Merlinda Andoni is a Research Associate at the University of Glasgow working for the UK’s National Centre for Energy Systems Integration CESI (£25M, EPSRC), a project that aims to unravel the energy network and understand future supply and demand and the DecarbonISation PAThways for Cooling and Heating - DISPATCH project.
Merlinda’s expertise and research achievements focus on the challenges associated with how we achieve a resilient, low-carbon and sustainable energy system. Her role in CESI relates to investigating the potential of blockchain technologies and multiagent systems modelling for local and decentralised energy networks and microgrids. In DISPATCH, Merlinda is working on local energy markets providing solutions for local energy trading and exchanges.
Merlinda holds a Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from Heriot-Watt University, an M.Sc. degree in Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation from Heriot-Watt University and a 5-year Diploma degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering (with a specialisation in Energy) from the National Technical University of Athens, Greece.
Merlinda has over 26 publications in top ranked Journals and peer-reviewed conference proceedings, several white papers, research reports and thesis and 1313 citations (08/02/2022). Internationally, her research has informed the US congressional research office on blockchain technology for the energy sector.
Her publication on blockchains is most cited paper for the Elsevier Journal of Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews (IF~ 12.110) and was selected for a Women in Energy Special Edition, a publisher’s selection of highly cited articles by female scientists from Elsevier’s leading energy journals. She has co-authored two IEEE Smart Grid white papers, setting out roadmaps on Battery Storage Technologies and Big Data Analysis for Smart Grids. She has presented in several national and international conferences and workshops and has been awarded several prizes including the Academic Award in the Young Professionals Green Energy Awards 2018, a “Best student paper” award in the AAMAS conference, a Postgraduate Research 2nd Year Prize during her PhD studies and a special prize for the best student performance in all taught postgraduate degrees within the Engineering & Physical Sciences during her M.Sc. studies.
In addition to her research, she has successfully supported as a Co-Investigator several grant proposals (acquired over £1.8m of research finding), teaching in smart grids, renewable generation and distributed generation, and establishing strategic partnerships with industry. She has worked for several years as an energy consultant for over 140MW of renewable projects in Greece. She is a member of IEEE, the IEEE Power and Energy Society and IEEE Smart Grid Society, a member of the Global Observatory on Peer-to-Peer, Community Self-Consumption and Transactive Energy Models and a member of the Technical Chamber of Greece.
She also contributes to the Blockchain as a tool for energy retail exchange task.
Publication list:
[1] Andoni, M., Robu V. and Flynn D. Blockchains: Crypto-control your own energy supply. Nature, 548 (7666), p.158, 2017, DOI: 10.1038/548158b. [2] Andoni, M., Tang, W., Robu, V. & Flynn, D. Data analysis of battery storage systems. In 24th International Conference & Exhibition on Electricity Distribution (CIRED 17’), 2017. [3] Andoni, M., Robu, V., Fruh, W-G., & Flynn, D. Game-theoretic modeling of curtailment rules and network investments with distributed generation. Applied Energy, 201, 174-187., 2017, DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.05.035. [4] Andoni, M., Robu, V., & Fruh, W-G. Game-theoretic Modeling of Curtailment Rules and their Effect on Transmission Line Investments. In Proceedings of the IEEE Power Engineering Society 6th Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Europe Conference IEEE., 2016. [5] Andoni, M., & Robu, V. Using Stackelberg Games to Model Electric Power Grid Investments in Renewable Energy Settings. In International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems (pp. 127-146). Springer International Publishing, 2016. [6] Andoni, M., & Robu, V. Game-theoretic modeling of transmission line reinforcements with distributed generation. In Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Autonomous Agents and Multiagent Systems (pp. 1291-1292), 2016.
