St Hilda's College
College news

Major Investment for Battery Research in Heavy Industry

10 July 2025

Professor David Howey

Professor David Howey is co-leading the initiative with Professor Mauro Pasta (Department of Materials), focusing on next-generation battery systems designed to support the decarbonisation of heavy industries such as shipping, rail, and construction. The project has been awarded £10 million from the Faraday Battery Challenge, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), and is one of five national “Excellence in Battery Research” hubs to receive this level of support.

This new hub will tackle key technical challenges in high-performance, sustainable energy storage, with the aim of enabling electrification in sectors where decarbonisation has proved especially difficult. The Oxford-led team will work in partnership with researchers across the UK and industry leaders in battery technology.

Drawing on the University’s interdisciplinary strengths in engineering, materials science, chemistry and public policy, the project builds on Oxford’s reputation for innovation in energy systems.

Professor Howey, who has been a Fellow of St Hilda’s since 2012, brings particular expertise in battery systems modelling and control.

For more details, read the University’s announcement.