A University of Aberdeen researcher has been awarded a prestigious fellowship by the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence (ENSEC COE).
Dr Alfonso Martinez-Felipe, a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Engineering will work closely with experts at NATO’s Energy Security Centre of Excellence to assess Europe’s biofuels production capacity, with a particular focus on military applications and energy resilience.
During the three-month fellowship, he will contribute to a detailed assessment of the state of the art in sustainable fuel production across Europe, examining available feedstocks, conversion processes and existing markets for biofuels suitable for air and terrestrial transport.
The work will culminate in a report co-authored with NATO experts and shared with Ministries of Defence across the Alliance, providing evidence-based analysis and strategic recommendations. The report will highlight opportunities to strengthen the role biofuels can play in the supply chain while maintaining operational readiness, including the need for further investment in research and innovation and industrial-scale projects.
Although much of the fellowship will be conducted remotely, Dr Martinez-Felipe will work closely with NATO ENSEC COE personnel based in London, UK, and Vilnius, Lithuania, where the ENSEC COE is headquartered.
The NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence is a NATO-accredited international military organisation that supports the Alliance by providing expertise on energy security, critical energy infrastructure protection and operational energy efficiency. Its work has become increasingly important as energy resilience and sustainability play a growing role in defence and security planning.
While the fellowship itself is time-limited, the impact is expected to extend well beyond its formal duration. In addition to contributing to a high-level NATO report, a letter of intent for cooperation between the Centre and the University has been signed, to further explore collaboration.
Dr Martinez-Felipe said: “I am delighted to receive the opportunity to contribute directly to work that will inform decision-making at the highest levels of European defence, while also strengthening the University’s international partnerships in this critical field.
The fellowship further enhances the University of Aberdeen’s reputation for impactful research addressing global challenges at the intersection of energy, sustainability and security.”