Shafiqur Rehman | Renewables | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Shafiqur Rehman, Renewables, Best Researcher Award

Doctorate at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Saudi Arabia

Summary:

Dr. Shafiqur Rehman is an accomplished mechanical engineer and researcher specializing in renewable energy systems. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pretoria and has extensive experience in wind and solar energy resource assessment, hybrid power system design, and techno-economic feasibility studies. Since 2005, he has been serving as an Associate Professor at the Research Institute of KFUPM in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where he has contributed significantly to the field of renewable energy through both his research and teaching. Dr. Rehman’s work has a strong focus on optimizing renewable energy systems to enhance their efficiency and integration into existing power grids, addressing critical challenges in sustainable energy development.

Professional Profile:

👩‍🎓Education:

Dr. Shafiqur Rehman received his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, in 2012. He earned his M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Thermal Sciences from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, in 1985, achieving a GPA of 3.875 on a 4.0 scale. He completed his B.Sc. Engg. (Honors) in Mechanical Engineering from Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh, U.P., India, in 1981, ranking second in his class with a GPA of 8.6 on a 10.0 scale. Additionally, Dr. Rehman holds a B.Sc. (Honors) degree in Physics from AMU, obtained in 1977 with first rank in merit and 70% marks. He also has a Pre-University School Certificate from AMU (1974) with 67% marks and a High School Certificate from the U.P. Board of High School and Intermediate Education, Allahabad, U.P., India (1973), where he achieved 68.8% marks.

Professional Experience:

Dr. Rehman is currently serving as a Research Engineer-II (Associate Professor) at the Research Institute, KFUPM, a position he has held since March 2005. Prior to this, he was a Research Engineer-III (Assistant Professor) at the same institute from April 1999 to March 2005. From September 1991 to March 1999, he worked as an Engineer-I, and from April 1986 to August 1991, as an Engineer-II at the Research Institute, KFUPM. His career at KFUPM began as a Research Assistant in the Mechanical Engineering Department from December 1982 to November 1985. Before joining KFUPM, Dr. Rehman worked as a Design Engineer at N. C. Gupta A/C. Consultants in New Delhi, India, from November 1981 to December 1982.

Research Interest:

Dr. Rehman’s research interests encompass various domains within renewable energy and mechanical engineering, including:

  • Wind Energy Resource Assessment, Potential Site Identification, Grid-Connected and Off-Grid Wind Farm Design and Optimization, Techno-Economic Feasibility, Wind-Diesel Hybrid Power System Design and Optimization
  • Solar Energy Resource Assessment, PV System Sizing, PV-Diesel Hybrid Power System Design, Techno-Economic Feasibility, Hybrid Power System Optimization, PV and Wind Water Pumping and Water Desalination
  • Wind-PV-Diesel Hybrid Power System Design and Optimization
  • Pumped Storage Plants for Improving Load Management
  • Geothermal Resource Assessment
  • Surface and Upper Air Meteorological Data Acquisition and Analysis

Publications Top Noted: 

Global review and synthesis of trends in observed terrestrial near-surface wind speeds: Implications for evaporation

  • TR McVicar, ML Roderick, RJ Donohue, LT Li, TG Van Niel, A Thomas, S Rehman, et al.
  • Journal of Hydrology, 416, 182-205, 2012. (Citations: 1193)

Pumped hydro energy storage system: A technological review

  • S Rehman, LM Al-Hadhrami, MM Alam.
  • Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 44, 586-598, 2015. (Citations: 1190)

Support vector machines for wind speed prediction

  • MA Mohandes, TO Halawani, S Rehman, AA Hussain.
  • Renewable Energy, 29(6), 939-947, 2004. (Citations: 917)

Performance evaluation of a PV (photovoltaic) module by back surface water cooling for hot climatic conditions

  • H Bahaidarah, A Subhan, P Gandhidasan, S Rehman.
  • Energy, 59, 445-453, 2013. (Citations: 625)

Estimation of global solar radiation using artificial neural networks

  • M Mohandes, S Rehman, TO Halawani.
  • Renewable Energy, 14(1-4), 179-184, 1998. (Citations: 464)

Simona Di Micco | Environmentalism | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Simona Di Micco, Environmentalism, Best Researcher Award

Doctareat at University of Naples Parthenope, Italy

Summary:

Dr. Simona Di Micco is an Assistant Professor at the University of Naples Parthenope in Napoli, Italy. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management Engineering, a Master’s degree in Management Engineering, and a Ph.D. in Energy Science and Engineering from the Engineering Department at the University of Naples Parthenope. With expertise in hydrogen technologies, fuel cell systems, and sustainable energy solutions, Dr. Di Micco’s research focuses on developing hydrogen-powered propulsion systems for maritime sector decarbonization and integrating fuel cells into multi-energy systems. She actively collaborates with international universities and research institutes, including the University of Irvine in the USA and the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA). Dr. Di Micco is also engaged in teaching activities related to renewable energy systems and technical management of ships. Her dedication to advancing sustainable energy technologies contributes significantly to the field of energy science and engineering.

