Professor Hari Upadhyaya

I joined London South Bank University in 2018 as Head of Advanced Materials Centre. Prior to this, I held Chair positions at Brunel University (2014-18), at Heriot-Watt University (2011-14) and was instrumental in establishing the world class PV laboratory at CREST, Loughborough University (2005-2011). Currently, I am Professor of Clean Energy Technologies and founding Director of London Centre for Energy Engineering (LCEE).

The LCEE is a virtual centre was formed with a vision to bring together research strength of members of staff within the School of Engineering (SoE) to be recognised nationally and internationally as a leading UK's research centre undertaking innovative, cutting-edge and multidisciplinary energy research activities. These include solar photovoltaics and thermal, energy storage, heating and cooling, materials for energy, lighting technologies, functional coatings, precision manufacturing, modelling using artificial intelligence and deep learning, etc. With its inception in 2019, the centre was able to successfully identify, and connect diverse groups across the SoE pursuing energy engineering research, including early career researchers for necessary grooming and advancements in their careers.
I am an expert in thin-film deposition using vacuum and non-vacuum processing techniques towards photovoltaic materials and device research. My research experience spans over 30 years in Renewable Energy technologies involving activities on Transparent Conducting Oxides (TCOs), Dye-sensitized Solar Cell (DSC), Perovskite solar cells (PSC), CdTe and CIGS thin film solar cells. Besides, my interest also includes Na- rechargeable batteries and supercapacitors and Diesel Particle Filter (US patent), which links directly with C-emission reduction in the transport sector.
I had been involved in managing several Innovate UK/TSB and EPSRC sponsored programs such as Excitonic Supergen consortium (2009-2014), the flagship EPSRC-DST funded APEX-I and II project between India and UK worth £8 Million (2010-18) as PI and coordinator from UK, which involved top UK and Indian Institutions. The success of this bilateral (Indo-UK) program has earned me the first ‘Newton Prize'. Subsequently, I took lead in forming a network of experts in a bid to win the GCRF sponsored SUNRISE program worth ~£7M led by Swansea University, where I was one of the Co-investigators and deputy coordinator of the program (http://www.sunrisenetwork.org). Currently, my efforts are directed towards forming a strong Network to deliver Net-zero solutions in Indian villages by tackling Water-Energy-Food nexus. Over the years, I have successfully established strong links with industries in the UK and abroad viz. SolaronixSA, Scientific Vacuum Systems, NSG-Pilkington, BIPVCo, DuPont Teijin Films, Johnson Matthey, BHEL, Tata steel, Moserbaer, Power on Demand, Milman, etc

- Renewable Energy Systems, - Advanced Power Electronics - Railway apprentice - Building and Environmental systems