Professor Chris Fogwill is Pro-Vice Chancellor at Cranfield University, and Head of School for Water, Energy and the Environment, where he leads a dynamic team of over 220 researchers who are leading transformative sustainability research agendas crucial to our global net zero carbon ambitions.
Chris joined Cranfield University in October 2021 and has joined SEMLEP as Non-Executive Private Sector Board Director bringing a wealth of experience in sustainability solutions, low carbon energy and education. As a leader in climate science and applied low carbon energy solutions Chris has contributed to major programmes that aim to reduce CO2 emissions through the development of smart local energy systems and the pioneering production, storage and use of hydrogen. Chris has contributed to some of the most innovative low-carbon ‘at scale’ smart energy demonstration projects in Europe, including Keele University’s Smart Energy Network Demonstrator (SEND), the Research England Hydrogen Knowledge Exchange Programme (HyDEX) and the Innovate UK Zero Carbon Rugley project.
These programmes have been delivered in partnership with community, commercial and government partners including Siemens, ENGIE (EQUANS), BEIS, Toyota, Uniper, Cadent, Centrica and with networks such as Midlands Innovation’s Energy Research Accelerator (ERA). These multimillion-pound projects are leading the UK’s ambitions to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and address the ‘Energy trilemma’ – balancing cost of energy security of supply and CO2 reduction.
These programmes demonstrate how multi-disciplinary research with commercial partners and national and international stakeholders can make a global impact on decarbonisation and sustainability. Building upon these themes, Chris also leads Cranfield’s EarthShot Prize nominations process and the Green Future Investments ‘Frontiers Fund’, two key innovation drivers underpinning net zero and sustainability ambitions regionally, nationally, and globally by offering funding and support to sustainability focussed SMEs and start-ups.
