Colbertaldo Paolo

Paolo Colbertaldo is an associate professor of Systems for Energy and Environment at Politecnico di Milano. He holds a Master’s Degree in Energy Engineering and a PhD cum laude in Energy and Nuclear Science and Technology, with a doctoral thesis on integrated energy system modelling and the role of Power-to-Hydrogen, which received the AIMSEA PhD Thesis Award 2020.

His research focuses on the modelling, simulation, and techno-economic assessment of complex energy systems, from plant-scale applications to regional energy scenarios. His work aims to support the transition towards low-carbon energy and industrial systems, by enabling the evaluation of decarbonisation pathways. His research addresses power generation, renewable fuels production, energy storage, and industrial processes, with particular attention to sector coupling, electrification, system flexibility, and infrastructure integration.

A major focus of his research concerns hydrogen technologies, across the entire value chain, with emphasis on high-temperature solutions such as solid oxide cells. Their configurations and performance are investigated both as stand-alone systems and as integrated within industrial processes.

In the field of energy system planning, his research looks at the integration of electricity, gas, hydrogen, and industrial systems, bridging detailed plant-level analysis with regional and national energy system assessments.

He is actively involved, also as Principal Investigator, in collaborative research projects under competitive calls at national (PRIN17-HERMES, JET ZERO, INNOPHY), European (H2020 HiPowAR, HEU OUTFOX, HEU EMPHATICaL, HEU SYRIUS, CETP EISER, HEU PROCEED), and international (US-DOE HySteel, AT HyEmpire) levels. He also collaborates with industrial partners on process decarbonisation and hydrogen technology integration.

He currently teaches Power Generation Systems in the MSc Programme in Environmental and Land Planning Engineering and Hydrogen Technologies in the MSc Programma in Energy Engineering.

Education

Master of Science in Energy Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, 2015

Diploma for Graduate Courses, Alta Scuola Politecnica (Politecnico di Milano e Politecnico di Torino), 2015

PhD cum laude in Energy and Nuclear Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano, 2019

RESEARCH GROUP

Energy conversion systems (GECOS)

paolo.colbertaldo(at)polimi.it

+39 02 2399 3935

Teaching profile @POLIMI

OrcID

Scientific-Disciplinary Sector
Energy Systems And Power Generation – IIND-06/B

Paolo Colbertaldo is tenure-track researcher in System for Energy and Environment at Politecnico di Milano. He holds a Master’s degree in Energy Engineering and a PhD cum laude in Energy and Nuclear Science and Technology, with a thesis on integrated energy system modelling and the role of Power-to-Hydrogen, which was awarded the AIMSEA PhD Thesis Award 2020.

His research activity focuses on the modelling of complex energy systems, both at plant scale and at regional or national level, and on industrial decarbonization.
The overarching goal is the techno-economic assessment of deep decarbonization scenarios in multi-vector and multi-sector energy systems with a high share of variable renewable energy sources.
A common thread in his research is the integration of energy carriers, with particular attention to hydrogen technologies – across the entire value chain – and to electrification, extending to energy infrastructures (such as gas grid and hydrogen networks) and energy storage systems.
His scientific interests involve high-temperature hydrogen technologies (e.g., solid oxide cells), whose configurations and performance are investigated both as stand-alone systems and integrated within industrial processes and plants.

He is actively involved, also as Principal Investigator, in national (PRIN2017 HERMES, JET ZERO, PRIN2022 GREENENERGY), European (H2020 HiPowAR, HEU OUTFOX, HEU EMPHATICAL, HEU SYRIUS, CETP EISER), and international (US-DOE HySteel, AT HyEmpire) research projects.

Education

Master of Science in Energy Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, 2015
Diploma for Graduate Courses, Alta Scuola Politecnica (Politecnico di Milano e Politecnico di Torino), 2015 PhD cum laude in Energy and Nuclear Science and Technology, Politecnico di Milano, 2019

RESEARCH GROUP

Energy conversion systems (GECOS)