Rate My Professor Yukun Hu

Dr. Yukun Hu is an Associate Professor of Infrastructure Systems and Head of Infrastructure Systems research group at the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geomatic Engineering, University College London. He earned his PhD in 2013 and Licentiate degree in 2011 from KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden, with a strong foundation in mechanical and chemical engineering, focusing on fluid mechanics and thermal engineering. Prior to his current role, Hu served as Senior Research Fellow and Lecturer at Cranfield University School of Management from March 2017 to December 2018, Research Fellow at the University of Warwick School of Engineering from December 2015 to February 2017, and Postdoctoral Research Assistant at the University of South Wales Faculty of Computing, Engineering and Science from April 2013 to November 2015. With over a decade of research experience, he has contributed to national and international projects funded by UK Research Councils, the European Commission, and industry partners.

Hu's research interests center on dynamical systems, differential equations, and operator theory for modeling, optimizing, and controlling complex nonlinear dynamic systems. He employs numerical methods including finite element, finite difference, and spectral methods. His work addresses key challenges in industry decarbonisation, encompassing carbon capture and storage, hydrogen production and utilisation, bioenergy and biorefinery, waste-to-energy processes, and circular economy principles. Currently, he leads an interdisciplinary team at UCL’s Infrastructure Systems Institute, leveraging artificial intelligence for safe, low-carbon engineered systems solutions. Notable publications include 'Reducing industrial energy demand in the UK: A review of energy efficiency technologies and energy saving potential in selected sectors' (Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2018, 232 citations), 'Characterization of flue gas in oxy-coal combustion processes for CO2 capture' (Applied Energy, 2012, 172 citations), 'Comparative analysis of air and CO2 as working fluids for compressed and liquefied gas energy storage technologies' (Energy Conversion and Management, 2019, 94 citations), '5G network deployment and the associated energy consumption in the UK: A complex systems’ exploration' (Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 2022, 87 citations), and 'Techno-environmental analysis of battery storage for grid level energy services' (Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2020, 71 citations). Hu has received the Royal Academy of Engineering Industrial Fellowship (2024-present), Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (2019), Chartered Engineer and Chartered Energy Engineer statuses (2021), and Elsevier Outstanding Reviewer recognition (2018). He teaches energy systems analysis, energy management, and sustainable development courses, supervises students, and engages in editorial roles as Guest Editor for Applied Thermal Engineering and Energy, Ecology and Environment.