John Allport

I’m John Allport, Professor of Automotive Engineering at the University of Huddersfield and Director of its Turbocharger Research Institute. I joined the university in November 2013, arriving from Cummins Turbo Technologies where I spent 11 years in advanced turbocharger engineering.

My journey began in the coal industry—later moving into oil, gas and chemical processing—and then I spent 25 years in the automotive sector developing turbocharger technologies. At one point, I often described myself as a “poacher turned gamekeeper”: after contributing to emissions through combustion-based engineering, I pivoted to clean energy innovations and emissions reduction.

Since joining the University, I’ve led the Turbocharger Research Institute where my work has covered all aspects of turbomachinery from diesel engine turbochargers to micro gas turbines.

My current interests focus on renewable energy integration and sustainable technology deployment in both local and global contexts. I joined the Kirklees Climate Commission to help shape strategies for net-zero transition in our region, working on local initiatives like solar installations, waste‑to‑energy systems, electric vehicle battery storage and sustainable land use planning. On the international stage, I head collaborative research transforming agricultural waste—particularly Kenyan sugarcane bagasse—into clean cooking fuel via briquettes. That two‑year partnership, launched after meetings at WAITRO events, secured £250,000 in funding through an African Knowledge Transfer programme focused on sustainable energy solutions for rural communities

I am working at the intersection of turbocharger technology, education innovation and sustainable energy—driven by a vision of enabling both local and global transitions away from carbon-intensive systems.