Dr Mohamed Diab received his PhD degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, U.K., in 2019. He is currently a Lecturer in Power Electronics with the School of Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering at Loughborough University, Loughborough, U.K. His main research interests include applications of wide-bandgap devices, electric motor drives, high-power electronic converters, and renewable energy conversion systems.

His current research focuses on the integration of wide-bandgap power electronic converters, such as silicon carbide and gallium nitride technologies, into high-performance electric motor drives. These devices enable higher switching frequencies, faster voltage transitions, improved efficiency, and more compact converter designs. However, they also introduce new challenges for motor-drive systems, including increased electrical stress on machine windings, partial discharge activity, common-mode voltage effects, and bearing currents. Dr Diab’s work investigates these challenges through modelling, experimental testing, and the development of mitigation techniques to improve the reliability and lifetime of next-generation electrified systems.

Dr Diab is a Senior Member of IEEE and an Associate Editor of the IEEE Open Journal of Power Electronics.

Mostafa Ahmadi Darmani received the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Politecnico di Torino, Italy, in 2022. From 2022 to 2025, he was a Research Fellow in Electrical Machines with the Power Electronics, Machines and Control (PEMC) Institute at the University of Nottingham where he worked on major EU- and UKRI-funded projects including IMOTHEP, ORCHESTRA, and HECATE focused on the design and development of high–power-density electrical machines and high-frequency magnetic components for aircraft electrification.

Since 2026, he has been working as a Lead Electro-Magnetic Engineer in Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD) team, at Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), University of Warwick.

His main research interests include the Multiphysics design and analysis of high-performance electrical machines, design of magnetic components for high-frequency power conversion, advanced materials for electromechanical energy conversion systems.

He is an active reviewer for several IEEE Transactions and international journals and conferences.

Danya Al-Hindawi is a PhD researcher in Energy at Teesside University, working at the intersection of energy systems and artificial intelligence within power electronics, machines, and drive systems (PEMDS). Her research focuses on condition monitoring and fault diagnosis of electric machines, particularly permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs), using signal processing, deep learning, and transfer learning to support reliable and scalable energy systems.

Throughout her academic journey, from undergraduate studies to PhD research, Danya has received multiple awards, including Best Mechanical Engineering Project through the IMechE and Best Undergraduate Poster Presentation through ExpoTees. She has also worked as a Research Associate on projects funded by Innovate UK, gaining experience in applied research and industry-focused innovation. More recently, she was awarded the SYP Travel Grant for Best Video Presentation for IECON 2025.

The N-ZEEE funding supports the dissemination of her research through international conferences, enabling collaboration with leading researchers in PEMDS and strengthening the real-world impact of her work in developing reliable, cost-effective diagnostic solutions for modern energy systems.

Contact - d.al-hindawi@tees.ac.uk

LinkedIn

Veena Madavanathara Narayanan is a PhD researcher and Special Lecturer in Electrical Engineering at Teesside University. Her research focuses on AI-driven energy management for microgrids, with an emphasis on improving grid support through predictive, data-driven approaches. She works specifically on electric vehicle charging and discharging integrated with photovoltaic systems, developing models that support flexible and efficient energy use. She applies machine learning techniques, including LSTM-based forecasting, within real-time energy management systems to enhance reliability, adaptability, and operational decision-making. Her research interests include the interaction between renewable generation, electric vehicle demand, and battery storage within smart energy systems. Veena has presented her work at conferences and workshops and actively engages with international academic audiences to advance data-driven energy solutions. She aims to bridge the gap between prediction and practical control, contributing to more responsive and resilient energy systems. She is also Chair of the Teesside University Energy Society, where she leads industry engagement through workshops, site visits, and collaborative initiatives in sustainable energy.

Ali Sadeghianjahromi received a Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Malek-Ashtar University of Technology in 2018. Then, he started his Postdoctoral Fellow position at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University of Taiwan, where he focused on the design of thermal management systems, electronics cooling, heat exchanger design, numerical simulations and optimisation. In 2022, he joined Warwick Manufacturing Group, University of Warwick, as a Lead Engineer, focusing on the flow field and thermal analysis of electrical machines and power electronics. He also has 10 years of working experience as a Senior Mechanical Design Engineer in the oil & gas industry. He published 20 papers in high-ranking journals as well as 4 conference papers. He is skilful in Ansys Fluent, Ansys Icepak, PV-Elite, Compress, AutoCAD, Solidworks, and MATLAB. His current research interests include flow field and thermal analysis on electrical machines and power electronics.

