Conferences

Young
Energy
Researchers 2025

4 March 2025
in Wels

Programme

Young Energy Researchers Conference

DATE

Tuesday, 4 March 2025

VENUE

Stadthalle, Pollheimerstraße 1,
4600 Wels/Österreich

LANGUAGE

English

What do we offer?

A conference that presents the work and achievements of young researchers in the fields of energy efficiency and biomass. It offers participants the opportunity to interact with researchers and industry experts from all over the world and build-up a peer network!

Find out more!

Conference Fees

  • 65 Euro for the Young Energy Resarchers Conference (4 March)
  • further details on conference fees

All fees include an entrance ticket to the tradeshow and conference documentation. All fees plus 10 % VAT.

PROGRAMME

Tuesday
4 March

Morning
session

09.00 Young Energy Efficiency Researchers Conference

This conference presents the work and achievements of young energy efficiency researchers from all over the world.

  • Opening and welcome
    • Volker Schaffler, Federal Ministry of Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology
    • Gerhard Dell / Christiane Egger, OÖ Energiesparverband
       
  • Short-term forecasting methods for individual building loads
    Sergi Sánchez Hernández, Catalonia Institute for Energy Research, Spain
     
  • Adaptive electric load prediction of buildings towards smart grids
    Rui Tang / Xiaoye Zhang, University College London, UK
     
  • Optimising energy efficiency and grid stability with public EV charging flexibility
    Marek Miltner / Artem Bryksa, Stanford University / CTU Prague, USA / Czech Republic
     
  • Cost-benefit analysis of decarbonisation measures using urban building energy models
    Mariana Januário, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
     
  • European Energy Efficiency Guide 2024 for building renovation
    Kerstin Lohr, FIW München, Germany
     
  • Demand-side modelling insights to alleviate rural energy poverty in the EU
    Akis Apostoliotis, TEESlab, Greece
     
  • Foreign aid and energy poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa  
    Anna Žižková, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
     
  • Fossil fuel subsidies and female labour market participation
    Chrysoula Chitou, University of Ioannina, Greece
     
  • Household characteristics and increased energy costs in Tallinn
    Kirils Gončarovs, Centre for Migration and Urban Studies, Estonia
     
  • Feed-in tariff trade-offs in the residential sector in Central and Eastern Europe
    Áron Dénes Hartvig, Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary
     
  • Tourism and comfort: exploring energy efficiency in local accommodations
    Inês Valente, CENSE, Portugal
     
  • Urban street trees and energy efficiency: an investigation in cooling energy savings
    Fatima Ravazdezh, University of Ottawa, Canada
     
  • Energy efficient binder-based composites from recycled wood and bio-based PCMs  
    Hala Salhab, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Italy
     
  • A 3D-printed wood-based desiccant wheel for HVAC dehumidification
    José Antonio Martínez Sánchez, University of Córdoba, Spain
     
  • Validation of a novel solar thermal collector with integrated latent heat storage
    Jonas Spiegel, Technical University of Kaiserslautern-Landau, Germany
     
  • Unit cost of energy and agricultural production – agrivoltaics in an apple orchard
    Aidana Chalgynbayeva, University of Debrecen / Fraunhofer ISE, Hungary / Germany
     
  • Subcritical PV delamination: a promising path to recycling of critical minerals
    Aslı Birtürk / Betül Aksoy, Ege University, Turkey
     
  • Maturity evaluation for the hydrogen industry: framework and meta-model
    Liang Kong, University of Sheffield, UK
     
  • Hydrogen production through photocatalytic water splitting using EDTA-modified BiOI as a photocatalyst
    Deysi Gómez Cholula, Metropolitan Autonomous University, Mexico


Chairperson:
Gerald Steinmaurer, University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria

13.00 Conference lunch and networking

Poster Presentations Energy Efficiency

  • Exploring clean alternatives for emergency backup power in the US energy system 
    Jonas Schweiger, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
     
  • Analysis of household load profile for improved matching 
    László Gergely / Lilla Barancsuk / Miklós Horváth, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Hungary
     
  • AI and IoT enabled home energy management systems for hybrid renewable energy sources 
    Abdul Fatah / Lala Rukh / Muhammad Mohsin Memon, Atlantic Technological University / University of Galway, Ireland
     
  • Computer-aided solutions for enhanced building efficiency 
    Günsu Merin Abbas, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
     
  • Socioeconomic determinants of willingness to invest in energy efficiency 
    Renan Gustavo Magalhães, European University Viadrina, Germany
     
  • Assessing environmental impacts of building energy systems under uncertainties 
    Francisco Carrasco, TH Köln, Germany
     
  • The human dimension of energy efficient built environments 
    Christiane Berger, Aalborg University, Denmark
     
  • Monitoring solutions without relying on traditional building energy models 
    Miguel Gómez Meirás, CIRCE, Spain
     
  • Holistic building renovation: energy, emissions, and cost optimisation 
    Xinyi Hu, Aalto University, Finland
     
  • Energy efficiency measures for integrating EVs in NZEBs in the Amazon 
    Ana Carolina Dias, Federal University of Pará, Brazil
     
