Imperial researcher wins global engineering award

George Creasey, a researcher in the Department of Chemical Engineering, has been recognised at the 2026 Young Engineers Awards for Innovation and Sustainability (YEAIS), receiving both the Energy and Climate Action Award and the Overall Postgraduate Award.

Run by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), YEAIS is a global competition that celebrates chemical engineers aged 18 to 30 who are developing innovative solutions to some of the world's most pressing sustainability challenges. Entrants are invited to submit novel ideas and research aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and IChemE's priority themes.

George was awarded Winner of the Energy and Climate Action category, selected from entrants across all age groups, and went on to receive the Overall Winner - Postgraduate category award. The winners were announced at the YEAIS showcase event in Edinburgh on 26 June 2026.

Advancing sustainable hydrogen production

George's award-winning entry was based on his PhD research, Development of photoelectrochemical reactors for solar hydrogen production.

Hydrogen is widely recognised as a key component of a low-carbon energy future. Conventional solar hydrogen production typically relies on two separate technologies: a photovoltaic (PV) device to convert sunlight into electricity, and a water electrolyser to convert electricity into hydrogen. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) reactors combine both functions into a single system, enabling the direct conversion of sunlight into hydrogen fuel.

George's research focuses on developing scalable photoelectrode materials, designing and testing PEC reactors, conducting field trials, and evaluating design options through life cycle assessment (LCA). The work aims to address key challenges in solar hydrogen production and support the development of commercially viable sustainable fuel technologies.

He hopes that continued advances in PEC reactor design will help accelerate the transition towards clean, renewable hydrogen production. George said “I am very grateful to IChemE for these awards and for the opportunity to showcase our work to a global audience alongside so many excellent projects. We hope to be able to share the publication of two major research outputs from this project soon, which are currently undergoing peer review." (preprints available at https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv.15000253/v1 and https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7963830/v1).

I am very grateful to IChemE for these awards and for the opportunity to showcase our work to a global audience alongside so many excellent projects. George Creasey Researcher in the Department of Chemical Engineering

He added “I look forward to taking this research to the next stage, implementing our latest design concepts and operating strategies in up-scaled PEC reactor field tests to take this research a step closer to a commercial reality. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone in the research team who contributed to this work, and to the Department of Chemical Engineering for funding my PhD research.”

From laboratory research to real-world impact

During his PhD at Imperial College London, supervised by Prof Andreas Kafizas and Dr Anna Hankin, George developed advanced photoelectrochemical materials and designed a prototype reactor that demonstrated solar hydrogen production during field trials in South Africa. Insights gained from operating the technology outside a controlled laboratory environment informed significant improvements to the reactor design and materials, increasing operational lifetimes from hours to days.

Professor Anna Hankin, George's supervisor, said: "George's research tackles one of the key challenges in the transition to net-zero: producing sustainable hydrogen directly from sunlight. George has combined scientific excellence with engineering innovation throughout his PhD, and I am immensely proud that his two IChemE YEAIS Awards recognise both his outstanding achievements and his contribution to advancing sustainable fuel technologies.”

I am immensely proud that his two IChemE YEAIS Awards recognise both his outstanding achievements and his contribution to advancing sustainable fuel technologies Professor Anna Hankin George's supervisor

International recognition

The Young Engineers Awards for Innovation and Sustainability recognise emerging engineering talent that is helping address global sustainability challenges through innovation, research and technology development.

By winning both the Energy and Climate Action category and the Overall Postgraduate Award, George's research has received international recognition for its potential contribution to the future of sustainable energy and the transition to net-zero emissions.

These awards highlight the significant role that early-career engineers and researchers can play in developing solutions that support a more sustainable future.