Newcastle University

Background

Dermot Roddy joined Newcastle University in August 2007 as Science City Professor of Energy. The ambition is to establish the North East of England as a trail blazer on the journey to the low-carbon economy of the future.

Roles and Responsibilities

Science City Professor of Energy
Director, Sir Joseph Swan Centre for Energy Research
Newcastle Science City Energy & Environment Science Theme Leader
Beacon Project Energy & Environment Theme Leader

Qualifications

PhD, Control Engineering (Queen's University, Belfast)
BSc (1st Hons), Electrical & Electronic Engineering (Queen's, Belfast)
Chartered Engineer
Fellow of the Institution of Engineering & Technology

Previous Positions

Before coming to Newcastle University I was Chief Executive of Renew Tees Valley Ltd – a company which I set up in 2003 to create a viable and vibrant economy in the Tees Valley based on renewable energy and recycling. The company’s interests include a range of renewable energy technologies, hydrogen, liquid and solid biofuels, and a range of recycling and advanced waste processing technologies.

Prior to that, I ran the Petroplus crude oil refinery on Teesside as site director for a $1 bn-turnover facility before moving to The Netherlands to work on Petroplus’ international growth plans. I worked in the chemical industry from 1985 to 2002, based predominantly on Teesside, in a variety of local and international roles in operations, engineering and technology with ICI and others.

Before coming to Teesside, I developed leading-edge technology at Queen’s University, Belfast, for optimisation and control in aerospace applications.

Memberships

Institution of Electrical Engineers (FIET)
Northeast Biofuels (Chairman)
NESCOE (Vice President)
Energy Leadership Council
NEIC Leadership Team
Newcastle Climate Change Partnership

Honours and Awards

Kelvin Premium
Heaviside Premium

Languages

Irish (fluent)
French (rusty)

Informal Interests

Pipe organ
Violin

Projects

• PRO-TEM Network (Process Industries Thermal Energy Management Network)

• Roddy DJ, Manson-Whitton C. Biomass gasification and pyrolysis. In: Roddy, D.J, ed. Comprehensive Renewable Energy - Biomass & Biofuels. Elsevier, 2012. In Press.
• Roddy DJ, ed. Comprehensive Renewable Energy - Biomass and Biofuels. Elsevier, 2012. In Press.
• Roddy DJ. Introduction to biomass and biofuels. In: Roddy, D.J, ed. Comprehensive Renewable Energy - Biomass and Biofuels. Elsevier, 2012. In Press.
• Roddy DJ. A syngas network for reducing industrial carbon footprint and energy use. Applied Thermal Energy 2012, (epub ahead of print).
• Carrick J, Roddy DJ. Biomass energy for a mixed urban/rural region. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Energy 2011, 164(3), 111-126.
• Roddy DJ. Development of a CO2 network for industrial emissions. Applied energy 2012, 91(1), 459-465.
• Clark AJ, Roddy DJ. Community-level renewable energy planning in sensitive areas. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Energy 2012, 165(1), 33-42.
• Roddy D. Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers: Energy: Editorial. Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers: Energy 2010, 163(4), 141-142.
• Roddy DJ. Biofuels: environmental friend or foe?. Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers: Energy 2009, 162(3), 121-130.
• Younger PL, Roddy DJ, Gonzalez G. King Coal: Restoring the monarchy by underground coal gasification coupled to CSS. In: Seventh Petroleum Geology Conference. 2009, Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London: Geological Society.
• Roddy DJ, Yu Y, Dufton DJ, Thornley P. Low-carbon energy solutions for an ecological island in China. Institution of Civil Engineers: Energy 2009,162 2 85-95.
• Mudashiru LK, Roddy DJ. Project Ramsay: Potential for Underground Coal Gasification with Carbon Capture and Storage (UCG-CCS) in North East England. In: Twenty-Sixth Annual International Pittsburgh Coal Conference. 2009, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA: Pittsburgh Coal Conference.
• Roddy DJ, Gonzalez G. Underground coal gasification with CCS. In: Hester, RE; Harrison, RM, ed. Carbon Capture and Storage. Cambridge: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2009, pp. 102-125.
• Roddy DJ. Briefing: The big biofuels debate - Can we have food and fuel?. Institution of Civil Engineers: Energy 2008. ,161 1 7-9.
• Roddy DJ. Development of affordable, low carbon hydrogen supplies at an industrial scale. Bulletin of Science, Technology & Society 2008, 28(2), 138-142.
• Roddy DJ. Integration and evolution of biomass and biofuel technologies. In: World Renewable Energy Congress X. 2008, Glasgow, UK.
• Roddy DJ. Linking underground coal gasification to CCS and the downstream opportunities. In: Twenty-Fifth Annual Intrenational Pittsburgh Coal Conference.2008,University of Pittsburgh, USA
• Roddy DJ. Development of large-scale, affordable hydrogen supplies for use in fuel cells and elsewhere. In: All Energy Conference. 2007, Aberdeen, UK.
• Roddy DJ. Carbon capture and storage. In: International Power Generation Conference.2006,Leipzig
• Roddy DJ. Biofuels: From seed to tank. In: Anglo-German Conference.2004,London, UK
• Roddy DJ. Bulk production and storage of hydrogen. In: Institute of Chemical Engineering/ Institute of Mechanical Engineering Conference: Sourcing the hydrogen economy.2004,London, UK
• Roddy DJ. Grasp the opportunity now. In: Leading the Way in Renewable Energy. 2004, Tees Valley.
• Roddy DJ. Makiing a viable fuel cell industry happen in the Tees Valley. Fuel Cells Bulletin 2004,1 10-12.
• Roddy DJ. Using hydrogen as a carrier for renewable energy in the Tees Valley. In: All Energy Conference.2004,Aberdeen, UK
• Roddy DJ and Irwin GW. Fixed-wing-angle BTT control. IEE Proceedings 1986, 133(3), 111-120.
• Roddy DJ, Iwin GW and Wilson H. A minimum-time roll controller for BTT CLOS guidance. In: American Control Conference. 1985, Boston.
• Roddy DJ, Irwin GW and Wildon H. Approaches to roll-loop design for BTT CLOS guidance. IEE Proceedings 1985, 132(6), 268-276.
• Roddy DJ, Irwin GW and Fleming RJ. Linear quadratic approach to optimal control and estimation in bank-to-turn CLOS guidance. In: IEE Control Conference. 1985, University of Cambridge: IEE.
• Roddy DJ, Irwin GW and Wilson H. Optimal controllers for bank-to-turn CLOS guidance. IEE Proceedings 1984, 131(4), 109-116.
• Roddy DJ and Irwin GW. Optimal nonlinear bit control in a CLOS guidance sysytem. In: American Control Conference. 1984, San Diego, California.
• Roddy DJ and Irwin GW. Application of modern control to bank-to-turn guidance using digital simulation. In: Summer Computer Simulation Conference. 1983, Vancouver, B.C., Canada: The North-Holland Publishing Company.
• Mudashiru LK, Roddy DJ. Low rank coal for underground coal gasification (UCG) - a new perspective. In: Low Rank Coal International Industry Symposium. 2012, Melbourne, Australia. Submitted.