EIS 2025
Berlin, 2025
June 24-26
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Auditorium Friedrichstrasse - Berlin, Germany
Gurobi Optimization is delighted to invite you to:
The 2025 Energy Innovation Summit will gather a diverse community of thought leaders, researchers, industry experts, and decision-makers to explore the transformative potential of open Energy System Modeling and Optimization in accelerating the energy transition. This year, we’re proud to co-host the Summit with Open Energy Transition, further strengthening our commitment to collaboration, transparency, and innovation across the energy sector.
Be part of the conversation in Berlin as we shape the future of energy optimization and drive innovation toward a more sustainable and equitable energy future. Our mission is to promote transparent, collaborative, and accessible modeling and optimization solutions that address the most pressing energy challenges.
This year’s summit is designed around two dedicated focus tracks, tailored to professionals and experts with a strong interest in one of the following areas:
Each track features a full day of keynotes and Innovation in Action talks.
Connecting both audiences, Day 2 offers a shared space for learning and collaboration. Participants will benefit from in-depth technical sessions, hands-on training with Gurobi Optimizer and PyPSA, and a dedicated Business-Meets-Optimization Workshop designed to turn insights into impact.
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Dr. Kyri BakerAssociate Profesor University of Colorado |
Dr. Kyri Baker received her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2009, 2010, and 2014, respectively. From 2015 to 2017, she worked at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Since Fall 2017, she has been an Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and is now an Associate Professor and a Fellow of the Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI). She combats climate change by developing computational tools that leverage optimization and machine learning to operate energy systems more efficiently and reliably. Dr. Baker has received a National Science Foundation CAREER award for her work combining power system operations with machine learning.
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Prof. Tom BrownProfessor TU Berlin |
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Dr. Sara FrimodigHead of Optimization Ingrid Capacity AB |
Sara Frimodig is Head of Optimization at Ingrid Capacity, a leading developer of large-scale battery energy storage systems. Holding a PhD in Applied and Computational Mathematics from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, she specializes in advanced optimization techniques for energy market operations. Dr. Frimodig leads the development of algorithmic decision-support systems that enable efficient, data-driven participation in ancillary and spot markets across Europe.
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Dr. Antonio FrangioniProfessor |
Antonio Frangioni's career has been very "local": he got his Master in Computer Science in 1992 at the University of Pisa, his Ph.D. in Computer Science in 1996 at the same place, where he became first Research Associate (in the same year), then Associate Professor (2004), then Full Professor (2012), and where he still is nowadays. His main research interest is the analysis, development, implementation and testing of solution approaches for large-scale structured optimization problems at the interface between continuous and combinatorial optimization, with emphasis on (re)formulation techniques to expose and exploit valuable structural properties, and their real-life application in several fields (energy, transportation, telecommunications, ...) He's also interested in the numerical analysis, computer science, artificial intelligence and machine learning issues arising within these solution approaches and, vice-versa, in the use of mathematical programming techniques in these disciplines.
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Philipp HärtelSenior Scientist Operations Research Fraunhofer IEE |
Philipp Härtel is a Senior Scientist for Operations Research at Fraunhofer IEE and the University of Kassel, leading the Method Development Team in the Energy Economics and System Analysis Department. Researching advanced and scalable optimization methods for design and operation planning problems, his work lies at the intersection of energy systems, optimization, machine learning, economics, and game theory. He received his doctorate (Dr.-Ing.) from the University of Kassel, his MSc in Industrial Engineering from Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and his BSc from the University of Siegen, including a semester at the University of Newcastle. He has also been a Visiting Research Scholar in the Computer Science Department at Princeton University and the Department of Electric Energy at NTNU.
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Dr. Maksymilian GrabChief Specialist PSE - Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne |
Doctor of mathematics. He was educated at the Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science of the Jagiellonian University in Krakow and the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Mechanics of the University of Warsaw. Analyst, researcher with many years of experience in conducting and coordinating computer-aided research and development work. Since 2021, he has been associated with the Interdisciplinary Team for Energy Analysis at the National Center for Nuclear Research, where he dealt with issues related to the shape of the European electricity market and cooperation between operators, as well as issues of security of supply and optimization of the generation mix in the power industry. He manages work on planning energy transformation paths for cities and local governments.
