Our Team
Meet our team of highly competent individuals from all over the world working for a greener future.
Principal Investigator
Taha Manzoor
Taha is the founder and director of the Renewable Thermal Lab at the University of Alberta. His team actively investigates and develops high-temperature Thermal Energy Storage (TES), Micro Reactors, Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) systems. His research program focuses on the thermal-hydraulic design optimization of advanced solar/nuclear-to-thermal energy conversion and storage systems. Taha’s contributions extend to designing the largest experimental molten salt and solar simulator facilities in Canada. He is also knowledgeable about traditional energy storage technologies, such as lithium-ion batteries, and the commercial aspects of energy storage systems. He has assisted Canadian government-owned utilities in procuring battery energy storage systems for remote sites. Taha has trained multiple Highly Qualified Personnel (HQPs) in the field of renewable thermal energy. His trainees now serve in world-renowned institutions like Oxford and ETH Zurich.
Education
PhD Mechanical Engineering – 2019 – 2023 – McGill University, Canada
MSc Mechanical Engineering – 2016 – 2018 – KAIST, South Korea
BSc Mechanical Engineering – 2012 – 2016 – NUST, Pakistan
Work Experience
Assistant Professor of Energy Systems – 2024 – Present – University of Alberta, Canada
Director and PI – 2024 – Present – Renewable Thermal Lab, University of Alberta, Canada
Energy Storage and Renewable Power Specialist – 2023 – 2024 – Hatch Ltd, Canada