Today we are going to introduce you E-LOBSTER project partner Tamel Kamel, representative of the University of Birmingham 

What is your work focused on in E-LOBSTER project?

My main role in the project is to coordinate the activities related to the analysis of energy losses for fully integrated power distribution and transport network and, in particular, I am responsible also for the activities related to the development of E-LOBSTER innovative Railway to Grid control management system.

What are the main challenges you face in this work and how are you meeting these challenges?

The main challenge I face is coordinating or meeting with the international partners of the project to follow up with the work progress. However, I think this challenge doesn’t become a big concern due to the variety of the online communication/ meeting tools available such as Skype meeting, or GoToMeeting applications.

Is the current COVID-19 emergency affecting your daily job? How?

Due to this emergency, all of us start to work from home, and I think working from home deficit the work concentration and focus especially when there are little children at home 😊. However, the way I use to cope with that is to have flexible working time to scout the possible times for work during the day.

Do you think that your activities will be different after the end of the emergency? How?

We plan to move forward to the Hardware demonstrator development and evaluation (in particular the sSOP and the storage system), and I think this will be our first priority to do after the end of this emergency.

What impact do you see E-LOBSTER having in the future?

I think the main impact for the E-LOBSTER project in the future is to attract the stakeholders of the railway companies as well as the DSO to explore new potentials and roles for the railway transport networks in the energy market as an electrical power provider for enhancing the energy efficiencies at the whole integrated system level.

What do you enjoy the most about working in an international Project Consortium such as E-LOBSTER?

The multinational experiences, networking, cultures, which in turn widen my knowledge as well as my communication and management skills