Ermanno Lo Cascio, PhD

Amsterdam · The Netherlands · (+39) 329-7913749 · ermannolocascio@gmail.com

As an engineer and researcher, I work at the intersection between energy systems & digitalization. My experience has been developed through the framework of several complex European projects, interacting with interdisciplinary teams from different nationalities. Pragmatic at work, with an eclectic mindset, I constantly work to keep my curiosity fresh and genuine.

"... it is important to realize that in physics today, we have no knowledge of what is energy." Richard Feyman, 1964.

Experience

Research Software Engineer @ eScience Center · Amsterdam, The Netherlands

NatSci & Eng

Developing cutting edge open-source software solutions for scientific research

Feb 2024 - current

Scientist @ TNO · Delft, The Netherlands

Buildings and Energy Systems

Buildings Energy simulations and digitalization, I'm working in the context of Brain for Buildings and other internal projects.

Jan 2023 - Jan 2024

Postdoctoral Scientist

EPFL · École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne · Sion, Valais, Switzerland

I have been involved in the demonstrator activities of the EnergyPolis Campus: a veritable ecosystem of innovation, which is shaping Valais’s future. As a scientist, I worked mainly on digital twinning, control, and data pipeline creation for advanced monitoring purposes · Learn more

In parallel, I have worked within a collaboration framework with Services Industriales de Genève (SIG), for the analysis of the Energy as a Service business model as a tool to boost energy transition · Learn more

December 2019 - December 2022

Postdoctoral Researcher

UNIGE · Dep. of Mechanical Engineering (DIME-TEC) · Genoa, Liguria, Italy

I have set up a method and the tools to characterize and assess primary energy consumption in Mediterranean port areas through a GIS approach. I have developed WP1's technical activities in coordination with project partners, port stakeholders, and port authorities. The research has been funded by the EU project Interreg-SIGNAL, and you may find a bit of info here.

November 2018 - November 2019

Education

PhD in Technical Physics

UNIGE · Dep. of Mechanical Engineering (DIME-TEC) · Genoa, Liguria, Italy
I have worked within the EU - CELSIUS cities. As a fresh and genuine researcher, I have been focusing on the design & control optimization of the Genoese demonstrator. I have substantially contributed as a teaching assistant for the course of technical physics for civil engineers and supervised several thesis and students. Learn more

  • 2017 · 3 months @ the Research Institute of Sweden (RISE), Lund, Sweden. Funded by Lerici Foundation

  • 2018 · 6 months @ the Delft Center of System and Control, TU-Delft, The Netherlands. Funded by Erasmus +
    • November 2015 - November 2018

    Master Degree in Energy Engineering

    Alma mater studiorum, University of Bologna
    My thesis has been carried out at the Sustainable Buildings Research Center in Wollongong, Australia. I worked mainly on modeling and dynamic simulation of an existing building to prioritize retrofit measures. Learn more

  • 2011 · 11 months, Erasmus @ the UPV, Valencia, Spain

    • January 2011 - March 2014

    Bachelor Degree in Energy Engineering

    Alma mater studiorum, University of Bologna
    Nice time. It seems a life ago. I carried out a nice GIS project to assess the installation feaseability of wind farms in southerns italian regions.
    October 2006 - June 2010

    Skills

    Applications
      Scientific, ML and Optimization
      Relational Databases
    Other software
    • Matlab-Simulink for model based design
    • Unisim Design for processes dynamic analysis
    • EnergyPlus & Design Builder® for buildings dynamic modelling
    • QGIS and CAD tools

    Special Courses

    Scientific Interests

    As an engineer and scientist, I'm interested in the digitalization of energy systems. Yes, it's a trendy topic, I know, but really I see interesting challenges emerging from the distributed paradigm in terms of energy management, users' engagement, and strategies to foster behavioral changes. There is no doubt that data fusions techniques and machine learning tools will help us shape a more sustainable indoor and outdoor living. At the same time, there is no doubt that the flip side of the medal brings important challenges in terms of resilience and privacy. We need to work on it.
    I speculated a bit on this topic tackling a simple yet complex question: How Smart is the Grid?

    If you wish to have a virtual coffee, exchange some ideas, or even say hi, please, drop me a line.

    Creative Interests

    I spent a lot of time with oil painting. I went to Norway to visit Odd Nerdrum for a while. I got a little good at one point. Then I stopped. I feel guilty about it. But to remedy this, I console myself with the words of Salvador Dalì: "... To be a good painter you have to be a bit stupid, with the exception of Velázquez, who is a genius, whose talent surpasses the art of painting".

    Latest Publications

    • Lo Cascio, E., Girardin, L., Ma, Z. and Maréchal, F., 2021. How Smart is the Grid?. Frontiers in Energy Research, 9, p.637447 · DOI

    • Lo Cascio, E., De Schutter, B. and Schenone, C., 2018. Flexible energy harvesting from natural gas distribution networks through line-bagging. Applied energy, 229, pp.253-263. DOI

    • Lo Cascio, E., Ma, Z. and Schenone, C., 2018. Performance assessment of a novel natural gas pressure reduction station equipped with parabolic trough solar collectors. Renewable Energy, 128, pp.177-187. DOI

      • Further items on Google Scholar