CPE Webinar: How the UK can Compete in the Global Semiconductor Race
Professor Anthony O’Neill (Newcastle University) and Professor Phil Mawby (University of Warwick)
29 March 2023
Presentation slides
Presentation slides (Prof Anthony O’Neill)
Presentation slides (Prof Phil Mawby)
Abstract
Semiconductors are the backbone of modern technology. Whether it is the
internet-of-things revolution or the drive for the net zero energy paradigm, semiconductors
are the underpinning enabler upon which most technologies rest. Often invisible when
technology supply chains are unperturbed, they can grind modern industry to a halt when
they are in insufficient supply. Semiconductors come in 2 flavours. They can be
nanoelectronic/ microelectronic devices for VLSI systems in information and communication
technologies where the state-of-the-art devices have physical dimensions down to tens of
nanometers. Or they can be power electronic devices capable of processing electrical power
from a few watts needed for handheld electronic gadgets to hundreds of kilowatts for
electric vehicle drivetrains to a few gigawatts needed for interconnecting entire national
power systems or multi gigawatt windfarms. In this CPE webinar, we are joined by two
distinguished professors each specializing in semiconductors for microelectronics and
power electronics. They will give a lecture on the state-of-the-art as well as commentary on
how the UK can compete in the global semiconductor race currently dominated by Far east
Asia and USA.
Speaker biographies
The webinar was delivered by Prof Anthony O’Neill (Newcastle University) whose expertise is
in nanoelectronic/ microelectronic devices and Prof Phil Mawby (University of
Warwick), whose expertise is in Power Electronic devices. See page 2 of the webinar advert for their biographies
CPE Webinar: Long-Haul Road Freight: Hydrogen or Electricity?
Professor David Cebon, University of Cambridge
Wednesday 1 February 2023
View presentation slides from this talk.
Abstract: Long-haul road freight is said to be one of the ‘difficult to decarbonise’ sectors of the economy. Heavy vehicles require large amounts of power for long periods of time, making battery electric technologies challenging. There are two main alternatives to battery-electric vehicles: fuel-cell electric vehicles powered by hydrogen and battery electric vehicle technology, with various charging options. The heavy vehicle industry is currently divided over which technology to back, with the government spending approx. £200m on demonstration trials to help it decide which way to go. This talk will consider the basic numbers associated with these issues and will show that one option makes sense, while the other doesn’t.
Biography: David Cebon, PhD, FREng, FIMechE is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering in Cambridge University Engineering Department, where he has been a member of staff since 1985. He leads the Department’s Transport Research Grou and the Department’s research theme ‘Energy, Transport and Urban Infrastructure’. He is the Director of the Centre for Sustainable Road Freight and the Cambridge Vehicle Dynamics Consortium. Professor Cebon has authored or co-authored many papers on dynamics, safety, manoeuvrability and decarbonisation of heavy vehicles. He has also published widely on road and bridge response and damage as well as asphalt micromechanics.
This talk was organised in collaboration with Professor Layi Alatise, University of Warwick.