Professional Profile:

Scopus Profile

Orcid Profile

Google Scholar Profile

👩‍🎓Education & Qualification:

Bachelor’s Degree:

  • Field: Management Engineering
  • Institution: Engineering Department, University of Naples Parthenope, Naples, Italy
  • Year of Completion: 2016
  • Thesis Title: “Sistemi globali di posizionamento”

Master’s Degree:

  • Field: Management Engineering
  • Institution: Engineering Department, University of Naples Parthenope, Naples, Italy
  • Year of Completion: 2018
  • Thesis Title: “Sistemi di accumulo e distribuzione di idrogeno per la mobilità sostenibile”

Professional Engineer Certification Exam:

  • Institution: University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Cassino, Italy
  • Year of Completion: 2020

Ph.D:

  • Field: Energy Science and Engineering
  • Institution: Engineering Department, University of Naples Parthenope, Naples, Italy
  • Year of Completion: 2022
  • Dissertation Title: “Hydrogen-powered ship propulsion systems for maritime sector decarbonization”

Professional Experience:  

Dr. Simona Di Micco has extensive professional experience in academia and research. Since March 2023, she has served as an Assistant Professor at the University of Naples Parthenope in Napoli, Italy. Prior to this, she held various teaching positions and supported teaching activities at the same institution, including lectures, exercises, and supervision of thesis projects related to management engineering, fluid machinery, energy systems management, and sustainable energy technologies. Additionally, Dr. Di Micco has collaborated with other universities and research institutes, such as the University of Salerno and the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), on projects related to hydrogen technologies, maritime sector decarbonization, and fuel cell systems. Her research interests encompass a wide range of topics in energy science and engineering, with a focus on hydrogen production, storage, and applications in the transportation sector, as well as sustainable energy technologies for maritime applications.

Research Interest:

Hydrogen Technologies: Dr. Di Micco is interested in the development of hydrogen-powered systems for various applications, including transportation and maritime propulsion. This includes research into hydrogen production methods, such as electrolysis and reforming, as well as hydrogen storage and distribution systems.

Fuel Cell Systems: She explores the utilization of fuel cells, particularly proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), for power generation in transportation and stationary applications. Her research involves investigating the performance, durability, and efficiency of fuel cell systems.

Maritime Sector Decarbonization: Dr. Di Micco focuses on the development of sustainable energy solutions for the maritime sector, including the integration of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies into ship propulsion systems. She explores the technical and economic feasibility of decarbonizing maritime transport through the use of alternative fuels and propulsion systems.

Multi-Energy Systems: Her research interests extend to the development of integrated energy systems that incorporate multiple energy sources and technologies, such as renewable energy sources, energy storage systems, and hydrogen-based technologies. She investigates optimal configurations and operation strategies for these multi-energy systems to enhance efficiency and sustainability.

Environmental Impact Assessment: Dr. Di Micco is involved in studies assessing the environmental impact of energy technologies and systems, particularly through the application of life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies. She investigates the environmental sustainability and carbon footprint of various energy pathways and technologies to inform decision-making processes.

Publication Top Noted:

Title: Analyzing the levelized cost of hydrogen in refueling stations with on-site hydrogen production via water electrolysis in the Italian scenario

  • Authors: M. Minutillo, A. Perna, A. Forcina, S. Di Micco, E. Jannelli
  • Journal: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
  • Volume: 46
  • Issue: 26
  • Pages: 13667-13677
  • Year: 2021
  • Citations: 132

Title: Techno-economics of novel refueling stations based on ammonia-to-hydrogen route and SOFC technology

  • Authors: M. Minutillo, A. Perna, P. Di Trolio, S. Di Micco, E. Jannelli
  • Journal: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
  • Volume: 46
  • Issue: 16
  • Pages: 10059-10071
  • Year: 2021
  • Citations: 41

Title: A framework for the replacement analysis of a hydrogen-based polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell technology on board ships: A step towards decarbonization in the maritime sector

  • Authors: S. Di Micco, L. Mastropasqua, V. Cigolotti, M. Minutillo, J. Brouwer
  • Journal: Energy Conversion and Management
  • Volume: 267
  • Pages: 115893
  • Year: 2022
  • Citations: 33

Title: Design and costs analysis of hydrogen refuelling stations based on different hydrogen sources and plant configurations

  • Authors: A. Perna, M. Minutillo, S. Di Micco, E. Jannelli
  • Journal: Energies
  • Volume: 15
  • Issue: 2
  • Pages: 541
  • Year: 2022
  • Citations: 29

Title: Designing, sizing and economic feasibility of a green hydrogen supply chain for maritime transportation

  • Authors: A. Perna, E. Jannelli, S. Di Micco, F. Romano, M. Minutillo
  • Journal: Energy Conversion and Management
  • Volume: 278
  • Pages: 116702
  • Year: 2023
  • Citations: 19