Tapas Mallick

Professor Tapas Mallick is a leading academic in renewable energy and solar technologies, serving as Professor and Chair of Clean Technologies and Renewable Energy at the University of Exeter’s Environment & Sustainability Institute. He also holds distinguished adjunct and visiting professorships at Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University (Saudi Arabia) and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (India), respectively. He is the Director and Scientific Advisor of BuildSolar Limited and actively leads the Solar Energy Research Group.

• University of Exeter, UK (2013–present)
• Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Saudi Arabia (2024–present, Distinguished Adjunct Professor)
• Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India (2018–present, Visiting Professor)
• BuildSolar Limited (2018–present, Director and Scientific Advisor)

His research focuses on applied solar energy, with emphasis on bridging the urban-rural energy divide through innovative solar integration in buildings, smart materials, and hybrid systems. Key interests include photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) systems, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), phase change materials, solar desalination, and energy storage. His work combines engineering, materials science, and environmental sustainability to develop scalable, real-world solutions.

The 15 most recent publications reflect a strong trend in hybrid solar technologies, smart materials for energy efficiency, rural electrification, and water-energy nexus solutions. Research spans photovoltaics, thermal engineering, materials innovation, and system integration, with applications in both urban and off-grid rural environments across ODA countries.

His scientific accolades include:

• Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
• Fellow of the World Society of Sustainable Energy Technologies
• British Indian Award for Services to Education (2016)
• Best Innovation for Sustainability Award (Cornwall, 2018)

Professor Mallick has supervised 34 PhD students to completion and leads multiple high-impact funded projects, including UK-Egypt British Council initiatives, EPSRC-funded HIACT Hub, and the SUPERGEN solar consortium. He serves as Section Editor-in-Chief of the journal Energies and has strong international collaborations across India, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa. His research is supported by RCUK, EU, and industrial funding, demonstrating significant translational impact.

He leads the Solar Energy Research Group at Exeter and is deeply involved in innovation through BuildSolar Limited, focusing on commercializing solar technologies for sustainable development.