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Dr. Georgios MavromatidisHead of Urban Energy Systems Laboratory Empa |
I am the Head of the Urban Energy Systems Laboratory at Empa, Switzerland, and a research affiliate and lecturer at ETH Zurich, researching transformation strategies for sustainable urban energy systems in a changing climate. Driven by the urgent need to create resilient, equitable, and sustainable urban environments, I develop advanced computational models and analysis methods to design strategies for the practical realization of sustainable urban energy transitions. My research focuses on the interconnected nature of buildings, mobility, and energy systems, exploring how their transformation can support decarbonization and long-term sustainability. At the interface of technology, policy, and economics, my current research expands on these foundations by integrating societal dimensions into modeling approaches. By bridging science, engineering, and policy, I aim to develop solutions that are not only technically and economically sound but also socially viable, accelerating the transition toward sustainable, low-carbon cities. I hold a PhD in Urban Energy Systems from ETH Zurich, where my research focused on developing computational methods for the design of urban energy systems under uncertainty. Before that, I earned an MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures from Imperial College London and a Diploma (Dipl.-Ing.) in Mechanical Engineering from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
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Dr. Martha FrysztackiHead of Energy System Modelling Open Energy Transition |
Martha holds an M.Sc. in Mathematics from FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg and a PhD from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Her journey with PyPSA, the renowned open-source energy planning optimization framework, began in 2019 as she started her PhD studies and joined the core development team. Her focus was on achieving an accurate representation of the electricity grid and ensuring its secure operation today and in a future, more renewable, system. After graduating in 2023, she co-founded Open Energy Transition (OET), a non-profit environmental think tank and software company dedicated to addressing energy planning challenges. At OET, Martha takes the lead in Energy System Modeling and Optimization.
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Dr. Jaromił NajmanSenior Developer Gurobi Optimization |
Jaromił Najman obtained his M.Sc. in Mathematics at RWTH Aachen University. He did his Ph.D. at the Institute for Process Systems Engineering (AVT.SVT) in Aachen in nonlinear programming, in particular deterministic global optimization. He is one of the two main developers of the open-source software MAiNGO. During his free-time, Jaromił likes to go rock climbing or play (board) games with his family and friends.
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Dr. Robert LucePrincipal Developer Gurobi Optimization |
Dr. Luce is an experienced researcher in applied mathematics, and author of numerous publications in the fields of numerical linear algebra and optimization. He holds a Ph.D. from Technical University of Berlin.
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Antoine OustryResearcher RTE |
Antoine Oustry holds a Master of Science from the Ecole Polytechnique, a Master in Public Administration from the Ecole des Ponts and a PhD in Computer Science (Operations Research) from the Ecole Polytechnique. During his thesis, Antoine contributed to the field of global nonlinear optimization, with applications to power flow problems. After graduation, Antoine joined the French Treasury as a policy analyst on the public support for road transport electrification. Since January 2025, he has been working at RTE, the French Transmission System Operator, leading the R&D roadmap on energy system modelling for long-term resource adequacy assessment and planning studies.
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John PoppelaarsDirector Doing the Math |
John Poppelaars is the founder of Doing the Math, a consultancy dedicated to advancing sustainable decision-making through data and mathematics. As a senior advisor, John applies mathematical modelling to help organisations make better decisions in complex environments.
With extensive expertise in the energy sector John has supported clients in enhancing decision quality across a wide range of challenges. His work includes the design of energy hubs, control of gas networks, improvement of grid capacity, and transport optimisation—contributing to a more resilient and efficient energy infrastructure in support of the shift to a carbon-neutral system.
John’s innovative application of mathematics has earned international recognition: the team he led was awarded the prestigious INFORMS Franz Edelman Award. Before founding Doing the Math, John held senior leadership roles at ORTEC and BearingPoint, where he helped clients across industries optimise operations and embed mathematics into strategic decision-making.
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Dr. Hassan HijaziSenior Developer Gurobi Optimization |
Hassan Hijazi holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Aix-Marseille University. During his early career, Hassan was part of Orange Labs, the École Polytechnique, National ICT Australia, the Australian National University, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. In 2015, Hassan received the Rising Star Award from the Australian Society for Operations Research. In 2021, he was the winner of the ARPA-E Grid Optimization Competition, ranking 1st across all divisions. In 2022, he won the Monarch of the Mountain round. During his free time, Hassan likes to play soccer, practice kickboxing, and go motorcycle riding. He also enjoys playing board games and spending time outdoors skiing, camping, and kayaking with his family.
