Abiola Gboyega Kehinde | Renewable Energy | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Abiola Gboyega Kehinde | Renewable Energy | Best Researcher Award 

Mr. Abiola Gboyega Kehinde | Renewable Energy | PhD Researcher at University of Cape Town | South Africa

Mr. Abiola Gboyega Kehinde is a distinguished scholar and researcher whose academic journey reflects an exceptional commitment to advancing renewable energy, biogas innovation, and sustainable energy systems. He began his educational path with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Olabisi Onabanjo University, where his outstanding final-year project on the design and fabrication of an improved mini cooling tower demonstrated early innovation and practical impact. Building on this strong foundation, he pursued a Master’s degree in Oil and Gas Management at South America University, Delaware, focusing his research on the critical issue of sabotage in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria. He further broadened his expertise by earning a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stellenbosch University, where he undertook a feasibility study of once-through cooling systems for solar thermal power plants, an area of great importance for sustainable energy transitions. Currently, he is a Ph.D. candidate in Chemical Engineering at the University of Cape Town, undertaking groundbreaking research on the Technology Innovation System analysis of biogas in South Africa, with the goal of developing innovative pathways for commercialization and energy transition. Professionally, Mr. Kehinde has gained substantial experience as a researcher and energy analyst in leading South African institutions including the University of the Western Cape, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Stellenbosch University, and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa Energy Research Chair. In these roles, he has contributed to projects on renewable energy systems, solar-powered refrigerated trucks, regional innovation systems, and sustainable transport solutions, often engaging with policymakers, industry stakeholders, and academic collaborators. His research interests span renewable energy, energy policy, climate and sustainability transitions, computational fluid dynamics, system engineering, project management, and environmental data analysis. He possesses strong research skills in data modeling, system design, life cycle assessment, and policy analysis, with proficiency in tools such as Power BI, MATLAB, and Autodesk Inventor. Mr. Kehinde’s work has been disseminated through peer-reviewed journal articles, Scopus-indexed conference papers, and invited presentations at international forums, making meaningful contributions to global conversations on clean energy and sustainability. He has received recognition for his academic excellence, including conference acceptances at prestigious energy forums such as SASEC and the International Solid Waste Association World Congress. With a growing portfolio of publications in Q1 journals such as Energy Research and Social Science, Mr. Kehinde is increasingly recognized as an emerging voice in sustainable energy research. In conclusion, Mr. Abiola Gboyega Kehinde is a forward-looking researcher whose academic qualifications, professional achievements, and dedication to impactful science position him as a future leader in renewable energy and climate innovation, making him highly deserving of international recognition and awards.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications

  1. Subdued by wind and solar? A comprehensive analysis of barriers to biogas technology uptake – 2025 – Citations: 5

  2. Exploring niches for once-through cooling of Solar Thermal Power Plant – 2020 – Citations: 18

  3. Effects of sabotage in Oil and Gas Sector in Nigeria – 2018 – Citations: 12

  4. Design and Fabrication of an Improved Mini Cooling Tower for Nigerian Industries – 2015 – Citations: 22

  5. A review of different technologies for refrigerated trucks – 2022 – Citations: 7

  6. Feasibility study of once-through cooling for a 50 MW Solar Thermal Power Plant on/near the lower Orange River – 2019 – Citations: 15

  7. The roles of Mechanical Engineering in National Building under Agriculture – 2013 – Citations: 4

 

Tirupati Rao | Renewable Energy | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Tirupati Rao | Renewable Energy | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Tirupati Rao | Renewable Energy – Senior Design Process Engineer at Fichtner Consulting Engineers Private Ltd, India

Dr. Tirupati Rao V is a distinguished researcher and energy systems engineer whose work has significantly contributed to the advancement of energy sustainability in India and abroad. With a keen focus on green hydrogen, solar thermal energy, and integrated renewable systems, he has built a multidisciplinary portfolio that spans academic research, engineering design, and international collaboration. As a former Internal Full-Time Research Fellow at VIT and currently a Senior Design Engineer at Fichtner Consulting Engineers India Pvt. Ltd., he demonstrates exceptional leadership in both theoretical innovation and practical application. His contributions include the development of photovoltaic thermal (PVT) systems, optimization of green fuel production processes, and detailed feasibility studies for industrial-scale renewable energy projects.

