SERG’s work spans key areas in the global energy transition, with focus in renewable energy production, storage, and distribution. If you are looking for a HORIZON Europe partner, or postgraduate oportunities: Get in touch!
Our Research Focus
Nga kaupapa kua tohua
Energy Transitions Modelling
We build and apply open-source tools such as REMix-NZ and PyPSA-NZ to simulate and optimise renewable-based energy systems. Our models support long-term energy planning across electricity, heat, and fuels under climate and market uncertainty.
Power-to-X & Long Duration Storage
We evaluate the role of green hydrogen, synthetic fuels, and long-duration storage in future energy systems from national to local scales. Our models explore techno-economic potentials, social impacts, infrastructure design, and policy implications.
Carbon-Negative Technologies
We assess carbon technologies, including carbon capture combined with geothermal and bioenergy plants, green cement, and carbon removal, with system models and prospective Life Cycle Assesment (LCA).
Resilience & Climate Risk
We develop modelling approaches for resiliency assessments under climate change, natural hazards, and demand-side risks, informing more adaptive and resilient infrastructure.
Urban Energy & Flexibility
Using GIS-based tools like FlexiGIS-NZ, we assess spatial demand-side flexibility, urban energy hubs, and sustainable transitions for urban planning and growing cities.
Lifecycle impacts and materials
We support evidence-based decision-making through systems modelling, lifecycle assessment, and community-informed research to study the lifecycle impacts and material requirements of energy technologies.
Join us!
Hono mai!
Whether you're a prospective PhD or postdoctoral researcher, or looking to collaborate through Horizon Europe or other international programmes — we welcome expressions of interest. Please reach out trough our Global Engagement Specialist (GES), or drop a Direct Message on our LinkedIn page and our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
Study Renewable Energy
We welcome students at the undergraduate, Master's or PhD level at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, NZ. Advance your career or work on real-world projects in hydrogen, storage, carbon removal, and climate resilience. Scholarships available. Interested? Check the link below!
Horizon Europe Partnerships
Partner with New Zealand’s largest energy systems research group for your Horizon Europe proposal. SERG has strong global partneships with Germany, Latin America, and the Pacific region.
Please contact our Team Leaders or Global Engagement Specialist (GES) to explore how we can contribute to your consortium.
Collaboration and consultancy
Access cutting-edge modelling, scenario analysis, and policy-relevant insights. We’re open to consultancies, academic–industry collaborations and joint initiatives that drive innovation in renewable energy strategies and technologies.
Other opportunities at SERG
We are looking to expand our global network and connect with exceptional talent in the energy sector. At SERG, we understand the value of international exchange and actively support funded opportunities through university agreements and government partnerships. Check out for active oportunities at our LinkedIn page.
If you're interested in our research, let’s connect. Our group offers:
Technical collaboration on international energy projects (e.g., Horizon Europe, MBIE Endeavour)
- A vibrant, interdisciplinary research culture based in Christchurch, New Zealand
- Host institution for visitor researchers, internships and other funded academic interchanges.
- Funded PhD & postdoc opportunities through UC scholarships, DAAD–ERA Green Hydrogen, and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.
Our People
To Tatou Tangata
SERG team is a diverse and multidisciplinary team of researchers, engineers, experts and collaborators working togheter to deliver real-world impact in sustainable energy systems research.