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Thomas BittarOperations Research RTE |
Thomas Bittar holds an engineering degree from Ecole Centrale de Lyon and a MSc in Applied Mathematics from the University of Cambridge. Then, he did a PhD in stochastic optimization at Ecole des Ponts, jointly with EDF (Électricité de France). He joined RTE in 2021 to work on the modelling and optimization algorithms for energy systems in prospective studies. He takes part in developments within the Antares Simulator and Antares Xpansion tools, used by RTE and other TSOs to perform prospective analysis.
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Dr. Daniel S. BickExpert Hydrogen Technology OGE |
Dr. Daniel S. Bick holds a PhD in Electrochemistry from RWTH Aachen and an M.Sc. in Materials Science from TU Darmstadt. Since 2019, he has been with Open Grid Europe (OGE), leading key hydrogen initiatives including the H₂ Suitability Project, H₂ Testing Project, and OGE’s H₂ Flexibility Forecasting & Optimisation Platform.
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Thorsten LenckProgramme Lead Agora |
Thorsten Lenck is Programme Lead of the International Energy Data and Modelling Hub of the Agora Think Tanks (Agora Energiewende, Agora Industry and Agora Agriculture). Before taking on this task, he was responsible for the topics of electricity market design and renewable energies at Agora. He was previously head of consulting at Energy Brainpool, an analysis and consulting company. He is specialized in energy policy advising for companies, institutions, and associations; in energy trading, procurement strategies, and in portfolio and risk management for utility companies. He is the author of numerous economic studies and assessments regarding the energy market and has led a variety of workshops as a certified trainer of EPEX SPOT and the European Energy Exchange (EEX AG). He began his career at international infrastructure consulting firms. He has a degree in energy and process engineering from the Technical University of Berlin.
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Oliver BastertCTO Gurobi Optimization |
Oliver brings a wealth of experience as an innovative and results-driven product leader with over two decades of expertise in B2B software, SaaS, and AI technologies.
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Benjamin PflugerFraunhofer IEG |
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Sami GhazouaniOptimization Engineer TotalEnergies |
Project Manager specializing in the development of calculation methodologies and Python-based optimization models for hybrid energy systems, including renewables, batteries, electrolysers, and thermal technologies. Leads the creation of standardized IT environments for collaborative code development across company entities. Supports over 50 internal feasibility and decarbonization studies, with applications ranging from green hydrogen to grid-connected assets. Manages a team of 5–10 engineers, including PhD researchers, and actively pursues training in agile and cross-functional project management.
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Dr. Frank SensfussHead of Competence Center Energy Policy and Energy Markets Fraunhofer ISI |
Studied industrial engineering (energy and environmental management) at the University of Flensburg. Studied abroad at the University of Southern Denmark, Sønderborg, graduating as B.Sc. Exportengineer. In 2007, doctorate (Dr. rer. pol.) at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Karlsruhe (TH). From April 2004 to December 2011, project manager and project employee in the Competence Center Energy Policy and Energy Systems at the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI, since January 2012 in the Competence Center Energy Policy and Energy Markets and since then also Head of the Business Unit Electricity Markets and Infrastructures. Deputy Head of the Competence Center Energy Policy and Energy Markets since February 2019 and Head of the Competence Center Energy Policy and Energy Markets since October 2023.
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Cillian TotterdellPolicy Manager Form Energy |
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Julien MarquantCPTO & Co-Founder |
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Andreas JahnSenior Associate Regulatory Assistance Project |
As a senior associate in Berlin, Andreas Jahn focuses on issues relating to the German “Energiewende”, or energy transition, helping develop and advance regulatory options for a carbon-neutral power sector, including demand-side resources and tariff design. He also supports RAP’s work throughout Europe. Jahn has extensive experience with power markets and regulation, as well as knowledge of the German national political arena. Prior to joining RAP, Jahn was responsible for all energy policy and regulatory matters as the director of regulatory affairs at lekker Energie, a German electricity and gas provider. Through his work as a senior expert for the Association of New Energy Suppliers, he gained valuable insight into political decision-making processes and legislative procedures. He was also a member of the Federal Ministry of Economics’ task force on legislation to implement grid regulation in Germany. Andreas Jahn has extensive knowledge of the technical, environmental, and political aspects of energy markets through his degree in environmental science from Leeuwarden (Netherlands) and Bingen (Germany). In addition to his native German, Andreas speaks fluent English and advanced Spanish.
