On April 15, the Director, Prof. Matteo Maestri, took part in the “Incontri Romani” hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Rome, in collaboration with Hon. Tatjana Rojc, Senator of the Italian Republic, at the Europe Experience “David Sassoli” Centre.The event provided a valuable opportunity to discuss the role of scientific research…
On April 10, 2026, Politecnico di Milano signed an eight-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with A2A to cover 100% of the university’s energy demand with certified renewable energy.
The agreement is part of the university’s sustainability strategy and is the result of a multi-year effort that also involved the Department of Energy. The PPA adopts a hybrid structure (fixed price plus a market-indexed variable component), balancing cost stability and economic flexibility.
It provides approximately 35 GWh per year of renewable energy, largely sourced from new generation capacity, contributing to the development of new plants in the region. It also represents an innovative and replicable model for the public sector.
The Wind Forest team from the Politecnico di Milano – Department of Energy, composed of Emanuele Ogliari, Riccardo Zich, and Andrea Pirisi, has been selected among the 26 finalists of the international competition WinDesign – Designing the Wind of the Future, promoted by the Enel Group. Among over 500 teams worldwide, the project stood out for its innovative vision in wind energy, contributing to the development of more efficient and territorially integrated solutions.
On March 24, 2026, the kick-off meeting of the SIMBIOsi project took place in Angeli di Rosora (Marche region) at the Loccioni headquarters, marking the official start of this research initiative. The project aims to develop and validate innovative solutions for the safe and efficient integration of non-programmable renewable energy sources into the power system. Funded by the Italian Ministry under the Mission Innovation program, SIMBIOsi brings together leading academic and industrial partners to advance grid-forming converters, energy storage systems, and optimization models for enhanced ancillary services and grid stability.
On March 13, a technical workshop dedicated to the management of electrical systems in the Smaller Islands was held at the Polytechnic University of Milan. The event was organized by the Department of Energy to present the results of the first year of activity of the Technical Working Group on the management of electrical systems in the Smaller Islands.
The initiative, coordinated by the Department in collaboration with UNIEM and with contributions from representatives of the regulatory sector, research, and industry, provided an initial comprehensive overview of the main challenges associated with the energy transition in non-interconnected island electrical systems.
Professor Maurizio Delfanti from the Department of Energy at Politecnico di Milano participated in a high-level international discussion in Toronto on Canada’s future national electricity strategy. The meeting brought together global energy leaders to explore the development of a clean east–west electricity grid. Delfanti contributed by sharing European and Italian regulatory and industrial experience, highlighting key approaches to support the energy transition and large-scale electrification.
A research team from the Department of Energy at Politecnico di Milano received the Best Research Paper Award at TFEC 2026 for a study on three-phase air–water–oil flows in inclined pipes. The work provides new experimental insights into flow regimes, pressure gradients, and interfacial dynamics, contributing to more accurate modeling of multiphase flows in energy and industrial applications.
From February 23 to 26, the Department of Energy at Politecnico di Milano hosted the Winter School 2026 of the Erasmus Mundus HySET Master.
The event brought together students, faculty, and industry partners for an experience focused on innovation, collaboration, and community development.
The third cohort of 14 international students participated in the second module of the Innovation Workshop on Creative Thinking, led by Gianluca Gariani.
Students presented the work they had developed on the challenges proposed by the industry partners, supported by their tutors.
Students from the second cohort acted as mentors, providing guidance and strengthening the sense of community within the program.
On March 3 in Rimini, during the event “Renewable Energy: Perspectives and Technological Innovation” organized by Sonepar Italia in preparation for Key Energy, Prof. Emanuele Ogliari delivered a talk titled “Artificial Intelligence and Renewable Energy Systems: Optimization and Sustainability.” The presentation highlighted recent research developments on the application of Artificial Intelligence to energy systems, including nowcasting algorithms for solar radiation to enable very short-term forecasting of photovoltaic power generation, machine learning techniques for the management and optimization of electrochemical energy storage systems (BESS), and analyses of emerging trends in the electrical system. Particular attention was given to the integration of renewable energy sources and the growing impact of data centers on energy demand. The event provided an opportunity for discussion with industry operators and partners working in renewable energy and energy digitalization on issues related to power system flexibility and the use of advanced forecasting tools.
On March 6, 2026, the Open Workshop “Science Meets Diplomacy: the Role of Universities in Improving the Science–Diplomacy Interface” took place at the EN:lab building of the Department of Energy at Politecnico di Milano. The event marked the concluding session of the doctoral course on science diplomacy. The workshop brought together academics, European institutions, and international experts to discuss the role of universities in strengthening the dialogue between science and policy in the face of global challenges, highlighting the importance of science diplomacy, scientific attachés, and cooperation between research and institutions.