Imperial fuel cell pioneer elected to National Academy of Engineering

Professor Nigel Brandon

Professor Nigel Brandon OBE FREng FRS has been elected International Member of the National Academy of Engineering in the USA.

Professor Brandon, Dean of Imperial’s Faculty of Engineering and Chair of Sustainable Development in Energy, was recognised for his contributions to the science and engineering of solid oxide fuel cells and their technological development and commercialisation. 

(Nigel's) work brilliantly bridges the gap between fundamental materials sciences and electrochemical device engineering, and his election to the Academy is well deserved. Professor Alice Gast President, Imperial College London

Professor Brandon has spent his career working on the science, engineering and technology of electrochemical devices for low carbon energy applications, in particular fuel cells, flow batteries and electrolysers. 

Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honours those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice, or education, including, pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or driving innovative approaches to engineering education. 

Professor Brandon said: "I have dedicated my career to the low carbon energy transition and seeking to enable this through technology innovation. I am honoured to be elected as International Member of the National Academy of Engineering and look forward to the ceremony in October.” 

Professor Alice Gast, President of Imperial, said: “Nigel is a pioneer in developing electrochemical devices for the transition to low carbon energy. His work brilliantly bridges the gap between fundamental materials sciences and electrochemical device engineering, and his election to the Academy is well deserved. I offer my congratulations to Nigel.” 

I am honoured to be elected as International Member of the National Academy of Engineering and look forward to the ceremony in October. Professor Nigel Brandon Dean, Faculty of Engineering

Professor Brandon holds an engineering degree and PhD from Imperial, to which he returned as an academic in 1998 following a 14-year research career with BP and Rolls-Royce. He is a founder of Ceres Power, a UK company developing fuel cell and electrolyser technology based around a unique metal-supported solid oxide cell technology, and a founder of RFC Power, a UK company developing a novel liquid-gas flow battery to store renewable power. 

Newly elected individuals will be formally inducted during the NAE's annual meeting on 2 October 2022 in Washington, DC. 

In 2021, Imperial COVID-19 test pioneer Professor Chris Toumazou was inducted into the NAE. In 2019, Imperial bioengineer Professor Molly Stevens was inducted into the NAE alongside Imperial alum Sir Sam Jonah (MSc Resources Engineering 1979). 

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