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Dr. Fabian NeumannPostdoctoral Researcher in Energy Systems TU Berlin |
Energy system modeller at the Department of Digital Transformation of Energy Systems at TU Berlin. Previously completed a PhD in the Energy System Modelling Group at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, following research roles at Fraunhofer ISI and a Master's in Sustainable Energy Systems from the University of Edinburgh. Holds a Bachelor's in Industrial Engineering with a focus on energy technologies and informatics from KIT, with research experience in electric vehicle and heat pump scheduling under uncertainty.
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Endika Urresti PadrónOptimization and Modelling Expert PSE, Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne |
Endika Urresti Padrón is an optimization and modelling expert at PSE, Polskie Sieci Elektroenergetyczne S.A., the Polish Transmission System Operator. Over nearly a decade, he has been deeply engaged in the energy sector, collaborating extensively with the Polish TSO (PSE), DSOs, technical universities, and utilities. His work focuses on developing tools for power system and energy market analysis through optimization techniques and High-Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure. Endika’s professional journey includes roles as a project manager and researcher at the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ), Poland's largest research institute, within the Interdisciplinary Division for Energy Analyses (IDEA). Regarding his projects, he contributed to the design of the new Polish balancing market optimization engine, which has been operational since June 2024. From 2018 and 2020, Endika led two Horizon 2020 (H2020) research projects funded by the European Commission—EU-SysFlex and OneNet—on behalf of NCBJ. These projects aimed to develop optimization algorithms for cross-border remedial actions among different TSOs and TSO/DSO coordination mechanisms, enabling DSO units to participate in the balancing market without compromising the integrity of DSO networks. Endika has authored several publications on topics such as risk management in power system operations using dynamic simulations and enhancing system resilience through cascade simulations. Additionally, he contributed to creating a transmission expansion planning tool for PSE, an advanced optimization tool incorporating features like storage device integration.
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Swantje MöhleEnergy Modeling Engineer Austrian Power Grid (APG) |
Swantje Möhle holds a MSc in Physics from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. After completing her studies, she spent two years at Schneider Electric North America working on complex power monitoring systems. Since May 2024, Swantje has been working as an Energy Modeling Engineer at the Austrian Power Grid (APG) TSO where she is a developer on the PyPSA-TSO Model, focusing on cross-sector energy system optimization and scenario building.
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Paul Friedrich ZelleSystems Planning Engineer TransnetBW |
Paul Friedrich Zelle, M.Sc. (RWTH) is a Systems Planning Engineer at TransnetBW, where he serves as Product Owner of PyPSA-TSO, an open-source modeling tool tailored for transmission system operators. He is also an external PhD candidate at the Department of Energy Systems (ENSYS), TU Berlin, focusing on advanced energy system modeling and planning.
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Juan Esteban Sierra AguilarMathematical Modeling lead – Economic Dispatch Analyst XM |
Juan Esteban holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a master’s degree in engineering with an emphasis in Energy Systems from the University of Antioquia, Colombia. During his graduate studies, he developed dispatch models that incorporate intermittent renewable energy sources, applying both stochastic and robust optimization methodologies. He currently works as a mathematical modeling specialist at XM, the Colombian electricity system operator. In this role, he leads the team responsible for the mathematical formulation and optimization of the national economic dispatch model. His work has been instrumental in modernizing both the modeling architecture and the mathematical foundations of the dispatch process, enhancing the system’s ability to address operational complexity, integrate regulatory changes, and improve cost-efficiency in real-time decision-making.
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Dr. Christine TawfikOptimization Engineer Gurobi |
Christine holds a PhD in Economics and Management Sciences from the university of Liège (Belgium), where her work focused on network pricing and design optimization problems for logistics applications, through extending game theoritic models and designing approximate solution algorithms. Prior to Gurobi, Christine had an academic experience through her postdoctoral work at Zuse institute Berlin, where she led the „sustainable energy planning“ research group, supervising MSc and Phd theses, acquiring research grants and handling collaborations within the district heating sector. She later switched to the steelmaking making industry, where she had the opportunity to collect both a consultancy and professional software development experience for nearly two years. Outside of work, she enjoys being outdoor, travelling, reading and learning new artistic craft skills.
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Alice JacksonVP of GRIDS Breakthrough Energy |
Alice Jackson is the VP of GRIDS at Breakthrough Energy. The provision of electricity to all people around the world is complex and challenging. It involves meeting the needs of residential customers, large industrial customers, and everyone in between, while lowering pollution, increasing reliability, and maintaining affordability.
The processes and tools for system designs, operations, and insights have been developed over the past 100+ years, and there is no definitive answer on how to achieve this. Additionally, navigating the rules and regulations of national versus local or state requirements adds another layer of complexity. Finding a worldwide solution to zero-carbon is daunting.
