Prof. Andrew J. Cruden is a Professor of Energy Technology within Engineering and the Environment at the University of Southampton. Prof. Andrew J. Cruden obtained his BEng, MSc and PhD degrees in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. He was appointed as Professor of Energy Technology at the University of Southampton in July 2012, within the Electro-Mechanical Research Group. In July 2013, he took up the role of Head of the Energy Technology Research Group. He is a Chartered Engineer. He has significant experience in the field of renewable energy, particularly in fuel cell technology and condition monitoring of wind turbines. The interest in fuel cell technology led, indirectly, to an interest in the field of electric vehicles, and subsequently to research activity in energy storage (both batteries and supercapacitors, with EPSRC and TSB) and traction drives (through current EPSRC funding and two TSB-funded projects).
Prof. Suleiman M. Sharkh is a Professor of Power Electronics Machines and Drives. His research focuses on electric machines, power electronics and their applications in transport, renewable energy and microgrids. His inventions and research, funded by industry, EPSRC and Innovate UK, have contributed to the development of several commercial products: rim-driven thrusters; direct-drive tidal turbine generators; submersible motors; high-speed PM machines for electric turbo compounding and gas compressors; power electronic inverters for microgrids; battery-to-grid converters; hybrid propulsion for marine vessels and multi-DoF actuators for active vibration damping. He was the winner of The Engineer Energy Innovation and Technology Award 2008 for his work on novel rim-driven marine thrusters and turbine generators. He was also awarded The Royal Academy of Engineering ExxonMobil Excellence in Teaching Award in 2013.
