Professor Graeme Maidment

Prof. Graeme Maidment's specialist areas include:
Refrigeration and air conditioning
Heating and cooling
Smart local energy systems
Cooling of the London Underground
Ground source energy systems
Refrigerant leakage and emissions
Waste heat utilisation
I have 40 years of experience in refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) starting my career as an apprentice with J & E Hall Ltd and have since focused on improving the sustainability of RAC systems, technology and skills.
I lead LSBU's research in heating and cooling in the School of Engineering. A fantastic team to work with!

I have worked in the energy sector for 40 years, lead the heating and cooling research team and have over many years actively contributed to the development of the academic discipline. My initial strategy was to focus on reducing carbon emissions associated with refrigeration and air conditioning. This has been successful and has delivered sustained funding over many years. In total, I have secured over 40+ research projects with a combined value of >£15M. Funding has included 8 EPSRC awards and including programme grant ‘LoTNET’, the £5M ‘CryoHub’ award and the recently awarded £4M ‘GreenSCIES’ project.
In 2012, I refocused research on combined heating, cooling and energy storage, in response to strategies and funding stemming from the Climate Change Act. In 2018, I expanded the focus to include the integration of heat, power and mobility, in the whole energy system. This was in response to the “Net Zero” strategy and “hard to abate sectors/ technologies”, legislated in 2019. This has significantly raised the profile of the team internationally and we are now providing leadership worldwide. This was evidenced in the leading of International Workshops in Smart Heating and Cooling and in Affordable Heating and Cooling of Buildings.
My research associated with refrigerant leakage and combined heating and cooling has been translational, resulting in many awards including The Carbon Trust/ Daily Telegraph ‘Carbon Innovator of the Year’, The RAC Journal Gold Award, H&V News Collaborator of the Year, CIBSE best paper, The Lightfoot Medal and the Ted Perry Award. Consultancy has included large projects with Tesco and London Underground, as well as small translational studies such as a recent consultancy project with ASDA, supporting the development of their energy and refrigeration strategies. I have developed and delivered 8 KTP projects - some evaluated as outstanding. My research has resulted in seminal Industry guides including 3 CIBSE Technical Memorandums, international information notes and has influenced the development of new policy interventions. Research provides the foundation for Impact case studies for REF2021 and REF2014 - all were evaluated as 4*.
My research outcomes have regularly featured in national and international media including the Guardian/ Independent, the BBC, and very recently in the Indian press.
I am on the Executive of the Cool Coalition and am Co-lead of Mission Innovation's International Innovation Community on affordable heat and cooling of buildings. I have been actively involved in COP26 and 27.

Faculty Director or Research 2012-2014
University Director of Research 2015-2018

Refrigeration