University of Hull engineering professor receives lifetime achievement award

This award celebrates his outstanding contribution to sustainable energy and education for future energy leaders, as well as recognising his impactful research and innovation in renewable energy and energy efficiency. During his time as the founding Director of the Centre for Sustainable Technologies Professor Zhao has pioneered advancements in renewable energy applications, including low-carbon heating, cooling, and power systems.

As a leading figure in the field of renewable energy and energy efficiency, Professor Zhao is renowned for his innovative research and impactful contributions to sustainable technologies. With over 37 years of experience, Professor Zhao has established a global reputation for his work on integrating renewable energy sources into decentralized heating, cooling, and power systems, contributing to the development of low-carbon, off-grid energy solutions.

Professor Zhao said: “It is my great pleasure to accept this distinguished honour, which is the momentum and driving force for me to continue the research and education in advanced energy technologies and systems. I look forward to working with the ‘Al-Attiyah International Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development’ on advanced energy research and development, which I believe will help the world to move towards the green and sustainable future.”

Throughout his distinguished career, Professor Zhao has led or been involved in 68 research projects with a total value of £28 million and has managed 40 engineering consultancy projects worth £5 million. His groundbreaking work has resulted in 14 patents and 330 scientific papers, and has earned him a place on the 2017 list of the world’s most highly cited researchers. His research spans solar PV, solar thermal, photovoltaic/thermal (PV/T) systems, heat pumps, and sustainable heating and cooling technologies, all of which have achieved world-leading standards.

Professor Zhao’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2018 UK Rushlight Innovation Award, the 2019 Newton Prize Finalists Award, and the European Dragon-STAR Innovation Silver Award in 2015. His innovative approach has also been honoured with multiple awards from the World Society of Sustainable Energy Technologies in consecutive years.

Professor Zhao is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the European Academy of Sciences, the Energy Institute, and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, among others. He has played key roles in various national and international organisations, including the UK’s EPSRC Engineering Prioritisation Panel and the European District Heating and Cooling Technology Platform.

The Abudullah Bin Hamad AI-Attiyah International Foundation for Energy and Sustainable Development is a non-profit organization established to preserve and build upon H.E. AI-Attiyah’s to years of service in energy industry.

Abdullah Bin Hamad AI-Attiyah was the Former Deputy Prime Minister of Qatar. His legacy includes important roles in a variety of senior leadership positions with the Government of Qatar and the international community on issues confronting humanity, including climate change and sustainable development. Its vision is to be an internationally respected independent think tank that is a thought leader focused on global energy and sustainable development topics. Its mission is to provide robust and practical knowledge and insights on global energy and sustainable development topics and communicate these for the benefit of the foundation’s members and community.