AbuBakr S. Bahaj

Professor AbuBakr S. Bahaj is a Professor of Sustainable Energy at the University of Southampton, leading the Energy & Climate Change Division (ECCD) and the Sustainable Energy Research Group. He holds a Personal Chair and has pioneered sustainable energy research for over 30 years, establishing the energy theme at the university. His roles include leading the University’s Sustainable Strategy Implementation Group and serving as Chief Scientific Advisor to Southampton City Council (2012–2023). He holds visiting professorships at Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology (China) and Uppsala University (Sweden), and previously held the King Salman bin Abdulaziz Visiting Chair at King Abdulaziz University (Saudi Arabia).

**Research Interests**: Focuses on renewable energy (solar PV, marine energy, wind energy), low-carbon cities, energy access in developing regions, and infrastructure resilience. His work spans urban energy systems, mini-grid solutions for rural Africa, and Saudi Arabia’s renewable energy targets. Projects include solar integration in housing, tidal energy innovation, and climate-resilient infrastructure.

**Awards**: FREng, FICE, FIET, FRSA fellowships; named UK’s 100 leading practising scientists (2014). Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Marine Energy and co-founder of the International Marine Energy Journal.

**Grants & Projects**: Over 350 publications and leadership in major EPSRC-funded initiatives (e.g., DONGTAN, EVERESST DC, EQUIMAR). Active in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 renewable energy programs, refugee camp electrification, and urban heat deferral trials (e.g., LATENT project).

**Labs/Teams**: ECCD coordinates interdisciplinary teams across energy, climate, and urban systems, collaborating with institutions like King Abdulaziz University and the EU’s H2020 initiatives.