Dr. Vassilis Stavrakas |Energy system| Best Researcher Award
Technoeconomics of Energy Systems (TEESlab), University of Piraeus,Greece
Dr. Vassilis Stavrakas is a distinguished researcher at the Technoeconomics of Energy Systems Laboratory (TEESlab) at the University of Piraeus, Greece. His expertise spans energy systems analysis, technoeconomic assessments, and sustainable energy solutions. Dr. Stavrakas actively contributes to advancing research on energy transitions, with a focus on innovation and policy integration.
Summary:
Dr. Stavrakas combines academic excellence with practical expertise in energy system modeling and sustainability. With leadership roles at IEECP and TEESlab, he has contributed to impactful energy policy research and innovation. His interdisciplinary approach bridges academia, industry, and policy, aiming to drive the global transition to low-carbon energy systems.
Professional Profiles:
🎓 Education :
Dr. Vassilis Stavrakas has a robust academic foundation in mechanical engineering and energy systems. He earned a Bachelor’s (BSc) and Master’s (MSc) degree in Mechanical Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), graduating with distinction (8.36/10, equivalent to the top 5% of his class). He later pursued a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at the University of Piraeus (UNIPI), specializing in modeling and simulation methods to support low-carbon energy systems under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Alexandros Flamos
🏢 Experience:
Dr. Stavrakas has extensive experience in energy systems research and policy. He is the Financial Director and Co-founder of the Institute for European Energy and Climate Policy (IEECP), based in the Netherlands, where he has served since 2018. At IEECP, he combines financial oversight with strategic research contributions. Concurrently, he is a Senior Research Associate at the Technoeconomics of Energy Systems laboratory (TEESlab) at UNIPI, a role he has held since 2015.,Previously, he was a Teaching Assistant at UNIPI, teaching courses such as “Operations Research,” “Engineering Economics,” and “Techno-economics of Energy Systems” for six years. His early career includes a position as a Junior Research Assistant at NTUA’s Systems Bioengineering Lab, where he gained valuable experience in bioengineering systems.
🛠️Skills:
Energy System Modeling: Development of low-carbon pathways, scenario analysis, and simulation methods.,Energy Planning and Management: Expertise in sustainable and renewable energy strategies.,Industrial Innovation: Focus on business models supporting the twin transition of green and digital transformation.,Research Project Management: Over a decade of experience with European Commission-funded projects (e.g., FP7, Horizon 2020, LIFE).,Teaching and Mentorship: Proficiency in postgraduate-level instruction on renewable energy and optimization techniques.
Research Focus :
Dr. Stavrakas is actively engaged in energy systems modeling, low-carbon transition strategies, and renewable energy utilization. His research addresses barriers to sustainable energy adoption, development of twin transition frameworks, and innovation in industrial business models. He has contributed to numerous public and private research projects, focusing on energy efficiency, decarbonization, and policy design.
🔬Awards:
Regularly invited as a speaker at major international events such as EUSEW and COP-side events.,Published in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and presented at prestigious conferences like ECEMP, EMP-E, and SDEWES.,Editorial Board Member for the journal Energy Sources, Part B: Economics, Planning, and Policy (Taylor & Francis Group).
Dr. Stavrakas is an outstanding candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to his:,Proven expertise in energy systems and sustainable transitions.,Leadership in research and policy-oriented institutions.,Contributions to academia through teaching and editorial roles.
 Publications:
- Bidirectional soft-linking of a Capacity Expansion Model with a Production Cost Model to evaluate the feasibility of transition pathways towards carbon neutrality in the power sector
- Authors: Kleanthis, N., Stavrakas, V., Flamos, A.
- Published in: Applied Energy, 2025, Vol. 378, Article 124843.
- Citations: 0
- How the COVID-19 pandemic changed stakeholder engagement processes in sustainability research in the long-term
- Authors: SĂĽsser, D., Schibline, A., Ceglarz, A., Stavrakas, V., Schweizer, P.-J.
- Published in: F1000Research, 2024, Vol. 13, Article 458.
- Citations: 0
- Devising policy strategies for the deployment of energy efficiency Pay-for-Performance programmes in the European Union
- Authors: Tzani, D., Exintaveloni, D.S., Stavrakas, V., Flamos, A.
- Published in: Energy Policy, 2023, Vol. 178, Article 113593.
- Citations: 0
- How to improve energy efficiency policies to address energy poverty? Literature and stakeholder insights for private rented housing in Europe
- Authors: Papantonis, D., Tzani, D., Burbidge, M., Bouzarovski, S., Flamos, A.
- Published in: Energy Research and Social Science, 2022, Vol. 93, Article 102832.
- Citations: 21
- Eliciting knowledge from stakeholders to identify critical issues of the transition to climate neutrality in Greece, the Nordic Region, and the European Union
- Authors: Kleanthis, N., Stavrakas, V., Ceglarz, A., Lilliestam, J., Flamos, A.
- Published in: Energy Research and Social Science, 2022, Vol. 93, Article 102836.
- Citations: 14
- Why energy models should integrate social and environmental factors: Assessing user needs, omission impacts, and real-world accuracy in the European Union
- Authors: SĂĽsser, D., Martin, N., Stavrakas, V., Madrid-LĂłpez, C., Lilliestam, J.
- Published in: Energy Research and Social Science, 2022, Vol. 92, Article 102775.
- Citations: 29
- Existing tools, user needs and required model adjustments for energy demand modelling of a carbon-neutral Europe
- Authors: Chatterjee, S., Stavrakas, V., Oreggioni, G., Flamos, A., Ăśrge-Vorsatz, D.
- Published in: Energy Research and Social Science, 2022, Vol. 90, Article 102662.
- Citations: 15
- Pioneering a performance-based future for energy efficiency: Lessons learnt from a comparative review analysis of pay-for-performance programmes
- Authors: Tzani, D., Stavrakas, V., Santini, M., Rosenow, J., Flamos, A.
- Published in: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2022, Vol. 158, Article 112162.
- Citations: 12
- Better suited or just more complex? On the fit between user needs and modeller-driven improvements of energy system models
- Authors: SĂĽsser, D., Gaschnig, H., Ceglarz, A., Flamos, A., Lilliestam, J.
- Published in: Energy, 2022, Vol. 239, Article 121909.
- Citations: 43