Grant Wilson

Research Assistant
Energy and Environmental Engineering Group

email: grant.wilson@sheffield.ac.uk

Chemical and Biological Engineering
The University of Sheffield
Sir Robert Hadfield Building
Portobello Street
Sheffield, S1 3JD

Current Research Projects

I feel that the transition towards a low-carbon economy is best approached by collaboration between academic, public, and private institutions. This transition will be heavily influenced by the systems in place at the distribution level, which is an area that is undergoing a large change in innovation, and is therefore a highly interesting area to be involved with. Having viewed storage as a tool for network support and balancing for sometime – it is becoming increasingly seen as a critical component in the long-term over differing time constants. However in the short to medium term, the interaction between differing energy systems, demand management, and active network management offers other approaches to provide network flexibility and resilience, which at times may complement and at times compete with energy storage. In short – the distribution network operators for gas and electrical systems are likely to go through a period of enhanced innovation and business renewal – and as such – provide an interesting area for developing knowledge and experience. The encompassing concept of a “Smart Grid” will be a critical part of the smooth transition to a low-carbon energy system and the on-going assessment of technologies to underpin the “Smart Grid” is a particularly topical area of research.

The clear dissemination of energy related data is crucial in terms of the wider debate around future energy systems and public engagement, and is also a highly topical and interesting research field that involves a multidisciplinary approach.

I also have a keen ongoing interest in battery based approaches to providing lighting and mobile phone charging services within the developing world.