ReNU Team
Click on the drop down list below for further information and contact details for our team.
Professor Neil S Beattie - Chair and Prinicipal Investigator
Email: neil.beattie@northumbria.ac.uk
Tel: 0191 227 4592
Topics: Photovoltaics, Earth Abundant Materials
About me:
I studied physics as an undergraduate at the University of Strathclyde and went on to do an experimental PhD in semiconductor physics at the University of Cambridge for applications in quantum information. Following my PhD, I worked as an Innovation Consultant on behalf of clients such as Procter & Gamble, Rolls-Royce, Boeing and Shell. This work involved lots of problem solving and working with people from different disciplines. Through this experience, I became interested in the energy sector and in particular, in solar photovoltaics, which led me to joining Northumbria University as an academic in 2009. Since working at Northumbria, I've led the launch of new physics programmes and performed research in thin film photovoltaics. Most recently, my research has evolved to focus on the manufacturing and sustainability of multi-terawatt photovoltaics. I’m motivated by enabling others, innovation and creating a sustainable world for future generations.
Professor Vincent Barrioz - Institution Director, Northumbria University
Email: vincent.barrioz@northumbria.ac.uk
Tel: 0191 349 5366
Topics: Smart Grid and Systems, Photovoltaics
About me:
I joined Northumbria University in 2015 as a Senior Lecturer within the Department of Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering. I obtained my PhD funded by Thales Optics at the University of Wales, Bangor in 2002, developing a “laser-fibre system for in-situ stress monitoring of thin films”.
Over the last 20 years, I worked on photonic structures and devices, with special focus on photovoltaic devices. My research has led to the development of key layers in thin film photovoltaic structures for doped thin film CdTe solar cells achieving conversion efficiency ~15%, fabricated using an innovative patented all-MOCVD dry process. With the company partner Scanwel Ltd, the transfer of process was demonstrated, developing a patented high throughput inline chamberless design based on chemical vapour deposition. I was an active member of the Low Carbon Research Institute (LCRI), where multi-disciplinary research effort with university and industrial partners led to studying the feasibility of implementing renewable energy sources at residential and commercial scales (e.g. DC supply/storage/demand demonstration).
Professor Elizabeth Gibson - Institution Director, Newcastle University
Email: elizabeth.gibson@ncl.ac.uk
Tel: 0191 208 5541
Topics: Solar Fuels, Photovoltaics
About me:
I am a Professor of Energy Materials at Newcastle University. My research group focuses on developing materials and devices for sustainable power, fuel and feedstocks. This involves materials development, device assembly and characterization of the underpinning photophysics and electrochemistry. My current roles include being the academic lead for the Northern Net Zero Accelerator PB-IAA, the EPSRC Northeast Transient Absorption Spectroscopy & Microscopy Facility, Institution Director of the EPSRC CDT Renewable Energy at Northeast Universities (ReNU and ReNU+), and I am the engagement lead for the UKRI Interdisciplinary Centre for Circular Chemical Economy. I am also the Co-Director of Post-graduate Research in the School of Natural and Environmental Science at Newcastle University.
Professor Chris Groves - Institution Director, Durham University
Email: chris.groves@durham.ac.uk
Tel: 0191 334 2495
Topics: Energy Conversion and Transfer, Photovoltaics
About me:
I grew up in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, attending my local state primary and secondary schools before going to Sheffield University to study Electronic Engineering. I graduated with a 1st class BEng degree and stayed on for another 3 years to do a PhD in optical photodetectors and was lucky to have a pair of supervisors who trained me in both experiments and simulations. Afterwards I lectured for 18 months at Sheffield’s Electronic Engineering department before leaving to work at Cambridge University’s Physics department on simulation of charge transport in organic electronics for 3 years. Following this I spent a short period of time in Seattle in the Chemistry Department of the University of Washington as a postdoc before joining Durham’s department of Engineering in 2009.