Alice’s team at Breakthrough Energy is tackling this problem one component at a time, focusing on tools, efficiency and progress rather than debate and delay. The team is dedicated to finding and sharing common datasets, understanding the physics and impacts of new energy sources, and providing facts and repeatable processes that anyone can use at a low cost to solve one of society’s greatest challenges: eliminating carbon and avoiding catastrophic global warming.
Alice has held a variety of roles in the energy industry over the past 20+ years. From her early days at Enron, to software development and energy management at Oxy, and her nearly 14 years at Xcel Energy leading functions such as regulatory, being President of Colorado, and serving as Chief Planning Officer responsible for building steps to achieve a zero-carbon electric system, all these roles have prepared her for this critical task.
Beyond her professional life, Alice is also a mom to four boys and soon-to-be step-mom to two more. The imperative of finding solutions and bringing people together to make progress is even more essential to her. A mission-driven career that connects with her home life is a dream job, and one Alice looks forward to every day.
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Frank SensfußHead of Competence Center Energy Policy and Energy Markets Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI |
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Alexandros Fakas KakourisSenior Manager Renewables Grid Initiative |
Alexandros is a Senior Manager for Energy and Policy Systems at the Renewables Grid Initiative (RGI), a unique collaboration of Transmission System Operators (TSO) and NGOs across Europe. Alexandros joined RGI in 2021 and leads policy-related initiatives. A fully qualified lawyer in Greece, Alexandros has previously worked as legal counsel in various professional settings and holds a Master’s degree in European and International Energy Law from the Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin).
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Dr. Matthias MiltenbergerManager of Optimization Support Gurobi Optimization |
Dr. Matthias Miltenberger is a mathematician living in Berlin. He completed his PhD at the Technical University of Berlin and worked for several years developing, maintaining and supporting the SCIP Optimization Suite at the Zuse Institute Berlin with a focus on linear programming in the context of mixed-integer optimization. Dr. Miltenberger joined Gurobi in October 2019. He enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife and daughter.
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Valentin FriedrichEnergy Manager Austrian Power Grid |
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Frank HägerSenior Account Director Gurobi Optimization |
Frank Häger is the Sales Director for the DACH region at Gurobi Optimization. Prior to working at Gurobi, Frank was responsible for Optimization Solutions Sales at FICO in EMEA from 2010 to 2016. He started his career in optimization sales in 1998 at ILOG Germany where he eventually led the German operations as Managing Director until 2008. Frank is a seasoned Sales Professional in the Software Industry for Enterprise Decision Management, focusing on Optimization and Prescriptive Analytics. Frank currently resides in the Hamburg area in Germany.
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Lennart LahrsTechnical Account Manager Gurobi Optimization |
Lennart Lahrs holds MSc degrees from RWTH Aachen University and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, with a focus on electrical engineering and operations research. Previously, he worked in software development and energy system research as part of agile teams. Within research contexts, Lennart applied discrete optimization to machine operations, fleet management and energy system design. Outside of work, Lennart enjoys sailing, cycling, and cooking.
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Dr. Jonasz StaczekPostdoctoral Fellow TU Nürnberg |
Welcome Keynote
What infrastructure investments will truly get us to climate neutrality—without breaking the bank? In this session, Prof. Tom Brown (TU Berlin) presents strategies for planning affordable and effective energy systems using open-source models and optimization techniques. Following this, Dr. Benjamin Pfluger (Fraunhofer IEG) delves into the “Hydrogen: Age of Complexity,” addressing the planning and integration challenges for hydrogen as a key energy carrier. The session concludes with Turning Grid Planning into Real-World Infrastructure by Alice Jackson (Breakthrough Energy).
Session 1: What infrastructure gets us to climate neutrality – without breaking the bank? by Prof. Tom Brown
Abstract: We’re in a new phase of the energy transition where we need to make detailed trade-offs between electricity, hydrogen and carbon dioxide infrastructure. From a modelling perspective, this requires more granular planning and highly performant optimization algorithms. Prof. Tom Brown reveals how open-source tools like PyPSA can help solve theses challenges, assessing smart trade-offs while remaining transparent and unleashing modelling innovation.
Session 2: Planning Hydrogen under Uncertainty and Complexity by Benjamin Pfluger
Abstract: The ramp-up of hydrogen has started to fall behind expectations in terms of speed and volume. Let’s have a look at why this is happening, why the challenges of hydrogen are symptomatic for the new age of uncertainty and complexity and why new methods are required to plan energy systems and infrastructures.
