Michael Walsh

Michael has a background in Mechanical Engineering after completing his undergraduate degree from the University of Aberdeen. His undergraduate project focused on a simulation analysis on the effect of drilling in the context of subsea engineering. Michael completed his MSc in Renewable Energy Engineering from Heriot-Watt University in 2022. His final dissertation was on photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation and water pollutant treatment, focussing on the fabrication and utilisation of catalyst coatings in the degradation of pollutant dyes in water. Michael’s findings showed the promising capabilities of using visible light-driven materials under natural sunlight irradiation to treat water pollutants in an economical and sustainable way, while supplying a source of green hydrogen.

Currently, Michael is a research student (PhD) in the Research Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS) at Heriot-Watt University. His research will continue to focus on the design of novel, nanomaterial catalysts for both the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER) and Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER) within the water electrolysis process.  Other key research areas include investigating the utilisation of industrial wastewater resources as a freshwater alternative for long-term sustainable green hydrogen production; the removal of pollutants such as pharmaceutical waste, textile dyes, and organic compounds from water sources; and the scaling up of water electrolysis technologies utilising renewable energy sources.

Michael’s main research interests are Green Hydrogen, Electrochemistry, Nanomaterials, Water Pollutant Treatment