We focus on the sustainable and Net Zero emission transition through a whole-systems approach, and the nexus of energy-mobility-food-health.
Our aim is to build better understanding of complex systems and assessment framework for Net Zero transition through interdisciplinary research. Our research covers various sectors, including: cooling and heating; transport; and electricity systems. We also assess the different impacts and their inter-connections including: climate change; technology innovation; policy and regulation; finance and business models; and attitudes, behaviours and social practices, etc.
Our group primarily focuses on the integration of systems to achieve resilience and provision of Net Zero energy and cooling services, in collaboration with industry, government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and academics internationally.
Associate Professor
School of Chemical Engineering
Dr Xinfang Wang is Member of The Senate, and Group Leader of Resilient Systems for Energy and Cooling (ReSet Cool) in Birmingham Energy Institute. She is also the UK Energy Research Centre’s (UKERC) EDI champion and sits on the UKERC Research Committee, advising on its strategy and priorities of flexible fund.
Xinfang has published in top scientific journals and parliamentary POSTNotes in ...
Dr Shivangi Sharma is a senior research fellow in the School of Chemical Engineering, working on the EU funded project European Food Chain Supply to Reduce GHG Emissions by 2050 (ENOUGH). She holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering, an MSc in Sustainable Energy Systems from the University of Edinburgh, followed by a PhD in Solar Energy (efficiency improvement with phase change materials) from the University of Exeter. Shivangi has published her research outcomes in various international journals and conference papers. In over seven years of her professional experience, she’s worked with Jaguar Land Rover, Volkswagen group, Tata Consultancy Services etc. Out of her passion for sustainable living, health and wellbeing in the developing world, Shivangi also volunteers for community energy initiatives and United Nations funded projects worldwide.
Dr Shivangi Sharma LinkedIn profile
Rasaq Lamidi has a PhD in Energy (Renewable energy Systems) from Newcastle University, MSc in Carbon and Resource Management from University of Central Lancashire, Preston, the UK and BSc in Food Science and Technology from University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. He is currently working as Research Fellow in School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham on various projects focusing on sustainable cooling and cold-chains.
Prior to joining University of Birmingham, Rasaq has worked with different industries including Food & Beverages, Energy as well as Waste and Resource Recovery in Nigeria and UK. His recent research and work experiences have been in modelling, designing and deployment of solar and anaerobic digestion systems (stand alone, grid connected, and community based distributed energy systems) but his wider research interest is on Food-Energy Nexus. Rasaq is comfortable with the use of energy modelling tools such as ASPEN PLUS, ASPEN ANSYS, HOMER, RETSCREEN and THERMOLIB.
Chloe Chan is a visiting research student from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. She is interested in environmental sustainability, environmental justice, and policies to achieve a more sustainable society. Her work explores energy insecurity among vulnerable populations in Hong Kong.
Yingying Feng is a PhD student in the school of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham. She is very interested in research topics in carbon reduction, sustainable transition, energy economics, energy policy, and transportation sector.
Yingying Feng has several research experiences in Machine Learning, Carbon Sinks, Stock Forecasting, and Online Debate Models. During this time, she has acquired some skills related to Python, NODEXL, R-Studio, Orange, MATLAB.
Minar Howale is a research student enrolled in EPSRC supported EngD in collaboration with Samworth Brothers. He has immense passion for the field of chemical engineering, having developed skills in equipment design for design of heat exchangers, inductive fluidized bed, accompanied with design software like AutoCAD 3D, and good knowledge in simulation software packages like ASPEN.
He also has excellent knowledge in unit operations and unit processes, especially in distillation, evaporation, filtration, etc.
Junzhang Wu is a visiting PhD researcher supervised by Dr Xinfang Wang from February to June 2023, at the School of Chemical Engineering's Centre for Sustainable Cooling, and the Birmingham Energy Institute. Before moving to UoB, he was a full PhD student (October 2020 - September 2023) at the Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Italy.
Junzhang has published 11 research papers in scientific journals in the field of the cold chain, phase-change material, cold storage, food transport, and low-carbon refrigeration system.
He is a very active and nice partner in both his research team and international network. He has a good background in the life cycle thinking in food systems, low-carbon pathways for food transport, household refrigerator, environmental impact assessment, Internet of Things (IoT), and food waste.
Weize Wu is a PhD student supervised by Dr Xinfang Wang and Dr Estefania Lopez-Quiroga in the School of Chemical Engineering with a research focus on “Towards a zero-emission food supply chain” at University of Birmingham.
Weize is a purposeful and determined individual. He has internship experience in government, business and NGOs and has been involved in several research projects on environmental protection, regional and industrial sustainability.
His work aims to explore viable sustainable pathways for the food cold chain in the economic, social and environmental spheres by adopting a system-wide perspective. He also showed sufficient interest in the direction of sustainability, supply chain management and supply chain finance.
Liying Zhang is a joint PhD researcher at School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham and Beijing Normal University, funded by the China Scholarship Council. She works on the economic and social impacts of power transformation to achieve China’s 2060 carbon neutrality goal.