Session 3: Turning Grid Planning into Real-World Infrastructure by Alice Jackson
Abstract: Global energy needs are accelerating, driven by rapid technological innovation, policy commitments, and rising clean energy demand. Yet, translating energy system models into decisions that result in real-world infrastructure remains a challenge. Modeling capabilities have significantly improved, however, substantial gaps persist between analytical planning and practical implementation. GRIDS, a new philanthropic initiative from Breakthrough Energy, aims to bridge these gaps by fostering collaborative platforms and integrating tools and data to enhance the planning-to-execution pipeline. Drawing from her experience as the former Chief Planning Officer for Xcel Energy, Alice Jackson will discuss how to move grid planning from theoretical frameworks to real infrastructure, emphasizing the need for openness, collaboration, and innovation across the sector.
Session 1: Bidding zone configurations in the German power market: what are the impacts on the current system? by Thorsten Lenck
Abstract: As energy systems evolve, market design and system resilience take center stage. This session begins with Thorsten Lenck (Agora Energiewende) exploring the implications of different bidding zone configurations in the German power market—how they affect grid efficiency, pricing signals, and investment certainty.
Session 2: Solving large-scale stochastic energy system transformations under energy security and resilience concerns with distributed algorithms by Philipp Härtel
Session 3: Stochastic Multi-Stage Optimization for Battery Energy Storage in Power Grids by Sara Frimodig
Abstract: Energy storage is essential for integrating renewable energy into the electricity grid, providing flexibility to balance supply and demand. By storing excess energy during high production periods and redistributing it when generation is low, battery storage supports grid stability and a decentralized energy system. At Ingrid Capacity, we manage large-scale battery energy storage systems designed for grid balancing. These systems operate based on a stochastic optimization model, which helps determine capacity allocation for ancillary services and spot markets under uncertainty. The model incorporates scenario generation techniques to represent possible future market conditions, particularly for ancillary service prices, which are inherently uncertain.
The session concludes with a Q&A panel to bridge technical innovation with practical system-level planning.
You are warmly invited to explore our exhibition, presented by esteemed partners showcasing innovations and solutions across key energy topics.
Hydrogen is at the core of Europe’s decarbonization ambitions—and its infrastructure must match the scale of the challenge. This session brings together cross-sector experts to present cutting-edge strategies and models for hydrogen network development.
Session 1: Optimizing Hydrogen Transport: Mathematical Optimization for a Sustainable Energy Future by Daniel Bick and John Poppelaars
Abstract: OGE focuses on the critical challenge of forecasting volatile behavior in hydrogen grids, which is essential for ensuring the reliability, stability and efficiency of future energy networks. This presentation will delve into the innovative methodologies developed within OGE and together with external partners to predict and manage fluctuations in hydrogen supply and demand. By leveraging advanced network control optimisation, we aim to enhance the accuracy of long-term network simulations, providing a robust framework for planning and optimizing hydrogen grids.
Session 2: Optimization and Modelling of Complex Energy Systems by TotalEnergies by Sami Ghazouani and Ashutosh Rajesh Agarwal (Total Energies)
Abstract: TotalEnergies has recently shifted from its traditional oil and gas business to a multi-energy company, aiming at developing operational and profitable complex energy systems for applications such as asset decarbonization, flexible grid-connected assets, and green hydrogen or derivatives production. Thus, it created a need to develop and capitalize advanced expertise in optimization and energy system modelling to be able to size and operate intermittent renewable energy sources, storage technologies, and complex integrated energy systems. The presentation will detail the development of an in-house tool used to address technical and operational challenges related to the sizing and operation of multi-energy systems, utilizing operations research and optimization techniques. Current projects by TotalEnergies will be examined, highlighting approaches and solutions. The discussion will conclude with the remaining technical and research challenges to fully realize the potential of multi-energy systems.
