Powering a more sustainable future
Dr Muhammad Imran
Dr Muhammad Imran’s revolutionary research into sustainable energy systems is helping communities around the world access power in challenging environments. From developing heat pumps that can function in harsh Ukrainian winters to solar-powered refrigeration units for Nigerian farmers – his work supports both people and planet.
“One of my key motivations is to make the world a better place. My role is to develop solutions that are sustainable, that can be adopted, that will mitigate environmental impact in the long term.”
Born and raised in Pakistan, Muhammad discovered a passion for applied research during his PhD in Energy Systems Engineering in South Korea. Following a stint as a researcher at the Korea Institute of Energy Research and as a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at the Technical University of Denmark, Muhammad came to the UK to join Aston in 2019.
His specialism in developing sustainable energy solutions for under-resourced communities has been able to flourish at Aston, where transformation is everything. In a relatively short time period, Muhammad has been able to see the impact of his research on industry and society time and again.
“Coming to Aston was a turning point for me – I could see my research being used by industry, but also having a strong impact in terms of emission reductions, job creation and a more sustainable future. It gives you a sense of fulfilment.”
Providing sustainable energy for communities under fire
Muhammad’s groundbreaking work on heat pump technology is set to provide vital assistance to communities in Ukraine. Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure are frequent – particularly in winter, where power outages can be devastating. Muhammad and his team at the Aston Centre of Engineering for Sustainable Development have worked in partnership with the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv to develop an efficient, cost-effective heat pump system able to cope with temperatures as low as minus 20°C. The pumps have been specially design for seamless integration with heating networks in Ukraine – operating at twice the efficiency of conventional alternatives.
A smart control tracks solar radiation, wind speed and building occupancy, then adjusts the temperature accordingly, minimising energy waste. The technology can also be retrofitted to existing Soviet systems, providing a cheaper, greener way for people to heat their homes during extreme winters.
The Dual Heat Pumps project is currently in its pilot phase, supplying power to 50-80 offices in Kyiv. It is expected to revolutionise heating efficiency and reliability in Ukraine as the country rebuilds.
“Normally we would just track what temperature we want inside and control it, but here we are going one step further. We’re developing smart technologies which can track solar radiation, wind speed and inside occupancy, then adjust the temperature of the heat pump accordingly.”
Tackling the food waste crisis in developing nations
Lack of cold storage costs small farmers in Nigeria an estimated 25% of their income each year. Like much of the developing world, a huge amount of food produced in Nigeria is lost and wasted – more than 40% of the country’s annual food production.
Muhammad and his team partnered with Nigerian social enterprise ColdHubs Ltd and the University of Port Harcourt to develop a hybrid solar-powered off-grid pre-cooling storage system for smallholder farmers. These units offer a sustainable way for farmers to slow down the rate of deterioration and loss of nutrients from their produce, meaning they waste less and sell more.
Muhammad is currently working with ColdHubs in Nigeria, CoolRun in Malawi, and Baridi in Kenya to develop and scale these solutions. In low-income settings, many agricultural technologies fail to progress beyond small pilot deployments due to high capital costs, limited technical capacity or a lack of viable business models. The open-source design and optimisation tool developed through Muhammad’s project, combined with ColdHubs’ pay-as-you-go operating model, has brought the number of units in operation across Nigeria from three to 120 – showing that their community-focused approach really works.
And with each unit reducing reliance on fossil fuel-powered alternatives, and reducing methane emissions associated with spoiling vegetables, it’s technology that benefits the planet as well as farmers.
“Small scale farmers in these countries don’t have the capacity to store in a fridge or cold storage unit. By being able to store fish or keep their harvest fresh, the farmers can improve their income, and fresh food accessibility to the wider market is also increased.”
From blackout resilience to waste-powered energy
Muhammad continues to work alongside InnovateUkraine, helping to rebuild communities in a sustainable, cost-effective way. He is currently leading a £2 million project to develop the country’s blackout resilience with a solution that taps into stored power when the grid goes down. This is due to be tested in situ at a small refugee village – demonstrating the potential for a single 500kw unit to support an entire community.
Also on the agenda is the £1.5 million Biosolar Nexus project, exploring how waste from kitchens and toilets can be used to create methane, generating electricity and heating in places where conflict may restrict access to power.
Ultimately, Muhammad’s goal is to continue developing cost-effective, sustainable energy solutions that can be easily adopted by communities all over the world, benefiting the whole of society for years to come.
“It’s not just about one impact. The work we do is impactful in terms of sustainability, societal impact, and also in terms of adoption by the people.”
Impact snapshot
"Our collaboration with Dr Imran’s team has enabled us to scale our solar-powered ColdHubs across Nigeria, dramatically reducing post-harvest losses and increasing smallholder farmers’ incomes."
Nnaemeka Ikegwuonu (CEO of ColdHubs)
"The Dual Heat Pump system developed with Aston University provides Ukraine with a vital, efficient, and resilient heating solution that strengthens national energy security during severe winter conditions."
Prof. Borys Basok (National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine – Dual Heat Pump)
"The waste heat recovery solution delivered by Dr Imran’s group is cutting our energy costs and carbon emissions, directly supporting our pathway to net-zero manufacturing."
Rory Fulwell (Process Engineer – Aggregate Industries)
