Enterprise Fellowship
Newcastle University engineer wins prestigious Enterprise Fellowship
Published on: 24 January 2025
Dr Mahfuz Kamal has been awarded an Enterprise Fellowship by the Royal Academy of Engineering to support him as CEO of University spin-out company RecoVolt.
RecoVolt is a Newcastle University spin-out company commercialising an innovative battery discharge system. The system is used with lithium-ion batteries at their end-of-life to ready them for battery recycling.
Advanced power electronics and intelligent algorithms are used to discharge multiple batteries simultaneously, addressing a productivity area that the recycling industry has identified as needing urgent attention.
Dr Kamal explained: “For batteries to be recycled safely, any charge still held in the battery needs to be fully discharged.
“By removing any remaining charge, the risk of fire during the recycling process is reduced. Any remaining charge in the batteries can also be used to power the recycling process, offsetting operational costs.”
The innovation also has potential use by scrap yards and insurance companies by ensuring safe storage, faster transport and value generation from assessing written-off vehicle batteries for reuse.
Latest step in the entrepreneurial journey
Dr Kamal was able to commercialise the work from his PhD studies thanks to support from the Faraday Institution Entrepreneurial Fellowships, the Innovate UK ICURe scheme, an Impact Accelerator Award, and the Conception X deep-tech commercialisation scheme.
Dr Kamal added: “It’s been a team effort to get to this point and I’ve been fortunate to be working alongside great people.
“Academic Dr Simon Lambert, engineer and entrepreneur Stephen Irish, and finance expert Christoph Atkins have contributed extensive industry knowledge and commercialisation expertise along with University Business Development Manager, Dr Luke Judd.
“Their collective efforts, combined with the support of the Royal Academy of Engineering, are accelerating this innovative solution’s go-to-market phase.”
This has helped enormously in refining the technology and the commercial proposition. The Fellowship from the Royal Academy of Engineering will now accelerate the go-to-market phase of RecoVolt.”
Research, innovation, and skills for electrification
The Fellowship is the latest success for electrification and batteries research, education and skills at Newcastle University.
Professor Roberto Palacin, Director for Electrification said: “This Fellowship is the latest success in our strategy to grow both research, education and innovation for electrification and batteries.
“Through the Driving the Electric Revolution Industrialisation Centres, we’re working to reduce the cost and risk of manufacturing by providing open access to expertise and state-of-the-art equipment.
“Our Institute of Electrification and Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing, along with the Faraday Institution North East office and our battery and training skills academy, works with local Further Education colleges to develop high quality training across batteries, power electronics, machines and drives,
“This year we also have our first cohort of apprentices on our Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship designed specifically for the electrification sector.
“Research, education and innovation must work hand-in-hand if we are to successfully move to greater electrification. Spin-out companies are important pathway to impact, and I’m delighted for Dr Kamal, RecoVolt, and this Fellowship award.”
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