Email addresses:

ali.sadeghianjahromi@warwick.ac.uk

asadeghi63@yahoo.com

LinkedIn

Google Scholar

I am a first-year PhD researcher in Energy at Teesside University, working on second-life lithium-ion battery systems with a focus on developing battery passport-oriented classification frameworks for retired electric vehicle (EV) batteries. My research aims to evaluate battery degradation behaviour, state-of-health variability and future performance prediction to support safe, reliable and traceable repurposing of EV batteries for second-life applications.

A key part of my work involves investigating non-destructive diagnostic approaches, including ultrasonic sensing and signal processing methods, to improve battery condition assessment without invasive testing. I am particularly interested in integrating technical performance, safety risk and sustainability metrics to support informed lifecycle decision-making and circular energy systems.

My work contributes to improving battery reuse strategies and enabling safer battery lifecycle management aligned with net-zero energy transitions.

Contact - W9537612@live.tees.ac.uk

Dr. Yang Xiao (FHEA, MIET, MIEEE), Lecturer (Assistant Professor) in Electrical Machines at the University of Leicester, UK. He received the BSc from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, and PhD from University of Sheffield, UK, all in electrical and electronics engineering. Prior to joining Leicester, he was a Lecturer in School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and a Senior Research Engineer in Dyson Technology Ltd, UK. He is he deputy director of undergraduate electrical and electronic engineering program and library officer in School of Engineering, University of Leicester. He serves as an associate editor for IEEE Trans. Energy Conversion. He was invited for keynote speeches in IEEE SCEMS 25 and CIEEC 21, tutorial in ISEEIE 24, and was awarded Best Paper Awards in ICPRE 25, SMART 24, ISEEIE 24, ICPRE 23, and CEFC 16 conferences.

His research interests include the design, manufacturing, and control of advanced electrical machine systems for electrified transportation and sustainable power generation, and artificial intelligence assisted tools for electrical machines.

Website

Contact - Yx224@leicester.ac.uk

Tianxiang Yin received his B.Eng. and Ph.D. degrees from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China. He previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Imperial College London and is currently a Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham. His research focuses on cryogenic power electronic converters for liquid-hydrogen-powered propulsion systems, with particular interests in high-power-density converter topologies, wide-bandgap semiconductor applications, modulation and control strategies, electromagnetic compatibility, and system-level integration under ultra-low-temperature operating conditions. His work aims to support the development of future low-carbon transportation and energy systems by improving the efficiency, power density, and reliability of power conversion technologies in cryogenic environments.

Dr Yuan Gao (Senior Member, IEEE) received his PhD degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) from the University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK, in 2021. He studied his masters in Aeronautical Engineering at the Beihang University, Beijing, China, 2014-2017. He finished his Bachelor of Engineering degree in 2013 at the Dalian Maritime University, Dalian, China. In Feb 2023, He joined the School of Engineering at the University of Leicester, Leicester, UK, as a lecturer in EEE. Prior to that, he was a postdoc research associate in hybrid autonomous system engineering, Department of Aerospace Engineering, at the University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. His research interests include motor drive, model predictive control, multi-agent autonomous system, AI-aided design, control, and maintenance for power converter-based systems.

Dr. Gao is a Guest Editor for IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS, an Associate Editor for IET Power Electronics, e-Prime, Electronics and Signal Processing, and an editorial board member for Chinese Journal of Aeronautics. He serves as the Financial Chair of ISEEIE 2024, Session Chair of IECON 2025, ESARS-ITEC 2024, and AIAA/IEEE Electric Aircraft Technologies Symposium (EATS) 2020. He is a recipient of a highly prestigious Chinese National Award for Outstanding Students Abroad in 2021.