Session 3: Energy Infrastructure Planning for Europe’s Hydrogen, Import and Carbon Management Strategies by Fabian Neumann (TU Berlin)
Abstract: The past few years have witnessed the publication of various European and national strategies addressing hydrogen, imports, and carbon management in support of the energy transition. These decisions are complex and intricate, requiring coordinated modeling and planning of energy infrastructures to achieve climate action goals and reach net-zero emissions cost-effectively by mid-century. Highly performant large-scale optimization tools, such as Gurobi, are essential for effectively addressing these strategic decisions. This presentation showcases recent research conducted using the integrated open-source energy system planning tool PyPSA-Eur in support of these efforts. We explore Europe’s strategic balance between green energy and material imports versus domestic production, addressing import volumes, locations, and energy carriers (electricity, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, steel), and implications for domestic infrastructure and industrial value chains. Additionally, we examine the potential advantages of carbon network infrastructures for cost-effective carbon management, including optimal transport strategies for captured CO₂ and hydrogen, and the role of direct air capture compared to industrial fossil or biogenic CO₂ capture.
The session concludes with a Q&A panel discussion, connecting technical insights with policy and investment priorities.
Session 1: Empowering Sustainable Urban Energy Systems innovation at Empa and demonstrators – Sympheny: A SaaS Solution Journey to Zero CO2 energy concept by Dr. Georgios Mavromatidis and Julien Marquant
Abstract: Empa’s Urban Energy Systems Laboratory (UESL) and Sympheny will present transformative solutions for optimizing urban energy systems. Empa UESL will share insights on integrating renewable energy, smart grids, and data analytics to enhance efficiency and reduce carbon footprints. Sympheny will showcase its cutting-edge software and services, empowering municipalities, utilities, planners, and property owners to leverage optimization for impactful decision-making. By providing comprehensive insights and actionable recommendations, Sympheny and Empa UESL innovation enables city planners and policymakers to accelerate the global energy transition while balancing economic viability, social equity, and environmental sustainability. Together, Empa UESL and Sympheny demonstrate how advanced optimization technology drives strategic, data-driven urban energy planning toward a zero CO2 future.
Session 2: Optimizing energy transition paths of municipalities by Dr. Maksymilian Grab
Abstract: We will present a multi-sector modelling approach for the task of finding the most cost-efficient path of energy transformation at the level of municipalities using linear optimization. The method will be illustrated by some results for big cities in Poland.
Session 3: Defining strategy and delivering markets with open-source modelling by Cillian Totterdell
Abstract: Form Energy, a manufacturer of low-cost, 100 hour iron-air batteries, has used best-in-class modelling to define its strategy from the outset. Formware™️, a capacity expansion model solving for least-cost decarbonised systems, was developed in house by Form. It informed the earliest technology choices by the company, including the identification of iron-air as a pathway. Now, Form is using open-source modelling to guide its global expansion, including a PyPSA study of how Germany can phase down its reliance on gas generation. This presentation will outline how modelling is critical for technology suppliers to understand their product-market fit, and how open-source modelling is shaping market growth.
Session Title: Learning-Enhanced Optimization for Power Systems
In this talk, we will discuss the pros and cons of using machine learning-based techniques to solve, or to help solve, large-scale power system optimization problems. We show how these techniques can be used to warm-start existing algorithms, operate grids in real-time while adhering to dynamical constraints, and diagnose sources of infeasibilities.
Reaching Europe’s climate neutrality goals demands robust modeling and optimization tools that are aligned with evolving regulatory frameworks. This session explores how decision-support systems and optimization techniques are being applied within regulatory environments across Europe.
Session 1: From Academic Optimization to Market Reality: The SPaC Model and Beyond by Prof. Antonio Frangioni (University of Pisa) and Winfried Lorenzen (Bundesnetzagentur)
Abstract: This session explores the promise and pitfalls of applying advanced mathematical optimization to real-world energy market design. Using the Segmented Pay-as-Clear (SPaC) proposal as a case study, Prof. Antonio Frangioni (University of Pisa) presents the academic rationale, potential benefits, and unresolved questions of this innovative market model. Winfried Lozenzen (Bundesnetzagentur) provides a regulatory and practical perspective, highlighting the gap between theoretical gains and real-world implementation—touching on issues of complexity, transparency, investor certainty, and regulatory fit. Through critical dialogue and examples from grid operations, the session examines what it really takes to move from optimization concept to workable energy market reform.
Session 2: From Modeling responsibility to planning & implementing responsibilities in policy making – advantages of independing planning and operation by Andreas Jahn
Abstract: This session explores how regulatory frameworks shape and influence the practical implementation of modeling results in the energy sector. It will address the challenges of aligning complex optimization outputs with legal and policy requirements, and highlight best practices for ensuring that modeling insights translate into actionable, compliant decisions.