Academic Profile

Google Scholar  | ORCIDScopus

Education

Dr. Rao completed his Ph.D. in Thermal & Energy Engineering at Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, where his research focused on experimental investigation of photovoltaic/thermal systems using bi-symmetrical web flow thermal absorbers. He earned his Master of Technology in Thermal Engineering from Adarsh College of Engineering under JNTU Kakinada, where he studied heat transfer enhancement using conical-ring and twisted tape inserts, graduating with a distinction. His Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical Engineering, also under JNTU Kakinada, included a thesis on the design and analysis of propeller blades, solidifying his early interest in applied mechanical systems.

Professional Experience

Dr. Rao currently serves as a Senior Design Engineer at Fichtner Consulting Engineers India Pvt. Ltd., where he manages engineering design and techno-economic studies for green hydrogen, green ammonia, and energy storage projects. Prior to this, he worked as a Research Analyst at IRADe, New Delhi, and held multiple academic roles including Researcher at VIT University, Assistant Professor at Gonna Institute of Technology & Management, and Lecturer at GIET Polytechnic College. His multidisciplinary experience covers industrial-scale project execution, academic teaching, and research-based innovation. His engineering contributions include detailed reports and pre-bid consultations for entities like Sembcorp, EY Mahagenco, AM Green, and Maruti Suzuki.

Research Interests

Dr. Rao’s research focuses on green hydrogen generation, compressed biogas (CBG) feasibility, photovoltaic thermal systems, solar energy utilization, and phase change materials (PCM) for heat storage. He specializes in renewable energy modeling, hourly solar/wind profile analysis, electrolyzer sizing and optimization, green fuel synthesis, and thermal energy system simulation. His broader interests encompass carbon credit analysis, system modeling using SAM and MESSAGE software, and life-cycle assessments of energy technologies.

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Rao is the recipient of the Raman Research Award (RRA) in both 2021 and 2022, awarded for his high-quality publications in SCOPUS and Web of Science indexed journals. Additionally, he and his PhD supervisor won the SEED Grant in 2020 for groundbreaking work on solar photovoltaic thermal energy systems. He has earned the NPTEL Elite+ Silver Certificate in Solar Energy Engineering and has served as a reviewer for prestigious journals such as IEEE Transactions on Transportation Electrification and Energy Sources Part A.

Key Publications 📚

  1. 📘 “Green Hydrogen Generation from Wind Energy Resource for an Indian Region” – Renewable Energy, 2025, cited by 10+ articles.
  2. 🚗 “Vehicle-Integrated PV in Indian Highways: An Empirical Assessment” – Energy, 2025, cited by 7+ articles.
  3. 🌞 “Embodied Energy & CO2 Emission Analysis of Stand-Alone Crystalline PVT Systems” – Sustainable Cities and Society, 2022, cited by 35+ articles.
  4. 💧 “Thermal Analysis of Hybrid PVT Water Collector with LHTES” – Journal of Energy Storage, 2022, cited by 40+ articles.
  5. 🧮 “Exergo-Economic and CO2 Analysis of Bi-Symmetrical PVT System” – Journal of Energy Resources Technology, 2023, cited by 12+ articles.
  6. 🌿 “Review on PVT Collector Systems with Absorber Configurations” – Energy & Environment, 2021, cited by 45+ articles.
  7. 🔋 “Experimental 3E Analysis on Web Flow PVT System” – Solar Energy, 2024, cited by 20+ articles.

Conclusion

With over 9 high-impact journal publications, 2 patents, a cumulative impact factor exceeding 60, and active collaborations across institutions in Malaysia, Brunei, and India, Dr. Tirupati Rao V has emerged as a leading expert in renewable energy systems and sustainability-focused engineering. His ability to translate complex technical insights into scalable engineering solutions demonstrates his readiness for high honors such as the Best Researcher Award. In addition to his research achievements, Dr. Rao’s consulting and design leadership roles across multiple high-stake renewable energy projects reinforce his practical contributions to industry transformation. His combined expertise, dedication, and innovative thinking make him an exemplary candidate for recognition and continued support in advancing global sustainable energy goals.