  • Analysis of V2G as a technology and identification of inhibiting factors in its development to market maturity 
    Fabienne Scheucher, BOKU University, Austria
     
  • Impact of EV consumption on building energy efficiency in the Brazilian Amazon 
    Ana Carolina Dias, Federal University of Pará, Brazil
     
  • Integrating photovoltaics with fruit cultivation: a case study in Hungary 
    Rittick Maity, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Malaysia
     
  • Little streams make great rivers: Energy communities as key pillars of efficiency 
    Zsófia Biró, University of Pécs, Hungary
     
  • Verification of achieved impacts in capacity building programmes 
    Giulia Viero, IEECP, The Netherlands
     
  • Social inclusion in the energy sector of the Brazilian Amazon 
    Laisa Brianti, Mitsidi, Brazil
     
  • Guiding municipalities through participatory processes 
    Louise Meister, Austrian Energy Agency
     
  • Renewable energy for data centre cost efficiency 
    Tobias Bopp, Technical University of Braunschweig, Germany
     
  • Maximizing energy efficiency: strategies for regenerating the Mayfield Depot 
    Devesh Mishra / Harshvardhan Singh Chouhan, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
     
  • Financing mechanisms as levers for energy efficiency in the Brazilian industry 
    Eloísa Fernandez, Brazilian‘s Association of ESCOs
     
  • Energy saving potential and cost analysis in Taiwan’s electronics industry 
    Chia Hsuan Wang, Industrial Technology Research Institute, Taiwan
     
  • Assessment of green hydrogen production in an oil refinery in Turkey 
    Murad Kerimov, Izmir University of Economics, Turkey
     
  • Promoting green policies in Croatia, Serbia and North Macedonia: a strategic approach 
    Aleksandra Lazić / Stefan Atanasovski Trajković / Ivan Boban, University of Belgrade / Ss. Cyril and Methodius University Skopje / University of Zagreb, Serbia / North Macedonia / Croatia
     
  • Thermo-ecological assessment for improving efficiency in renewable microgrids 
    Agnieszka Szostok, Environmental Analysis Eko-Precyzja, Poland
     
  • Going from zero to negative emission buildings: integrating wastewater-to-bioenergy 
    Maryam Roohabadi, Université Côte d‘Azur, France
     
  • Fundamentals of energy transition through electro-chemical CO2 reduction 
    Yiğit Osman Akyıldız / Zekı Tarik Ünlü, Selçuk University, Turkey
     
  • Testing of wind turbine blades 
    Ayaz Ahmad, University of Galway, Ireland

Afternoon
session

14.00 Young Biomass Researchers Conference

This conference presents the work and achievements of young biomass researchers from all over the world.

  • Opening and welcome
    Gerhard Dell / Christiane Egger, OÖ Energiesparverband
     
  • Impact of pelleting conditions on the storage properties of pellets  
    Abdullah Sadeq, Hamburg University of Technology, Germany
     
  • Comparative analysis of impact forces on the disintegration of wood pellets
    Veronika Savchenko, University of Nottingham, UK
     
  • Physics-informed machine learning model for biomass gasification 
    Surika Van Wyk, TNO, The Netherlands
     
  • Innovations in green hydrogen production: piezocatalytic biomass reforming  
    Talha Kuru / Emre Aslan, Selçuk University, Turkey
     
  • Potential of biomass for hydrogen and power production with a BECCUS system 
    Akshay Bagde, University of Glasgow, UK
     
  • Strategy development for hydrogen-conversion businesses in Côte d‘Ivoire 
    Kassé Jean Hugues Angbé, University of Rostock / DBFZ, Germany
     
  • Cradle-to-cradle approach for bioeconomy scale-up: best practices 
    Ievgeniia Morozova, Hamm-Lippstadt University of Applied Sciences, Germany
     
  • Advanced waste biomass combustion device for thermal energy applications 
    Sachin Payyanad, Fire and Combustion Research Center, India
     
  • Influence of biochar particle sizes on their properties and applications 
    Anežka Sedmihradská / Josef Farták / Daniel Heřt, University of Chemistry and Technology / Czech Technical University, Czech Republic
     
  • Hybrid biomass-solar ORC technology for power generation and CO2 reduction 
    Kanti Kafle, Gandaki Engineering and Environmental Solutions, Nepal
     
  • Biomass and energy use in directly and indirectly electrified BtMeOH processes 
    Eemeli Anetjärvi, LUT University, Finland
     
  • Enhancing bio-oil production through staged condensation techniques in pyrolysis 
    Michael Fahrngruber, BEST, Austria
     
  • Effects of oxytree biochar addition to anaerobic digestion of chicken manure 
    Hilal Ünyay / Julia Osmańska, Łódź University of Technology, Poland
     
  • Alternative treatment methods for pulp mill sludge in Finland
    Orlando Salcedo-Puerto, LUT University, Finland
     
  • HTL conversion of wheat straw to biocrude and upgrade towards refinery integration
    Dimitris Liakos, CERTH, Greece
     
  • The JiTiBa project – biofuels and resources from algae
    Bas Emaus, HAN University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands
     