Website

Contact - yuan.gao@leicester.ac.uk

Kangrui Jiang is a PhD student in the Department of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering at the University of Birmingham. His research focuses on decarbonisation solutions for non-electrified railways, including station-centric intermittent electrification, where short electrified sections at stations are introduced to charge onboard batteries and to provide traction power during acceleration. This approach offers a cost-effective means of extending the operating range of battery multiple units while reducing charging time requirements. This research aims to develop decarbonisation solutions for low traffic density railway lines that are technically feasible, involve low investment costs, and can be deployed rapidly. His broader research interests include transport decarbonisation, railway electrification, hydrogen fuel cell trains, battery electric multiple units, and advanced control and optimisation of energy and thermal management systems.

In a uniquely valuable opportunity, women across engineering disciplines and early in their careers as academics came together to share their research interests and discuss approaches to grant making. Lead by Nur Sarma at the University of Durham and Tong Zhang at the University of Leeds.

Date: 5th June 2026

Title: Women in Engineering for Renewable & Sustainable Energy Systems and Future Power Grid

Location: Manchester, UK

Agenda:

09:30 – 10:00 | Morning coffee & arrival

10:00 – 10:30 | Welcome and introduction to N-ZEEE & Overview of the day

10:30 – 11:15 | Participant introductions 1

11:15 – 11:30 | Coffee break

11:30 – 12:15 | Participant introductions 2

12:15 – 13:15 | Lunch

13:15 – 14:15 | Round-table discussions (practical approaches to grant writing)

14:15 – 14:30 | Coffee break

14:30 – 15:30 | Group discussion & Reflection

15:30 – 16:30 | Introduction of EDIA Groups in Manchester & Networking

16:30 – 17:00 | Wrap-up & Photo & Questionnaire

Speakers and Abstracts

Session 1: Setting the scene and state of the art – an industrial perspective

Speaker: James Widmer, AEM

Title and Abstract tbc

Speaker: Joe Burchill, CGEN Engineering Ltd

Title: Modular Generator Technology for Renewable Energy Applications

Abstract: This presentation will provide an overview of CGEN Engineering’s modular generator technology and the company’s progress to date across wave, tidal and wind energy applications. The talk will cover the core principles behind the technology, including modularity, fault tolerance, maintainability and scalable manufacturing, alongside lessons learned from demonstrator development and offshore operation. It will also discuss current activities around wind turbine retrofit and life extension, and how the technology is being positioned for future deployment within the wider renewable energy sector.

Speaker Florian Kneidl

Title: Prototype Smarter: From Manual Assembly to Scalable Automaton

Abstract: This talk offers a practical industrial perspective on how early prototype decisions can shape the path toward scalable production. It will explore how manufacturing constraints, process control, and automation thinking can be considered earlier in the development journey - helping bridge the gap between a working concept and repeatable industrial manufacture.

Speaker: Keyne Walker

Title : Windfall - the recovery and remanufacturing of neodymium magnets from UK wind turbines

Abstract: Wind turbines in the UK will represent a strategically significant stock of neodymium magnets as deployment of larger turbines continues to grow. These magnets are critical for many elements of UK manufacturing, and the report assesses demand from UK sectors including HVAC, EVs, shipping and aerospace. Building on 2024 NEPC work on demand side measures for supply chain sustainability and resilience, this study shows the value of incorporating material forecasting into planning processes. The report includes a new assessment of how much neodymium will be used, when it will be decommissioned, options for a second life (including presenting a novel remanufacturing process), and what steps need to be taken now and in the meantime by government and industry to enable them to be recovered – including design, data collection, and developing quality assurance standards. The Royal Academy of Engineering’s Keyne Walker presents their hot-off-the-press research report, authored by Dr Stuart Bradley and Dr Russ Hall of Warwick Manufacturing Group and published by the National Engineering Policy Centre.

Session 2: Disassembly, Life cycle assessment and recycling

Speaker: Oliver Heidrich, Newcastle University

Title: Life Cycle Assessment and Material Flows - An Attempt to Quantify the Environmental Impacts of Electrical Machines

Abstract: This talk explores how Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and material flow analysis can be used to quantify the environmental impacts of electrical machines, emphasising the importance of considering the decision-making processes in the design and application of electrical machines. While electrical machines are often associated with efficiency gains and perhaps decarbonisation potentials, their full environmental footprint depends on complex interactions across the entire lifecycle—from raw material extraction to manufacturing, use, and end-of-life management. The presentation shows first why we should think about the intended and unintended consequences of our design criteria and some of the Policies that have driven environmental considerations.

