Conferences

World
Sustainable
Energy Days 2026

24 - 27 February 2026
in Wels

Register now!

Speakers 2021
Young Energy Researchers

Mustafa Abunofal

Speaker Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • Intern, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UAE
  • Previously, Research Assistant, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy, Germany
  • MSc in Renewable Energy Engineering and Management, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Germany
more less

Pratham Arora

Speaker Young Biomass Researchers

  • Assistant Professor, Indian Institute of Technology – Roorkee, India
  • Previously, Postdoctoral fellow, Industrial and Systems Engineering Department, Georgia Tech., USA
  • PhD in Chemical and Energy Systems Engineering, Monash University/Australia and IIT Bombay/India
more less

Mattia Barbero

Speaker Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • Product Owner & Founder, Bamboo Energy, Spain
  • Previously, PhD student in Statistics and Operational Research, IREC, Spain
  • Master's degree in Energy Engineering, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Spain
more less

Atenea Berumen-Solórzano

Speaker Young Biomass Researchers

  • PhD student, University of Glasgow, UK
  • Previously, Lecturer, Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP), Mexico
  • MSc in Sustainable Energy, University of Glasgow/UK; Degree in Environmental Engineering, UPAEP/Mexico
more less

Janne Rieke Boll

Speaker Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • Researcher, Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE), Germany
  • Previously, working on European climate and energy policy analysis
  • MSc in Environmental and Resource Management, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
more less

Emilia Chojkiewicz

Speaker Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • Master’s student, KU Leuven, Belgium
  • BSc in Mechanical Engineering, Duke University, USA
more less

Géremi Gilson Dranka

Speaker Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • PhD student in industrial and systems engineering, University of Minho, Portugal
  • Previously, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Brazil
  • Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Brazil
more less

Essam Elnagar

Speaker Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • PhD candidate, Energy Systems Research Group, University of Liège, Belgium
  • Previously, research experience in building energy modelling and energy performance of buildings
  • MSc in Energy Engineering, Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
more less

Oscar Ivanov Flores Gaitán

Speaker Young Biomass Researchers

  • Experimental Researcher, Quantum Energy & Engineering, The Netherlands
  • Previously, Electrical Engineer, Instalaciones Electromecánicas de Guatemala, Guatemala
  • Degree in Energy Systems Engineering, Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands
more less

Elif Gödekmerdan

Speaker Young Biomass Researchers

  • PhD candidate, Biomass Energy Systems and Technologies Application and Research Centre, Ege University, Turkey
  • Research experience in the fields of biofuels, thermochemical conversion processes, biopolymers and polymeric membranes
  • Master’s degree in Biomass Energy, Ege University, Turkey; Bachelor's degree in Environmental Engineering, Dokuz Eylül University, Turkey
more less

Srinivasan Gopalan

Speaker Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • Energy Analyst, Ogni Esco, India
  • Previously, work experience in the field of energy efficiency in buildings and thermal energy storage using phase change materials
  • MSc in Sustainable Energy Technology, Technische Universiteit Delft/NL; Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering, SSN College of Engineering/India
more less

Johannes Greß

Speaker Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • Master’s student in energy, facility, and environmental management, Bingen Technical University of Applied Sciences, Germany
  • Previously, Intern Bavarian Centre for Applied Energy Research (ZAE Bayern); Germany
  • Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and Material Science, Aalen University, Germany
more less

Florian Harth

Speaker Young Biomass Researchers

  • Research Associate on biomass valorisation and platform chemicals, National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia
  • Previously, Research Associate, Universität Leipzig, Germany
  • MSc in Chemistry, Universität Leipzig, Germany
more less

Stef Jacobs

Speaker Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • PhD student in energy and materials in infrastructure and buildings, University of Antwerp, Belgium
  • Previously, working on qualitative heating networks in the TETRA-project
  • Master’s degree in Applied Engineering/Electromechanics, University of Antwerp, Belgium
more less

Niels Kirstein

Speaker Young Biomass Researchers

  • Independent Energy System Researcher, Germany
  • Previously, Research Associate, German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ)
  • MSc in Sustainability Management and BSc in Business Information Systems, Leipzig University, Germany
more less

David Kisakye

Speaker Young Biomass Researchers

  • Junior Technical Advisor on Global Carbon Markets, Deutsche Gesellschaft fϋr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Germany
  • Previously, Consultant and Junior Officer for Renewable Energy and Green Growth Financing, Global Green Growth Institute, Uganda
  • MSc in Energy Economics and Governance and Bachelor of Forestry, Makerere University, Uganda
more less

Aleksa Kojčinović

Speaker Young Biomass Researchers

  • Young Researcher and PhD Student, National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia
  • Previously, Research Scientist, AgroThrive, USA; Teaching Assistant, Saint Joseph’s College, USA
  • MSc in Advanced Spectroscopy in Chemistry, Lille University/France and Leipzig University/Germany; BSc in Biology-Chemistry, Saint Joseph’s College, USA
more less

Lukas Kranzl

Chairperson Young Energy Researchers Conference

  • Senior Researcher, Energy Economics Group, Technische Universität Wien, Austria
  • Around 20 years of experience working on future perspectives of sustainable energy systems
  • PhD in Energy Economics and Degree in Industrial Engineering, Technische Universität Wien, Austria
more less