Meet our Team Leaders:
Meet our Associate Academics:
Meet our Team:
Belen Silva, Sustainable Energy Funding and Partnerships Strategist (Horizon Europe and Latin America). Email: belen.silvacardenas@canterbury.ac.nz
- Dr. Ana Pueyo (Adjunct Senior Fellow and Energy Specialist, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, New Zealand): Energy for the Pacific Islands
- Dr. Vikash Singh (Postdoctoral researcher): biomass for low-carbon cement
- Dr. Karan Titus (Research associate): carbon-negative geothermal energy
- Baxter Williams (Research associate): residential energy demand
- Francisco Astorga (PhD researcher): social and environmental impacts of energy futures
- Rafaella Canessa (PhD researcher): energy transitions for New Zealand including green hydrogen applications
- Akash Handique (PhD researcher): energy transitions for the Pacific Islands
- Stella Steidl (PhD researcher): urban energy hubs with green hydrogen
- Hadi Vatankhah (PhD researcher): sustainable energy hubs
- Madison Zegeer (PhD researcher): robust decision-making for energy futures
- Meihui Huang (incoming PhD researcher): on- and off-shore wind power models
- Vicente Sepulveda (PhD researcher): long-term storage with hydrogen
- Meisy Fortunatus (PhD researcher): resilience of future energy systems
- Catalina Klausen (PhD researcher): optimization of CO2 capture and storage systems
- Haolong Pang (PhD researcher): multi-service battery modelling
- Grant Telfar (Industry PhD researcher): centralised versus decentralised energy management
- Rodrigo Zamorano (PhD researcher): carbon storage modelling in aquifers
- Patrick Martin (international PhD researcher from Uni. Stuttgart): smart water-energy systems
- Fabian Dunker, Inverse Problems, Mathematics and Statistics, UC
- Mehdi Ekbatani, Transportation Systems, Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, UC
- Markus Pahlow, Water Systems, Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, UC
- Alaa Alhamwi, Energy Systems Analysis, German Aerospace Centre, Germany
- Alice Bennet, Environment and Sustainable Development Engineering, University of Cambridge
- Christian Breyer, Solar Economy, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, Finland
- Andre Cabrera, Environment and Sustainable Development Engineering, University of Cambridge
- Felipe Feijoo, Electrical Power Systems, Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso, Chile
- Hans Christian Gils, Energy Systems Analysis, German Aerospace Centre, Germany
- Pierluigi Mancarella, Chair Of Electrical Power Systems, University of Melbourne, Australia
- Wided Medjroubi, Energy Systems Analysis, German Aerospace Centre, Germany
- Rodrigo Moreno, Institute of Complex Engineering Systems, University of Chile, Chile
- Wolfgang Nowak, Stochastic Simulation and Safety Research for Hydrosystems, University of Stuttgart, Germany
- Rodrigo Palma, Energy Center, University of Chile, Chile
- Matias Paredes, Energy Ministry of Chile
- Ana Pueyo, NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Rachel Wagner, Saint Francis University, U.S.
- Manuel Wetzel, Energy Systems Analysis, German Aerospace Centre, Germany
- Theresa Heinrich (incoming visiting researcher from Fraunhofer FIT, Germany): CO2 certificates for the hydrogen supply chain.
- Michael Schaffler (incoming visiting professor from Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Germany): recycling of sustainable technologies.
- Cristiane Carvalho (incoming visiting professor from Universidad Magallanes, Chile): large-scale hydrogen hubs.
- Sven Teske (visiting professor from the University of Technology Sydney, Australia): future energy vectors.
- Pierluigi Mancarella (visiting professor from the University of Melbourne, 2025): future power systems.
- Rodrigo Palma (visiting professor from the University of Chile, 2025): solar energy systems.
- Alice Bennett (visiting researcher from Cambridge, 2025): hydrogen technologies modelling.
- Andre Cabrera (visiting professor from Cambridge, 2025): energy systems.
- Alicia Pilsl, Michael Kasenbacher, Simon Stuber (visiting interns from the University of Regensburg, Germany, 2024): energy futures.
- Juan Carlos Osorio-Aravena (visiting senior researcher from the Solar Energy Research Center, Chile, 2024): future energy sector demands for New Zealand.
- Leon Schumm (visiting researcher from the University of Regensburg, Germany, 2024): PyPSA for New Zealand
- Ali Torkayesh (visiting researcher from the RWTH Aachen University, Germany, 2024): social preferences on future energy systems
- Manuel Wetzel (visiting researcher from the German Aerospace Centre, Germany, 2024): hydrogen infrastructure planning for NZ and Germany
- Patrick Martin (visiting researcher from the University of Stuttgart, Germany, 2024): smart water-energy systems
- Neven Duić (visiting professor from the University of Zagreb): how to build 100% RES energy systems
- Melissa Ale (visiting researcher from the University of Chile, Chile, 2023): resilient planning for NZ's energy system
- Ashish Gulagi (visiting senior researcher from the Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, Finland, 2023): multi-sector planning for NZ
- Will McNeil (visiting researcher from University of California Berkeley, U.S., 2023): sustainable heavy-truck transport
- Rachel Wagner (visiting professor from Saint Francis University, U.S., 2023): co-impacts of energy transitions
- Christina Benighaus (visiting senior researcher from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, 2023): social risk communications of energy transitions
- Carlos Alvear (visiting researcher from the University of Chile, Chile, 2022): strategic hydrogen reserves for NZ and Chile
Our Highlighted Projects
Nga kaupapa kua tohua
Derisking Carbon Dioxide Removal at Megatonne Scale in Aotearoa
Dempsey D. et al. (inc. Peer R. and Haas J.)
