Oxford Energy Day 2026 – Towards resilient energy systems: research, policy and practice

Event was on Thursday 17 Sep 2026Mathematical Institute

Registration closed

This event has now finished and is not open for registration

 

Programme details

08:00 - 09:00

Registration, coffee and networking

09:00 - 09:30

Irene Tracey | Vice Chancellor | University of Oxford

Introduction and overview

09:30 - 09:45

Tina Fawcett and Paul Shearing | University of Oxford

Welcome

09:45 - 12:45

09:45–10:15 Deborah Greaves | Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford
Offshore renewable energy: Navigating the course (challenges and opportunities)

10:15–10:45 Jorge Pikunic | VPI Energy
Powering the transition: Reliability, resilience and renewables

10:45–11:15 Coffee break

11:15–11:45 Alison Smith | ECI, University of Oxford
The importance of resilient energy and environmental systems for National Security

11:45–12:15 Jenny Hill | UKRI
Grid resilience, political resilience and economic resilience – can innovation do all three?

12:15–12:45 Jim Watson | UCL
Security, resilience and the energy transition: addressing old and new risks

12:45pm - 14:00

12:45–14:00 Lunch & poster display for competition

14:00 - 15:40

Parallel session 1: Resilience & technologies, economics, energy security
Chair: Ludmilla Steier

14:00–14:20 Andre Cabrera | University of Cambridge
Critical minerals: Securing the materials of the Net-Zero transition

14:20–14:40 Ji-Seon Kim | Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford
Organic semiconductors for sustainable energy technologies: From molecular structure to device function

14:40–15:00 Nakita Noel | Department of Physics, University of Oxford
From atoms to solar cells: Engineering better halide perovskite materials

15:00–15:20 Jesus Lizana | Engineering, University of Oxford
Heating and cooling in a changing climate

15:20–15:40 Cassie Etter-Wenzel | School of Geography & the Environment, University of Oxford
North Sea at what cost? Affordability, security, and long-term resilience

 

14:00 - 15:40

Parallel session 2: Organising for resilience, resilience for whom?
Chair, Marina Topouzi

14:00–14:20 Donal Brown | ECI, University of Oxford
Fear and loathing on Grimsby’s East Marsh: Gonzo Solar and the politics of climate populism

14:20-14:40 Tianning Xu | IONATE
Hybrid Intelligent Transformer – Integrating the speed and precision of solid-state technology into the efficient and reliable transformer design

14:40–15:00 Sandy Arbuthnott | Octopus Energy
How electric homes can power a more resilient energy system: Making cleaner, cheaper and more flexible homes normal – and expected

15:00–15:20 Jenny Figueiredo | Oxfordshire County Council
How Councils are working together to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles in Oxfordshire

15:20–15:40 Deborah Petterson | NESO
Resilience demands partnership, and partnership delivers resilience: Strengthening resilience through shared leadership and learning

15:40 - 16:10

Tea break

16:10 - 17:00

Plenary session – panel discussion | Chair: Paul Shearing

16:10–16:40 Paul Shearing | Chair | Engineering Science Department, University of Oxford

Phil Grunewald | Panellist | Engineering Science Department, University of Oxford

David Wallom | Panellist | Engineering Science Department, University of Oxford

Marina Topouzi | Panellist | ECI, University of Oxford

Ludmilla Steier | Panellist | Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford

16:50–17:00 Poster winners’ presentation

 

17:00 - 18:30

Drinks reception

Presenters, Panellists and Speakers

Programme & delegates

Please download a PDF of the full programme including the list of delegates attending.

Download programme - PDF (5.87 MB)

Posters

Name Affiliation Poster title Download file
Aaron Omar Colina Calvo National University of Engineering (UNI) / Université Paris Est-Créteil (UPEC) Reality or Illusion: Is Peru replacing one energy dependency with another? Download poster (854.28 KB)
Abhinav Kumar Shaw Beyond the Spread: Quantifying the Alignment Gap Between Battery Arbitrage and Energy System Resilience Download poster (245.47 KB)
Adam Duncan University College London The trade-off between robustness and adaptability in electricity distribution infrastructure planning Download poster (1.04 MB)
Celina Scherbeck University of St Gallen Co-creating grid integration of solar power and electric vehicles: A cross-country analysis of employee preferences for smart workplace charging Download poster (2.30 MB)
Christian Tonucci University of Cambridge Energy Modelling and Ventilation Optimisation of the Rosie Maternity Hospital at Addenbrookes Download poster (999.24 KB)
Dhruv Singh University of Oxford When Droughts Trigger a Death Spiral. The Macroeconomic Ramifications of Hydropower Intermittencies and Rooftop Solar Defection in Zambia. Download poster (1,007.05 KB)
Lan Huong Hoang University College Dublin Geopolitical uncertainty and critical mineral investments: A real option approach Download poster (327.40 KB)
Leonardo Vilardo University of Cambridge Unequal Flexibility: Who Can Participate in Demand-Side Response in the UK? Download poster (699.41 KB)
Luke McCarvill University of Oxford SolarSense: Irradiance sensors for solar electricity forecasts Download poster (2.18 MB)
Merna Nomier University of Cambridge Identifying Best Practice for Production of Electric Passenger Vehicle Batteries in the UK Download poster (909.45 KB)
Monty Jackson University of Cambridge Organised for continuity, not for net zero: retrofit decision-making in NHS hospital estates Download poster (302.84 KB)
Nethmi Jayaratne Kariyawasam University of Oxford Urban Heat Risk and Cooling Inequality in the Global South Download poster (1.47 MB)
Rezvan Derayati University of Mannheim Optimal Capacity Investment in Solar-Hydrogen Systems: Storage, Sales, or a Hybrid Strategy? Download poster (1,000.06 KB)
Samir Soares University of Strathclyde Decarbonising heating of rural of gas grid UK homes Download poster (1.24 MB)
Sophie Kueffner University of St Gallen Battery-Electric Ferries for Resilient Energy Systems: A Socio-Technical Assessment of Fuel Price Shocks, Electricity Dependence and Infrastructure Bottlenecks Download poster (409.32 KB)
Tim Signer KIT, Germany The Batteries Europe Already Owns: How Much Electric Vehicle Capacity Reaches the System, and at what incentive? Download poster (1.48 MB)
Victoria Dimuro Duckwitz NTNU Integrating Reliability Analysis for Resilient Energy Supply Chains Optimization Download poster (2.03 MB)
Yiheng Shao University of Oxford 4D characterisation of degradation in lithium-sulfur batteries Download poster (1.30 MB)

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