It describes Material Flow Accounting (MFA) and LCA and their differences in decision-making.

LCA is introduced as a structured framework to evaluate these impacts systematically by defining scope, system boundaries, and functional units. A key focus is placed on Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) modelling, which integrates data on material inputs, energy use, efficiencies, and associated emissions. The importance of selecting appropriate evaluation models and ensuring consistent integration across lifecycle stages, as small modelling decisions can lead to significant variations in results. Tools and processes that support LCA—such as databases, simulation software, and standardised methodologies—are also briefly discussed. The talk will address some of the challenges of applying LCA in decision-making in general and for electrical machines specifically. These include data availability, variability in use-phase performance, rapidly evolving technologies, and difficulties in capturing recycling and circularity benefits. Additionally, there is a risk of overlooking trade-offs, where improvements in operational efficiency may increase upstream impacts due to more complex materials or manufacturing processes. Comprehensive, transparent, and carefully scoped LCA studies are essential to guide sustainable design and policy decisions for electrical machines, ensuring that environmental benefits are real rather than assumed.

Speaker: Lucia Corsini, University of Oxford

Title: A systems approach to unlocking the circular economy in the Electrical and Electronics sector

Abstract: Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) is the fastest growing waste stream in the UK and the world, however, less than 35% of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is recovered in the UK. Developing a CE for EEE is expected to result in widespread economic, environmental and societal benefits for the UK.

However, our ability to effectively reuse, repair, remanufacture and recycle electrical and electronic equipment is locked in by decisions made at the design and manufacturing stage. So, we ask: how can we design more circular products, services and systems? How can we improve evidence on circular economy to inform better decision-making?

In this presentation, Corsini will introduce and highlight key findings from the Circular Electrical and Electronics Project (CEEP). Forming part of a systems approach, this research project develops design and engineering solutions to:

• Model flows of waste electrical and electronic equipment and related carbon emissions

• Identify waste and carbon reduction scenarios and strategies

• Develop circular product design and business model solutions that leverage emerging technologies and behavioural insights

• Help industry and policy makers to embed novel circular economy solutions

• Raise awareness and improve consumer access to circular economy solutions

Speaker: Xuebei Zhang & Fengyu Zhang, Nottingham University

Title: Carbon Emission Evaluation and Comparison of Electrical Machines for Sustainable Design

Abstract: Electrical machines are central to electrified transport, industrial systems, and future low-carbon technologies. While machine research has traditionally focused on improving electromagnetic, thermal, and mechanical performance, the carbon impact associated with machine materials, manufacture and operation also requires greater attention. This presentation will introduce a carbon emission evaluation and comparison of four commercial electrical machines with similar power ratings, including a synchronous machine, an induction machine and two permanent magnet machines. The study considers both material-related embedded carbon and operational emissions, enabling the total carbon impact of different machine types to be assessed from a broader life-cycle perspective. The comparison highlights how material selection, machine topology and operating performance can influence overall carbon emissions, and demonstrates the importance of considering carbon impact alongside conventional design metrics.

Speaker: Ricky Fox, Birmingham University

Title: State Augmented Graphs for Circular Economy Triage

Abstract: Circular economy (CE) triage is the assessment of products to determine which sustainable pathway they can follow once they reach the end of their usefulness. Effective CE triage requires adaptive decisions that balance retained value against the costs and constraints of processing and labour. This talk presents a novel decision-making framework over a state-augmented Disassembly Sequencing Planning (DSP) graph. By encoding the disassembly history into the state, our framework enforces the Markov property, enabling optimal, recursive evaluation by ensuring each decision only depends on the previous state. The triage decision involves choices between continuing disassembly or committing to a CE option. The model integrates condition-aware utility based on diagnostic health scores and complex operational constraints.

Session 3: Trends in electrical machine design and manufacture

Speaker: Anna Ermakova, Bristol University

Title: High-Performance Electrical Machine Windings Enabled by Metal Additive Manufacturing

Abstract:

This talk will showcase how metal additive manufacturing can enable new approaches to electrical machine winding design and fabrication. By moving beyond conventional conductor forms, AM opens the possibility of optimised conductor geometries, integrated cooling features and tailored insulation strategies that are difficult to achieve using traditional manufacturing routes.