NZ MBIE Endeavour
2025-2029
Pūhiko Nukutū: a green hydrogen geostorage battery in Taranaki
Nicol A., Dempsey D., Adams M. et al. (with Peer R.)
MBIE Endeavour
2022-2027
New Zealand-German platform for green hydrogen integration (HINT)
Haas J., Peer R. et al.
German BMBF, NZ MBIE
2022-2025
Methods for the coordinated optimization of water supply systems with evolving energy systems under deep climatic uncertainty
Nowak W., Haas J. [colab. Universität Stuttgart]
German DFG
2022-2025
Pathways to net-zero carbon buildings and communities
Bellamy L, Peer R, McNabb S.
BRANZ
2022-2025
Enhancing risk assessment by understanding cascading failures
Logan T., Peer R., Zorn C.
Te Hiranga Rū QuakeCoRE
2022-2025
Our Services
Ko a maatau ratonga
SERG offers technical advise and collaborations with companies and other entities in the private and public sector in a wide range of energy-related areas. Please, contact our team leaders or Global Engagement Specialist if you want to discuss further. We'll be glad to explore new projects and opportunities for collaboration.
Lifecycle assessment of products and prospective energy technologies (e.g. with Simapro)
Capacity expansion planning (e.g. with REMix-NZ and PyPSA-NZ)
Urban energy system analysis (e.g. with FlexiGIS-NZ)
International energy policies and strategies advice
Our Events
a tatou huihuinga
SERG regularly participates in and hosts international conferences, workshops, and symposiums to advance research and foster collaboration in sustainable energy.
New Zealand Hydrogen Symposium 2025 (NZHS-3)
Date: 3-5 February 2025
Time: 08:00 to 17:15
Cost: Registration fees
About: New Zealand's conference on hydrogen research. Keynote speakers:
- Prof. Rangan Banerjee (Director of IIT Dehli, India)
- Prof. Peter Strasser (Chair of Electrochemistry and Electrocatalysis, Technical University of Berlin)
- Prof. Christian Breyer (Chair of Solar Economy, Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology LUT, Finland)
- Prof. Rodrigo Palma (Director of the Solar Energy Research Center, Chile)
- Prof. Pierluigi Mancarella (Chair of Electrical Power Systems, University of Melbourne)
- A. Prof. Sven Teske (Research Director of the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney, Australia)
- Prof. Mike Stevens (Director, Ngāi Tahu Research Centre)
- Prof. Tien-Chien Jen (University of Johannesburg)
- Dr. Claudio Pistidda (Head of Department of Experimental Investigations, Hereon Helmholtz Center, Germany)
- Dr. Hans Christian Gils (Leader of the Energy Systems Modelling Group, German Aerospace Center, Germany)
- Dr. Hamish Miller (Senior Researcher, Institute of Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds, National Research Council, Italy)
- Dr. Carola Kantz (Deputy Managing Director of VDMA Power-to-X for Applications)
- Dr André Cabrera Serrenho (Associate Professor in Engineering, Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom)
Energy futures: Hydrogen for New Zealand January 2024
Date: 29 January 2024
Time: 12:30 to 19:00
Cost: Free
About: This seminar provided insights on energy policies and modelling energy futures with a focus on green hydrogen integrated systems and applications. We brang together global perspectives on modelling and energy pathways that are relevant for New Zealand’s sustainable energy transition. This workshop was part of the “New Zealand-German Platform for Hydrogen Integration (HINT)”, a funded project under the MBIE Catalyst-Strategic scheme and the German BMBF investigating the feasibility of green hydrogen integration in New Zealand.
