Prof. Goran Strbac | Carbon Energy | Distinguished Academic Leadership Award

Prof. Goran Strbac | Carbon Energy – Professor at Imperial College London, United Kingdom

Professor Goran Strbac is an internationally recognized leader in energy systems engineering, currently serving as Professor of Energy Systems at Imperial College London. With more than 25 years of extensive experience, he specializes in developing innovative models for the operation, economics, and planning of integrated low-carbon energy systems. He has authored over 350 peer-reviewed publications and five books, with an impressive h-index of 87 and over 38,000 citations, reflecting the global influence of his research. Professor Strbac leads the Imperial College team in large-scale, cross-sectoral research efforts, contributing significantly to energy market design, energy security, distributed energy resources, and digitalization in energy systems. His work has been instrumental in informing governments, regulators, and industry stakeholders across Europe and beyond, positioning him as a cornerstone of the energy transition towards zero-carbon futures.

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Education📘

Although detailed academic credentials are not explicitly listed, Professor Strbac’s prominent position and long-standing academic leadership at Imperial College London are evidence of a strong academic foundation in electrical and energy systems engineering. His deep expertise and technical rigor in system modeling, infrastructure design, and regulatory economics suggest advanced education in power systems or a closely related discipline. The caliber of his contributions and leadership in global energy research further underscores a career built on substantial academic and technical excellence.

Experience📘

Professor Strbac has led and participated in a wide array of cutting-edge research projects funded by the UK Government, the European Commission, EPSRC, and global industry partners. He has held advisory and leadership positions in more than 20 expert panels, including the UK Government’s Independent Panel for Electricity Market Design, the European Technology & Innovation Platforms, and the Parliamentary Group for Energy Studies. He is also the Director of the Imperial-Tsinghua Research Centre on Intelligent Power and Energy Systems. His key responsibilities span technical and economic modeling, stakeholder engagement, and policy advising. He has served on panels that influence regulations and infrastructure investment strategies, making him a bridge between scientific research and national energy policymaking.

Research Interest📘

Professor Strbac’s research spans several high-impact domains within energy systems engineering. He focuses on whole-energy system integration, assessing the interactions between electricity, gas, hydrogen, transport, and heating systems. He is also deeply involved in the design of energy markets, business models for decentralized systems, and the application of artificial intelligence in zero-carbon infrastructures. His work evaluates the role of emerging technologies such as space-based solar power, hydrogen generation, vehicle-to-grid services, district heating, and solid oxide cells. A strong advocate for systems resilience and reliability, his recent efforts also include energy planning under multi-dimensional uncertainties, with a special emphasis on the economic value of flexibility in future energy systems.

Awards📘

Professor Strbac’s leadership and innovation have earned him appointments to some of the most prestigious scientific and governmental committees in the UK and Europe. These include his role as a Lead Author in the IPCC Working Group III and as a member of the UK Committee of CIRED, OFGEM’s RIIO-2 Challenge Group, and the European Energy Research Alliance. He was also a director of the UK Centre for Sustainable Electricity and Distributed Generation and has chaired numerous advisory boards. His thought leadership continues to shape international dialogues around sustainable energy transitions and infrastructure modernization.

Selected Publications 📘

“Impacts of Large Amounts of Wind Power on Design and Operation of Power Systems: Results of IEA Collaboration” – Wind Energy, 2011, cited by 556 articles 🔄

“Design and Operation of Power Systems with Large Amounts of Wind Power: State of the Art Report” – IEA Wind Report, 2007, cited by 470 articles 🌬️

“Trading Wind Generation in Short-Term Energy Markets” – IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 2002, cited by 450 articles 💱

“Maximising Penetration of Wind Generation in Existing Distribution Networks” – IEE Proceedings – Generation, Transmission and Distribution, 2002, cited by 444 articles ⚙️

“Distribution System State Estimation Using an Artificial Neural Network Approach for Pseudo Measurement Modeling” – IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 2012, cited by 438 articles 🧠

“Value of Bulk Energy Storage for Managing Wind Power Fluctuations” – IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, 2007, cited by 404 articles 🔋

“A Power System Stabilizer for DFIG-Based Wind Generation” – IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 2006, cited by 403 articles 🌀

“Stochastic Scheduling with Inertia-Dependent Fast Frequency Response Requirements” – IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 2016, citation count unavailable 📉

Conclusion📘

Professor Goran Strbac is a transformative figure in the global energy sector, whose innovative approaches to system modeling, digitalization, and low-carbon technology integration are shaping the path toward sustainable energy futures. His academic leadership, international collaborations, and evidence-based contributions to policymaking make him a highly deserving candidate for recognition. From advising government energy reforms to advancing cutting-edge research on hydrogen and flexibility services, his career exemplifies the critical intersection of technical rigor and practical impact. Professor Strbac continues to inspire a new generation of engineers, researchers, and policymakers striving for resilient, efficient, and net-zero energy systems.