Tobias Lechtenböhmer

Speaker Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • Student Assistant, Research Unit Structural Change and Innovation, Wuppertal Institute, Germany
  • Master Student in Economics, University of Cologne, Germany
  • BSc in Economics, University of Cologne, Germany
more less

Lionel Faysal Koska Mbraogue

Speaker Young Biomass Researchers

  • CEO, NTAKOS Solutions, Cameroon
  • Previously, Supervisor at Encomad, Cameroon
  • Degree in Renewable Energy Engineering, École Nationale Supérieure Polytechnique de Maroua, Cameroon
more less

Paseka Mabina

Speaker Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • Research Engineer, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa
  • Previously, research experience in the field of energy efficiency and demand, CSIR, South Africa
  • PhD Candidate, University of Stellenbosch, and Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
more less

Ana Outeirinho Morgado

Speaker Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • PhD student, Resource Efficiency Collective, University of Cambridge, UK
  • Previously, Research Assistant, Transport Phenomena Research Centre and University of Porto (FEUP), Portugal
  • MPhil in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, UK; Master’s in Chemical Engineering - Energy and Environment, University of Porto (FEUP), Portugal
more less

Christos K. Mytafides

Speaker Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • PhD student on materials science and engineering, University of Ioannina, Greece
  • Work and research experience in sustainability engineering, energy efficient design and materials engineering
  • Master’s in Materials Science & Engineering, University of Ioannina/Greece; Master’s in Environmental Engineering, Democritus University of Thrace/Greece
more less

Richard Nadányi

Speaker Young Biomass Researchers

  • PhD candidate, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovakia
  • Member of LignoCOST working group and Member of EUST Outreach working group
  • MSc in Natural and Synthetic Polymers, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovakia
more less

Douglas Nelson

Speaker Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • Incoming PhD student on solid-state battery materials, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA
  • Previously, Undergraduate Researcher, Clemson University, USA
  • Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University, USA
more less

Sevim Özgül

Speaker Young Biomass Researchers

  • PhD Candidate in Energy Technologies, Ege University Solar Energy Institute, Turkey
  • Chairman of the Renewable Energy Community, Ege University, Turkey
  • Master’s degree in Energy Technologies, Ege University/Turkey; Degree in Chemical Engineering, Anadolu University/Turkey
more less

Lurian Pires Klein

Speaker Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • Senior Innovation Developer, Cleanwatts, Portugal
  • Previously, Project Manager & Innovation Analyst, Virtual Power Solutions (VPS), Portugal; and Operations Director, Movimento 90°, Brazil
  • PhD on Sustainable Energy Systems, University of Coimbra/MIT Portugal Initiative, Portugal
more less

Brett Pomeroy

Speaker Young Biomass Researchers

  • Young Researcher and PhD student, National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia
  • Previously, Graduate Student Researcher, VITO, The Netherlands
  • Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Western University, Canada
more less

Diego A. Quan Reyes

Speaker Young Biomass Researchers

  • PhD candidate, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands; CEO and Head of R&D, Quantum Energy & Engineering, Guatemala
  • Previously, consultant for renewable energy projects with the largest cooperative in Guatemala
  • MSc in Mechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology/NL; Bachelor’s in Energy Systems Engineering, Universidad Galileo, Guatemala
more less

Meritxell Romans-Casas

Speaker Young Biomass Researchers

  • PhD candidate in water science and technology, University of Girona, Spain
  • Previously, Specialised Research Technician, Laboratory of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (LEQUiA), University of Girona, Spain
  • MSc in Water Science and Technology and BSc in Biotechnology and Biology, University of Girona, Spain
more less

Laura Rovira Alsina

Speaker Young Biomass Researchers

  • PhD candidate on bioelectrochemical systems for CO2 conversion, University of Girona, Spain
  • Previously, Scientific Supporter in research projects, University of Girona, Spain
  • Master’s degree in Water Science and Technology and Degree in Environmental Sciences, University of Girona, Spain
more less

Ines Stelk

Speaker Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • Researcher, Solar Decathlon Europe 21/22, Germany
  • Previously, Research Assistant at Institute for Government, UK
  • MSc in Public Policy and Human Development, Maastricht University/NL; MA in Leadership for Sustainable Development, Middlesex University/UK; BSc in Psychology, University College London/UK
more less

Jeremiah Thoronka

Speaker Young Energy Efficiency Researchers

  • CEO & Founder, Optim Energy, Sierra Leone
  • Previously, Junior Associate, Renewables in Africa/UK and Summer Journalism Fellow, Business Today/USA
  • BA in Global Challenges Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development, African Leadership University (ALU)/Rwanda; BSc in Electrical Engineering, University of Sierra Leone/Sierra Leone
more less

Anne van den Oever

Speaker Young Biomass Researchers

  • PhD student on life cycle assessment of novel biofuels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
  • Master’s degree in Bioscience Engineering, specialisation in environmental engineering, KU Leuven, Belgium
more less

Theodor Zillner

Speaker Young Biomass Researchers

  • Deputy Head, Division for energy and environmental technologies, Ministry for Climate Protection, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK)
  • Programme manager of the impulse programme "Stadt der Zukunft" (city of the future)
  • Degree in Mechanical and Process Engineering, Technische Universität Wien, Austria
more less