Conrad Nichols is a Senior Technology Analyst at IDTechEx, focusing on energy and battery storage technologies. Prior to joining in 2022, he completed his MEng in Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham, completing an integrated year in industry at Mondelēz International at their Bournville site. Here, he worked on projects ranging from waste management to data collection of chocolate rheology in manufacturing and R&D departments, respectively. His interest in R&D led him to work for a research consultancy after graduating, working for multinational clients spanning a broad range of sectors covering food and beverage, consumer goods, agritech, energy and sustainability. This experience and great interest in renewable energy systems allowed him to pivot from the food and beverage sector to energy and battery storage. He is based in London, UK.
Conrad obtained an MEng (Master of Engineering) in Chemical Engineering from the University of Birmingham. Over the course of his studies and industrial placement, he gained technical engineering expertise and business insights for the running of a large food and beverage company. His MEng Research project involved investigating the mouthfeel perception of low-alcohol beers versus their normal-alcohol counterparts. This involved analysing gathered tribology data of various alcohol samples and comparing this with trends from existing research.
Aside from expertise in food and beverage, a key interest of his at University was in renewable energy systems. He took an optional module in his Master's year, which involved critically analysing two of National Grid's scenarios for a "net-zero Great Britain by 2050". This included investigating the supply and demand of hydrogen, and the use of interconnectors between countries for fluctuations in electricity demand.
At IDTechEx, Conrad is working in the field of energy and battery storage with a particular interest in technologies, circular economies and the rapid growth of battery use in the coming future.
Speaking at Forthcoming Events
Battery Show & Electric & Hybrid Vehicle Tech Expo Europe 2025
Messe Stuttgart - 3 - 5 Jun 2025
Conrad Nichols, Senior Technology Analyst will be presenting his research on "Long Duration Energy Storage Technologies and Global Market Trends" in the conference, and IDTechEx are exhibiting at 7-D75
The organisers say: "Meet battery manufacturers, suppliers, engineers, thought leaders and decision-makers for a conference and battery tech expo focused on the latest developments in the advanced battery and automotive industries."
E-waste, Battery and Metal Recycling, Circular Electronics Conference and Exhibition
Messe Frankfurt - 11 - 12 Jun 2025
The organisers say that the E-waste, Battery and Metal Recycling, Circular Electronics Conference and Exhibition: "is the must-attend event for battery producers, recycling companies, critical raw material suppliers, and the entire battery supply chain to come together to discover the latest innovations and solutions to create a circular economy for used batteries and help create sustainable supply chains for the future."
IFBF The International Flow Battery Forum
InterContinental Vienna, Austria - 24 - 26 Jun 2025
The organiser says: "The International Flow Battery Forum (IFBF®) is the leading event for the flow battery community. The IFBF promotes the most recent developments in the science, technology and commercialisation of flow batteries. Our conferences cover a broad range of interests in the research and commercial aspects of flow batteries".