The work addresses three key areas needed to move AM windings towards practical application: systematic digital design methods, reliable electrical property characterisation of printed copper, and robust insulation approaches for complex as-built surfaces. These developments demonstrate how AM can act as a future fabrication route for more efficient, power-dense and reliable electrical machines.

Speaker: Umair Paracha, University of Warwick

Title: Transitioning from wet processes for electrical machine insulation: manufacturing, digitalisation and impact on circularity considerations

Abstract:

The aim is to use the talk to highlight both the manufacturing opportunities and the research gaps that must be addressed before wet-process-free insulation systems can be adopted in high-performance electrical machines.

This presentation will discuss the current reliance on wet processing for the development of electrical machines. Conventional impregnation and encapsulation processes, such as VPI and trickle impregnation, can improve thermal, mechanical and electrical performance, but they also introduce manufacturing complexity, long processing times, material waste, remanufacturing challenges and end-of-life limitations, all of which contribute to the embodied energy and environmental impact of electrical machines.

The talk reflects on alternative “dry” or thermoplastic-based insulation systems as well as implementation of automation and digitalisation technologies which could enable reduction of overall process energy, shortening of production cycles and improve manufacturing efficiency, whilst also supporting repair, disassembly, end-of-life recovery, reduced process waste and better alignment with circular economy principles.

Speaker: Yongjing Wang, Birmingham University

Title: Scalable & Intelligent Disassembly of Electrical Machines

Abstract: Disassembly is a key step in remanufacturing and recycling, both of which are critical components in a circular economy. In many ways, disassembly is challenging to robotise due to variability in the condition of the returned products and the required dexterity in robotic manipulations. This talk introduces recent research developments in the area of robotic disassembly and remanufacturing automation by the ATARI team at the University of Birmingham, and highlight key opportunities and technical gaps in the disassembly of electrical machines.

Speaker: Tianjie Zou

Title: Hairpin winding development and manufacturing for sustainable high performance traction motors

Abstract: tbc

________________________________________________________________________________________

Session 4: Speculative Research, future directions and co-ordinating our efforts

Speaker: Libing Cao, Newcastle University

Title: Sustainable Generator Design for Offshore Wave Energy Converters: A Case Study

Abstract: This talk presents a case study on the design of a very large, low-speed direct-drive generator for offshore wave energy conversion. Various generator designs are globally and multiphysically optimised and compared using alternative magnet materials, conductor options and sustainable topologies. The assessment considers generator performance, cost of energy, generator size, embodied carbon emissions, material sustainability and recyclability. The study finds that designs with low cost of energy and low emissions are not necessarily those built from low-criticality and easy-to-recycle materials. This highlights the need to evaluate performance, cost, carbon impact, supply criticality and circularity together when designing sustainable electrical machines.

Speaker: Xiao Chen, Sheffield University

Title: Manufacturing Efforts on Core Losses of Cobalt-iron Alloys in Electrical Machines

Abstract: Manufacturing and assembly processes can substantially increase losses in the laminated stator and rotor cores of electrical machines. In practice, this degradation is often absorbed into an empirical build factor, rather than attributed to individual processes through physics-based quantification. This presentation examines the contributions of two key mechanisms in high performance permanent magnet synchronous machines with Cobalt-iron alloys, including the edge damage effect due to laser cut and the mechanical stress effect due to the shrink-fit process.

Speaker: Hossein Shirzad

Title: Sustainable Magnet Materials and Their Impact on Electrical Machine Design

Abstract: The transition toward sustainable magnet materials is reshaping the design space of modern electrical machines. This talk explores how reduced-rare-earth and rare-earth-free magnets influence key electromagnetic and thermal design decisions, including air-gap flux density, torque density, demagnetization margin, rotor topology, operating temperature, and machine sizing. By linking magnet properties directly to machine-level performance, the talk highlights how material sustainability can drive new design compromises, alternative topologies, and more resilient motor technologies for future electrified systems.

ECAs must be within the first three years of their academic career, and have not yet been awarded a major grant as PI, and work primarily in Power-Electronics and/or Electrical Machines for Renewables

The bursary will include a ticket to CPE if one has not already been purchased. We are open to approaches from ECAs attending with a PhD student. Full bursaries for those without access to funds are available, and partial bursaries are also available to boost the impact of existing travel funds. Visit this page to apply for a travel bursary.