  • Biomethane potential of Napier grass via TAD
    Gaganpreet Kaur, Sarda Swaran Singh National Institute of Bio-Energy, India
     

Chairperson:
Elisabeth Wopienka, BEST, Austria

Evening programme

Poster Presentations Biomass

  • Life cycle assessment of CO2 from biogas 
    Matthias Müller, Fraunhofer IBP, Germany
     
  • Valorising industrial waste and biochar for CO2 sequestration 
    Fikret Müge Alptekin, University of Brescia, Italy
     
  • Pilot biopolyol production via chemical upcycling of biomass byproducts 
    Rozalia Persiani, Ecorbio, Cyprus
     
  • Microbial-powered system for desalination and water harvesting 
    Rahul Kumar Mishra / Nikita Singh, Sharda University, India
     
  • Biochar from biomass residues: chemical properties and feedstock correlations 
    Konstantin Moser, BEST / BOKU University, Austria
     
  • Hydrogen production via biological water gas shift reaction 
    Muhammad Maaz / Jonas Vogl, Hochschule Landshut, Germany
     
  • Comparing acid precipitation and cavitation for sustainable lignin isolation 
    Matúš Majerčiak / Richard Nadányi / Aleš Ház, Slovak University of Technology, Slovakia
     
  • Effect of pyrolysis temperature on miscanthus biochar
    Benginur Baştabak / Elif Gödekmerdan, Ege University, Turkey
     
  • Photocatalytic hydrogen production using biomass-derived CQD 
    Kübra Turgut / Hilmi Taşdemir, Selçuk University, Turkey
     
  • Attitudes of the younger generation towards hydrotreated vegetable oils in Italy 
    Davide Ricci Focaia / Luca Mariani, IUSS Pavia / Università degli Studi di Perugia, Italy
     
  • Posidonia oceanica leaves for enzyme and biogas production 
    Rahma Masmoudi, National Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, Tunisia
     
  • Microalgae-based biofuels: a sustainable approach for circular economy 
    Bruna França, National Laboratory of Energy and Geology, Portugal

FAQs - Frequently asked questions

What are the "WSED"?

The World Sustainable Energy Days (WSED) are an annual conference held at the end of February in Wels/Austria. With more than 650 participants from over 60 countries each year, it is a leading conference on the energy transition and climate neutrality.

Who is the target group of Young Energy Researchers Conference? Who is considered as "young" for this conference?

The target groups for presenters at this conference are:

  • young researchers
  • students working on advanced degrees (e.g. master's degrees, PhDs, etc.)
  • young professionals

Papers can be submitted by persons born after 1990.

In addition to individuals, groups from the same or different universities or research organisations are invited to submit joint papers. The organiser will support the participation of max. 3 young researchers per selected paper. Papers submitted by groups should mainly be based on work carried out by young researchers.

Which kind of papers can be submitted? What format should the papers have? How is the submission process organised?

Papers should focus on the subjects of:

  • biomass or
  • energy efficiency

Submissions are welcome from all scientific fields (e.g. technology, engineering, economics, social sciences, architecture, law, arts) and must be in English only.

Contributions must be submitted using the online submission form. It is a "one stage" submission process. The evaluation of the papers is based on the information received by the deadline of the Call for Papers. The organiser recommends that the submission includes a paper of at least a few pages or a ppt (not only a short abstract in the submission form).

Deadline for submissions is 10 October 2025.

The submitted papers will be selected by a scientific committee. Selected participants will be notified by the conference organisers (in November/December 2025) and more information on practical details will be provided then.

For those not selected, student fees for participation are available.

How much will it cost? How many papers will be selected?

The organiser of the WSED, the OÖ Energiesparverband, covers the costs of accommodation, meals, participation and local transport (4 conference days) for up to 60 selected participants. The participants must cover their travel costs.

What is included for the participants of selected papers?

  • oral or poster presentation of the paper
  • participation in all events of the World Sustainable Energy Days, including the evening events (with dinners) and conference lunches
  • free entry to the "Energiesparmesse" tradeshow, one of the largest tradeshows on energy efficiency and renewable energy in Europe (2025: 72,000 visitors)
  • interaction with researchers and industry experts from all over the world

What is the "Best Young Energy Researcher Award" and how does it work?

The 2 best contributions are honoured with the awards "Best Young Energy Efficiency Researcher" and "Best Young Biomass Researcher". The researchers receive 1,000 Euro each as prize money. The award committee chooses the winners among the papers selected for oral presentation (there is no need for a separate submission for the award). The winners will be notified around one month before the conference.

Where and when does the conference take place and how to get there?

The conference is held in Wels/Austria. Hotel accommodation for the selected participants is in the nearby city of Linz (a shuttle service between the hotel and the conference venue will be available).

The conference website provides comprehensive travel information.

In the conference week, participants' arrival is foreseen on Monday or Tuesday and departure on Friday afternoon.

Topics for the Call for Papers

  • energy efficiency
  • biomass
  • submissions are welcome from any field (e.g. technology, engineering, economics, social sciences, architecture, law, arts)

Please use the online submission form.

Further information on the call

Scientific Committee - Young Energy Researchers Conference

Scientific Committee 2025

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