Mr. Zaid Thanawala | Sustainability | Excellence in Scientific Innovation Award

Mr. Zaid Thanawala | Sustainability – Senior Sustainability Scientist at Amazon, United States

Zaid Thanawala is a renowned sustainability scientist with a proven track record in innovative solutions aimed at decarbonization and energy efficiency. He is currently serving as a Senior Sustainability Scientist at Amazon, where he leads the development of AI-powered tools for life cycle assessments (LCAs) and decarbonization models. His work is not only limited to technological advancements but also extends to strategic initiatives that help large corporations meet their sustainability targets. With expertise in sustainable systems, energy technologies, and chemical engineering, Zaid has played an instrumental role in integrating sustainability into business operations, contributing to global efforts towards reducing carbon emissions and promoting renewable energy.

Profile:

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Education:

Zaid Thanawala’s academic journey reflects his commitment to sustainability and scientific innovation. He holds a Master of Science in Sustainable Systems from the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he achieved a perfect CGPA of 4/4, securing a full scholarship. Prior to that, he completed his Master of Science in Sustainable Energy Technologies at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, with a CGPA of 3.67/4 and a part scholarship. Zaid also earned his Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from Thadomal Shahani Engineering College in Mumbai, India, where he graduated with a CGPA of 7.3/10. His rigorous academic background laid the foundation for his pioneering work in sustainability science and innovation.

Experience:

Zaid Thanawala’s professional experience spans across leading corporations and institutions, where he has significantly impacted sustainability strategies. At Amazon, he leads several initiatives, including the development of automated life cycle assessment tools and forecasting models for renewable energy needs, saving valuable resources and optimizing sustainability efforts. Previously, Zaid worked as a Sustainability Data Analyst at Salesforce, where he managed the company’s carbon footprint reporting and helped procure renewable energy to meet the company’s public commitments. He also held the position of Sustainability Engineer at Owens-Illinois, where he contributed to the development of a life cycle assessment tool for glass manufacturing and played a key role in the company’s decarbonization efforts. His experience across diverse industries has given him a unique ability to innovate and lead sustainability initiatives at scale.

Research Interests:

Zaid Thanawala’s research interests lie at the intersection of sustainable systems, renewable energy, and data-driven environmental solutions. He is particularly focused on the development of advanced life cycle assessment (LCA) tools and predictive models for decarbonization, with an emphasis on automating these processes to increase efficiency and reduce resource consumption. His research extends to the integration of artificial intelligence in sustainability, where he applies machine learning algorithms to enhance forecasting accuracy for energy needs and carbon emissions. Zaid is also interested in the application of circular economy principles in product life cycles, specifically the recycling and reuse of materials like lithium-ion batteries, which are key to reducing environmental impacts in electronics and energy storage systems.

Awards:

Zaid Thanawala’s work has been widely recognized for its innovation and impact on the sustainability field. While he has not received specific individual awards, his leadership in creating and implementing sustainability strategies has contributed to the recognition of the companies he works for, including Amazon and Salesforce. His work on AI-powered LCA tools and forecasting models for renewable energy procurement has been instrumental in achieving significant corporate sustainability milestones. Zaid’s ability to lead high-impact sustainability initiatives has positioned him as a thought leader and innovator in the field.

Publications:

“A Thin-Film Silicon/Silicon Hetero-Junction Hybrid Solar Cell for Photoelectrochemical Water-Reduction Applications” ☀️ (2016) – Published in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, cited by 24 articles.
“Measure of Primary Data as a Quality Indicator in Life Cycle Assessments” 📊 (2025) – Published in International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research.
“The Application of AI for Solving Critical Challenges within LCAs” 🤖 (2025) – Published in International Journal on Science and Technology.
“Importance of Product Carbon Footprints in Sustainable Procurement” 🌍 (2024) – Published in International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Growth Evaluation.
“Understanding the Potential for Renewable Energy in Supply Chain Decarbonization” 🔋 (2024) – Published in International Journal of Social Science Exceptional Research.
“Enabling Sustainable Product Development through the Use of AI and Life Cycle Assessment” 🔄 (2024) – Published in International Journal of Innovative Research in Engineering.
“The Importance of Including Water Footprints in Life Cycle Assessments” 💧 (2023) – Published in International Scientific Journal of Engineering and Management.

Conclusion:

Zaid Thanawala exemplifies the qualities of an innovative sustainability scientist, consistently driving technological advancements that contribute significantly to environmental sustainability. His expertise in life cycle assessments, renewable energy forecasting, and decarbonization strategies has had a measurable impact on major global companies, helping them meet their sustainability targets. Zaid’s ability to blend cutting-edge technology with real-world applications in sustainability makes him an outstanding candidate for the “Excellence in Scientific Innovation Award.” His research and contributions continue to inspire progress in the fields of sustainable systems and renewable energy, offering promising solutions to some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.

Goran Strbac | Carbon Energy | Distinguished Academic Leadership Award