In addition to conference attendance, we are also running a tutorial: Power Electronic & Electrical Machine Design for High-Power & Renewable Applications

The Centre for Power Electronics and the EPSRC Net-Zero Enabling Electrical Engineering (N-ZEEE) Network+, are organising a full-day Tutorial on Power Electronics & Electrical Machine Design for High-Power & Renewable Applications on the day before the CPE 2026 Conference on 7-8 July 2026.

This free full day tutorial will cover both introductory and advanced topics in the design of power electronics. The focus will be on Megawatt scale power-electronics and electrical generator for renewable applications such as solar, wind, tidal and wave. Topics in power-electronics will include advanced converter and busbar design using wide bandgap power devices, dV/dt management and gate-driving. Topics in electrical machines will also include design of low-speed high-torque generator systems, considerations for reductions in rare earth magnet usage and introduction to superconducting electrical machine design.

Travel bursaries of up to £700 are available for Early Career Academics. Register for the workshop and apply for a travel bursary.

From Innovation to Fabrication and back again… Electrical Machines for a Circular Economy

This workshop brings together researchers, engineers, and industry leaders to explore and discuss the full lifecycle of electrical machines from innovation and advanced fabrication to reuse, refurbishment, and redesign all within the framework of a circular economy. It highlights emerging materials, novel machine topologies, sustainable manufacturing processes, and design-for-disassembly approaches that reduce environmental impact while maintaining high performance and reliability.

Our confirmed industrial speakers include motor manufacturers from the automotive and renewable sector, plus representatives from within the supply chain and automated assembly. From Academia we have leading researchers in electrical machine design, innovative manufacture, life cycle analysis and circular electronics.

Travel bursaries of up to £700 are available. Register for the workshop and apply for a travel bursary.

This full day tutorial, co-sponsored between the Centre for Power Electronics & the EPSRC Net-Zero Enabling Electrical Engineering (N-ZEEE) Network+, will cover both introductory and advanced topics in the design of power electronic. A focus will be on Megawatt scale power-electronics and electrical generator for renewable applications such as solar, wind, tidal and wave. Topics in power-electronics will include advanced converter and busbar design using widebandgap power devices, dV/dt management and gate-driving. Topics in electrical machines will also include design of low-speed high-torque generator systems, considerations for reductions in rare earth magnet usage an dintroduction to superconducting electrical machine design and future applications of this technology in aerospace and renewable applications.

Speakers

• Dr Wenlong Ming – Reader in Semiconductor Power Electronics – Cardiff University/CSA Catapult

• Dr Sebastian Neira Castillo – Lecturer in Electrical Machines & Drives – University of Edinburgh

• Prof. Nick Baker - Prof of Emerging Electrical Machines - Newcastle University

• Dr Hongye Zhang – Lecturer in Superconducting and Cryogenic Electric Machines – University of Edinburgh

Click here to register for this event.

Travel bursaries of up to £700 are available to Early Career Academics. Click here to apply for a travel bursary.

This workshop brought together researchers, engineers, and industry leaders to explore and discuss the full lifecycle of electrical machines from innovation and advanced fabrication to reuse, refurbishment, and redesign all within the framework of a circular economy. It highlighted emerging materials, novel machine topologies, sustainable manufacturing processes, and design-for-disassembly approaches that reduce environmental impact while maintaining high performance and reliability.

Agenda and links to presentations

Session 1: Setting the scene and state of the art – an industrial perspective

• James Widmer (AEM) AEM: Advanced Electric Machines

• Joe Burchill (CGEN Engineering Ltd) Modular Generator Technology for Renewable Energy Applications

• Florian Kneidl (Electrified Automation) Electrified Automation

• Keyne Walker (Royal Academy of Engineering) The recovery and remanufacturing of neodymium magnets from UK wind turbines

Session 2: Life cycle assessment and Electrical Machines

• Oliver Heidrich (Newcastle University) Life Cycle Assessment and Material Flows - An Attempt to Quantify the Environmental Impacts of Electrical Machines

• Lucia Corsini (University of Oxford) A systems approach to unlocking the circular economy in the Electrical and Electronics sector (Circular Electrical and Electronics Project | Embedding Circularity in off-grid solar-wind renewable systems | Smart grading and remanufacturing electronics)

