Energy provision

Our research supports the rail sector’s transition to resilient, low-carbon power systems by focusing on power generation, storage, and management.

We explore the integration of solar and other renewable sources into trackside infrastructure for both on-grid and off-grid applications, ensuring reliable power delivery to critical systems such as signalling, safety communications, remote monitoring, and charging of battery packs for electric propulsion systems. Our work also includes the development of battery energy storage systems (BESS) to enhance grid stability and provide power in inaccessible areas.

We are advancing battery management systems (BMS) through battery health monitoring and state estimation to improve reliability, extend lifespan, and ensure safe operation. This is supported by extensive testing, modelling, and simulation to validate performance in real-world applications.

Additional areas of focus include hydrogen production, fuel cells for clean transport, and material characterisation and fabrication for advanced batteries and solar technologies. Collectively, these efforts support a safer, more sustainable and future-ready rail network.

Meet the team

Dr Simon Bale - Senior Lecturer, School of Physics, Engineering and Technology
Dr Mohammad Nasr Esfahani - Senior Lecturer, Director of Teaching and Learning (Engineering), School of Physics, Engineering and Technology
Dr Elham Hosseinzadeh - Lecturer in Energy Storage and Conversion, School of Physics, Engineering and Technology
Dr Asim Mumtaz - Senior Lecturer, School of Physics, Engineering and Technology
Dr Jiannan Yang - Lecturer in Digital Engineering for Future Technologies, School of Physics, Engineering and Technology
Dr Xing Zhao - Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, School of Physics, Engineering and Technology

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