Session 3: Planning for net-zero – aligning energy system modelling with policymaking and stakeholders’ views by Alexandros Fakas Kakouris (Renewables Grid Initiative)
Abstract: In recent years, electricity grids have gained significant political momentum across the European Union, which is undergoing an unprecedented transformation driven by the urgent need to address geopolitical, climate, and energy crises. In this context, energy system modelling plays a growing role in informing policy, while at the same time, is shaped by it. This increasingly bi-directional relationship is essential to building an integrated, decarbonised and optimised energy system of the future.
Session 4: Optimizations for an ideal Bidding Zone Configuration in Central Europe by Valentin Friedrich (APG) and Dirk Cremer (FGH e.V.)
Abstract: In the bidding zone review of the target year 2025, it was the results from optimization tools that attracted the most attention. The study aimed to assess the optimal bidding zone configuration for central Europe by using a chain of optimization tools, including flow-based market coupling and remedial action optimization. FGH and APG, together with the other TSOs in Central Europe, developed an interface for the creation of flow-based domains and remedial action optimization in Integral with the VAMOS simulation platform. This solution contributes to the flexible integration of complex optimization problems in Integral for the Bidding Zone Review and other projects at APG.
The session concludes with a panel Q&A focused on bridging the gap between technical potential and policy implementation.
This session focuses on innovative approaches to power system operation and flexibility. Endika Urresti (NCBJ/PSE) will present the latest research on Optimal Topology Switching (OTS) to enhance grid efficiency and stability. Juan Esteban Sierra Aguilar (XM) will introduce Simplex Operativo, a digital platform revolutionizing power system operations in Colombia through real-time decision support.
Session 1: Research and Innovation on Optimal Topology Switching (OTS) by Endika Urresti
Session 2: Simplex Operativo: Modernization of the Colombian Day Ahead Model by Juan Esteban Sierra Aguilar
Abstract: XM led a major transformation of its national dispatch model and platform, migrating from legacy tools to a modern cloud architecture. This shift enabled the system to handle increased regulatory complexity, including dynamic configurations for combined-cycle plants. The new platform, Simplex Operativo, reduced computational times from 300s to 60–90s and improved traceability and scalability of the MIP model. The session will explore the technical challenges, algebraic complexity, and lessons learned from this transition.
Duration per session: 20 minutes
Session 1: Modeling and solving Long Term Grid Expansion Planning Scenarios by Frank Sensfuss
Session 2: Modeling European Cooperation in the Energy Transition by Swantje Möhle and Paul Friendrich Zelle
Abstract: Coordinating European efforts is a key strategy to enable a cost-effective and efficient energy transition. In this multi-TSO cooperation study, we modeled scenarios with differing levels of cooperation between European countries, to investigate the consequences and impacts on the system. For this project we used PyPSA-TSO, a PyPSA model developed by APG and TransnetBW specifically for TSO applications.
Session 3: A Modelling Language for Versatile Configuration of Models in Multi-Energy Systems Planning Studies by Thomas Bittar and Antonie Oustry
Duration per session: 20 minutes
Session 1: Why Gurobi Works: Complexity, Craft, and Commitment by Dr. Robert Luce, Gurobi Optimization
Session 2: Enhancing Energy Planning with Gurobi: Bridging Historical Challenges and Modern Optimization Tools by Dr. Christine Tawfik, Gurobi Optimization
—Coffee Break—
Session 3: Solving MINLPs: From model building to practical guidelines by Dr. Jaromil Najman, gurobi Optimization
Session 4: Model building with gurobipy by Dr. Lennart Lahrs, Gurobi Optimization
Session 5: Security constraints in the Gurobi ACOPF OptiMod by Dr. Hassan Hijazi, Gurobi Optimization
Session 6: Solving large-scale LPs with Gurobi: CPU or GPU? by Dr. Robert Luce, Gurobi Optimization
In this thought-provoking session, we explore the hidden barriers preventing powerful optimization models from achieving real-world traction. Despite technical excellence, many initiatives stall due to stakeholder friction, cultural inertia, and communication gaps. Through case examples and common objections—like fear of black-box solutions or status quo comfort—we reveal that the true optimization problem is often not computational, but human. Join us as we unpack the biases, misconceptions, and internal resistance that optimization practitioners must overcome to turn insights into action.
Discuss with the Experts – Interactive Rounds
Get direct access to experts from Gurobi and Open Energy Transition (OET) in a series of focused, small-group discussion rounds. Whether you’re facing modeling challenges, scaling issues, or integration questions, this session offers a unique opportunity to dive deep into your specific optimization or modeling needs. Bring your toughest questions—or just listen in and learn from others.
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