• Xuebei Zhang & Fengyu Zhang (University of Nottingham) Carbon Emission Evaluation and Comparison of Electrical Machines for Sustainable Design

• Ricky Fox (University of Birmingham) State Augmented Graphs for Circular Economy Triage

Session 3: Trends in the Manufacture and Disassembly of Electrical Machines

• Anna Ermakova (University of Bristol) High-Performance Electrical Machine Windings Enabled by Metal Additive Manufacturing

• Umair Paracha (University of Warwick) Transitioning from wet processes for electrical machine insulation: manufacturing, digitalisation and impact on circularity considerations

• Yongjing Wang (University of Birmingham) Scalable & Intelligent Disassembly of Electrical Machines

• Tianjie Zou (University of Nottingham) Hairpin winding development and manufacturing for sustainable high performance traction motors Break (10 mins) water and juice

Session 4: Speculative Research, future directions and co-ordinating our efforts

• Libing Cao (Newcastle University) Sustainable Generator Design for Offshore Wave Energy Converters: A Case Study

• Xiao Chen (University of Sheffield) Manufacturing Efforts on Core Losses of Cobalt-iron Alloys in Electrical Machines

• Hossein Shirzad (Newcastle University) Sustainable Magnet Materials and Their Impact on Electrical Machine Design

See a list of speaker abstracts here.

Hello,

Welcome to an ‘almost Spring’ edition of the newsletter. We hope you’re enjoying the lighter days. Read on for details of our current flexible funding opportunities, as well as a couple of events from friends of N-ZEEE.

FLEXIBLE FUNDING AND TRAVEL BURSARIES

We have opened our flexible funds again, and this round is due to close on 20 March 2026. These awards are up to £2000, to cover activities that will bring you into contact with potential collaborators, including (but not limited to) secondments, travel bursaries and workshop fees. The application form is here.

Our workshop fund has two awards remaining, also for up to £2000, to bring together researchers in electrical engineering for renewable energy. There must be an early career researcher aspect to the workshop (either in focus or speaking slots). This fund will remain open until we have made the final two awards. The application form is available here.

We have also opened an award expressly designed to enable researchers to come together as a group in order to develop a proposal for a funding bid. This will cover travel, accommodation, subsistence and room hire to allow time and space for a group (at least two people) to work up a proposal. The application form is available here.

For those who have registered to attend the ECR Net Zero conference in Birmingham, 9-10 March, we have a limited number of travel bursaries available to facilitate attendance. For this, please forward confirmation of your registration along with details of the travel you are looking to book.

RESEARCH SPOTLIGHT

Open call for posters, reports, provocations, test results, schematics... Do you have interesting research to share? If so, we want to know about it. For a chance to have the N-ZEEE spotlight on your research, let us know using this form.

OPPORTUNITIES FROM OUR PARTNERS

INVITATION TO SUBMIT FROM CPE

CPE will be holding their annual conference in Edinburgh, 7-8 July 2026. The Conference Organising Team invites Abstracts from Students (Undergraduate and Post-Graduate) and Post Doctoral Researchers for Poster and Oral Presentations which describe the latest advancements in Power Electronics, Electric Machines and Drives. Up to 6 Abstracts from PhD Students will also be selected for Oral Presentation during the CPE Conference. Prizes will be awarded to selected Poster and Oral Presentations.

The following Research and Development topics have been highlighted:

• Semiconductor and Passive Devices

• Materials, Packaging and Interconnect; including sustainability and

• Circularity

• Converters, Drives and Applications; including cryogenic and megawatt scale applications

• Control, Test and Reliability

Abstracts are due by Friday 13th March 2026.
Please submit your Abstract with a Title, Authors and up to 200 words to office@imaps.org.uk

MASTERCLASSES AND EVENTS FROM SUPERGEN ORE

Early Career Forum
Tuesday 21 April 2026, University of Warwick

Designed for those early in their careers in offshore renewable energy, this forum offers opportunities to connect with peers, develop key skills, and take part in panel discussions.

Find out more and register your free place.

Annual Assembly – Open to All
Wednesday 22 April 2026, University of Warwick

For all of those working in the offshore renewable energy sector, join the Supergen ORE Hub Assembly to explore the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of offshore wind, wave, and tidal energy. The Assembly connects industry, academia and policymakers to delve into the latest sector developments through research presentations, panel discussions and networking sessions.

