Group (now Infrastructure & Vehicles Group) of the London Hydrogen Partnership

Describe the Impact

(nature of the impact, how far reaching, beneficiaries, benefits)
  • Helped in the development of Mayor of London’s policy to promote hydrogen and fuel cells in the capital
  • When new Mayor drastically cut the existing programme, catalysed revival of programme at a more ambitious level
  • Benefits to the UK hydrogen and fuel cell sector and improvements in quality of life for Londoners

Impact indicator

(see list)
  • Improving the performance of existing businesses, commercialising new products and processes
  • Attracting R&D investment from global business
  • Progress towards sustainable development, including environmental sustainability
  • Better informed public policy-making and improved public services
  • Cultural enrichment, including improved public engagement with science and research

Research which led to impact

(what, when conducted, who undertook)

Research into the integration of hydrogen and renewable energy systems and whole-system energy modelling, undertaken by Rupert Gammon as a PhD student at CREST, Loughborough University, and while Director of Bryte Energy Ltd, 2001 – 2011

References to key output (papers etc) which underpin impact

 

Evidence of impact

(external reports, statements, contact details of users which could corroborate the impact and/or the units contribution
  • Delivering London’s Energy Future: the Mayor’s Climate Change Mitigation and Energy Strategy, October 2011.
  • London Hydrogen Action Plan 2010 – 2012, 2010
  • Fleet of hydrogen powered buses, taxis and scooters, plus hydrogen refuelling station, in operation ahead of Olympics

 

 

Title of the case study

Annex 24 (Wind Energy and Hydrogen Integration) of the International Energy Agency’s Hydrogen Implementing Agreement

Describe the Impact

(nature of the impact, how far reaching, beneficiaries, benefits)
  • Substantial advances in the understanding of hydrogen’s role as an energy storage medium in low-carbon economies. Consensus building among international experts in this field.
  • Convergence of opinion in international expert group to align with Bryte Energy’s view, thus establishing it as a ‘thought leader’ in UK and abroad
  • Helped guide technology development of several companies (Hydrogenics Corp, IHT, NEL Hydrogen, CENER, NEL Hydrogen, Gas Natural, etc)

Impact indicator

(see list)
  • Delivering highly skilled people
  • Improving the performance of existing businesses
  • Commercialising new products and processes
  • Attracting R&D investment from global business
  • Progress towards sustainable development, including environmental sustainability
  • Better informed public policy-making and improved public services

Research which led to impact

(what, when conducted, who undertook)
  • Investigated a central feature of low carbon energy networks: i.e. grid balancing for renewable generation (wind power) with controllable loads (electrolysers). Drew on international expertise and real world experience of partners.

References to key output (papers etc) which underpin impact
  • I. Aso, Applications. Emphasis on wind energy management, IEA-HIA Task 24 Wind Energy and Hydrogen Integration. Sub-Task D, Hyceltec 2011, June 2011
  • Task 24: Wind Energy & Hydrogen Integration, 17th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, June 2008

Evidence of impact

(external reports, statements, contact details of users which could corroborate the impact and/or the units contribution
  • http://task24.hidrogenoaragon.org/
  • Prize Winner for Technology Demonstration, IEA HIA News, April 2010

 

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