Dr Yongtao Qu - Centre Manager
Email: y.qu@northumbria.ac.uk
Tel: 0191 227 3259
Topics: Earth Abundant Materials, Photovoltaics
Dr Haimeng Wu – Partners Portfolio Chair
Email: haimeng.wu@northumbria.ac.uk
Tel: 0191 227 4176
Topics: Power Electronics and Control, Wireless Power Transmission
About me:
Dr Haimeng Wu is an Associate Professor in Power Electronics at Northumbria University and Chair of the Partner Portfolio Delivery Group at the EPSRC CDT in Renewable Energy Northeast Universities (ReNU). His research focuses on power electronics for electric vehicles (EVs) and AI-enabled renewable energy systems, as well as wireless power transfer for smart homes.
He has led and contributed to over £7M in funded projects (e.g. EPSRC, Innovate UK), including collaborations with Tridonic Ltd, Northumbrian Water, and Dynex. Dr Wu serves as Associate Editor for IET Power Electronics and was awarded the IET Outstanding Editor Award in 2023. He also won the Siemens European Power Electronics Competition in 2018.
Professor Anh Phan - Training Programme Chair
Email: anh.phan@newcastle.ac.uk
Tel: 0191 208 5212
Topics: Conversion Technologies, Green Hydrogen, Biofuels
About me:
I am a Professor, Chair of Circular Chemical Engineering at Newcastle University with special research interests in transforming waste, residues, unwanted by-products into chemicals, fuels, and valuable materials e.g. carbon quantum dots, aerogels etc. by applying process intensification concepts and emerging technologies. My research group has a strong focus not only on environmental challenges driven solutions but also on circularity and sustainability. This involves chemical and material recycling from plastic waste, hydrogen production, resource recovery, energy storage, biomaterials and chemicals from 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation feedstock.
Professor Guillaume Zoppi - Operations and Finance Chair
Email: guillaume.zoppi@northumbria.ac.uk
Tel: 0191 243 7013
Topics: Earth Abundant Materials, Photovoltaics, Transparent Electrodes
About me:
I grew up in Annecy (France) where I gained a technical degree in Physics (1998). At a crossroad I decided to move to the UK to improve my English and completed a BSc (1999) and MSc (2001) in Applied Physics at Northumbria. With keen interest in optoelectronic devices I joined Durham University to study for a PhD in Physics on thin film solar cells (2005). I returned to Northumbria as a research associate as part of a UK national programme on Photovoltaics for the 21st Century before integrating the academic team at Northumbria in 2013 as a Senior Lecturer. I was promoted to Professor in 2020. I am a former running coach and co-founder of a local athletics network, competed at international triathlon events and now focusing on regional short distance time trials.
Professor Budhika Mendis – Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Chair
Email: b.g.mendis@durham.ac.uk
Tel: 0191 334 3554
Topics: Earth Abundant Materials, Photovoltaics
About me:
I grew up in Sri Lanka and moved to the UK for my higher education studies at the University of Birmingham. Through an Oversees Research Scholarship (ORS) award I studied for a PhD at the same institution, specialising in electron microscopy. I then took up post-doctoral positions at Johns Hopkins University in the US and the SuperSTEM national facility at Daresbury. I joined Durham University in 2009 as an Assistant professor in Physics and Manager for the newly created GJ Russell electron microscopy facility. I am currently Professor of Physics at Durham.
Dr John Errington – Engagement Chair
Email: john.errington@ncl.ac.uk
Tel: 0191 208 6643
Topics: Molecular and Solid State Chemistry and Metal Complexes
Simon Mills - Centre Co-ordinator
Email: simon.mills@northumbria.ac.uk
About me:
I am the ReNU and ReNU+ CDT Coordinator. I am looking forward to working with everyone involved with ReNU and ReNU+. I originally joined Northumbria in March 2015, working for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences and aligned with Social Work, Education, and Community Well Being Department. In that time I led working groups to standardise and improve processes and in house training for staff, and working with external and accredited authorities. I studied Law with Criminology at the University of Portsmouth.