Find out more and register your free place.

Masterclasses

Masterclass on Virtual Prototyping of Offshore Renewable Energy Technologies

Wednesday 29 April - Thursday 30 April | National Decommissioning Centre, University of Aberdeen

More info.

Environmental Contours and Extreme Value Analysis

Thursday 14 May - Friday 15 May 2026 | Penryn Campus, University of Exeter

More info.

Details

1 or 2 day Masterclasses.

£500/day. Free for eligible Early Career Researchers.

The series continues from April 2027 at leading research centres across the UK.

These sessions are part of our wider 10-part Masterclass Series. The details of the full series are here.

That’s all from us for now. Looking forward to sharing information about future opportunities and the next round of awardees soon.

The N-ZEEE leadership team

We are once again opening a round of flexible funding. The application window opens 13 February, 2026 and closes on 20 March, 2026.

We are especially interested in funding activity that demonstrates a clear step-change for the applicants and has strong alignment with their fundamental research topics, which sit under the focus for N-ZEEE – net-zero enabling electrical engineering. The funds can cover accommodation, travel and subsistence for secondments, research visits, networking, as well as attendance at workshops, seminars and conferences.

Throughout this application window, we will be highlighting researchers on the N-ZEEE LinkedIn page that have been awarded funds, and the range of activities they have undertaken, as well as the knowledge they have garnered and shared with the rest of the network.

A selection of past awards

Finds have been awarded for a range of activities. Reports from these activities are available on the profile pages of the researchers we’ve funded.

Hongye Zhang went on secondment with GKN Aerospace

Chenying Liu had research visits with a range of partners to foster deeper collaboration, producing a journal paper and developing a project outline.

Jordon Dobson attended a tutorial to inform a paper, which he then took to an international conference to deliver.

Xun Jiang put on a day long ECR conference using workshop funds to bring researchers together at Cardiff University

Xun Jiang and Cardiff colleagues hosted a workshop for early career researchers focused on careers in energy advancement.

Programme For E React Workshop

307KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Xun received Flexible Funding to support the workshop, which happened on 29 January.

Dr. Xun Jiang received the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Cardiff University, U.K., in 2024. He is currently a Research Associate with the School of Engineering of Cardiff University, U.K.

His research interests lie in the modelling, operation and planning of smart electricity distribution networks to facilitate increasing integration of low carbon technologies, with the goal of achieving net zero carbon transition in electricity sector.

He has participated as a key researcher in electricity system–related projects, including the European Horizon project and UK EPSRC projects. He is the winner of lEEE PES UK & Ireland Chapter Best PhD Thesis Award in 2025. He has published 18 papers, including one first-author paper recognized as an ESI Highly Cited Paper in Engineering. He has served as technical session chairs at international conferences such as IEEE EI2, and the global conference for University Consortium on Engineering Education and Research. He currently serves as the Students & Young Professionals Representative of the IEEE PELS UK & Ireland Chapter, a Committee Member of CIGRE UK NGN, and a reviewer for prestigious journals, including IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, Applied Energy, etc.

Link to Xun’s website

Dr Jiang has organised the first of our flexible funds workshops, which is now open to registrations:

Workshop in Cardiff - E-REACT: Empowering early career Researchers for Energy Advancement and Career Transition
9:30 am-16:00 pm, Thursday, 29 January 2026
Rooms 0.01 & 0.02, Translational Research Hub, Cardiff University, CF24 4HQ

The E-REACT workshop features six distinguished speakers from academia, industry, and professional organisations. The workshop aims to exchange diverse perspectives and recent advancements in the energy transition, share career experiences and empower early career researchers to contribute to shaping a sustainable energy future. Join us for an inspiring and collaborative gathering of the energy community!

Event Chairs: Dr. Xun Jiang, Dr. Sheng Wang, Dr. Jiajie Luo, Dr. Wenlong Ming

Event co-sponsorship: EPSRC N-ZEEE Network+, IEEE UK and Ireland Power Electronics Chapter, CIGRE UK Next Generation Network, IEEE Student Branch at Cardiff

Sincere thanks are given to all members of IEEE PELS Chapter and IEEE Student Branch at Cardiff, who supported the organisation of this event

E React Event

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