Peter Palensky appointed head of Electrical Sustainable Energy department

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science is proud to announce that Professor Peter Palensky has been appointed as the new Head of the Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy. He will start his term on July 1. Peter Palensky brings with him a wealth of experience in the digitalisation of the energy grid: a crucial aspect of the ongoing energy transition.

Peter Palensky wants to keep the department at the forefront of developments, delivering vital academic support to the energy transition. "Personally, I believe that digitalisation is the key to unlocking the full potential of sustainable energy. Therefore, I am committed to helping our department embrace this transformation, by permeating digitalisation through all our research lines." By working even more closely with the industry, he believes the department can help identify key issues in the energy transition. This will enable the department to deliver high-impact research that makes a real difference.

In addition to the department's research objectives, Peter Palensky is also determined to create an attractive ecosystem for bright minds to blossom. He wants to establish ways of working that actively help talented individuals in reaching their full potential. "In this I of course follow in the footsteps of Miro Zeman, who led this department so successfully for so long. I am truly inspired by his leadership style, and hope to make it my own. I'm excited to work even more closely with the department's 200+ bright minds."

"I want to maintain and improve the department's work culture." Palensky wants to ensure that everyone feels at home in the department, not only on a personal level but also on an organisational level. An open and inclusive work culture is essential to achieving our goals as a department. "I want to create an environment where lines of communication feel natural, and where everyone feels empowered to share their ideas and collaborate with one another."

Dean of the faculty Lucas van Vliet congratulates Peter Palensky on his appointment: "I am pleased that we have found such a qualified and experienced candidate to lead the department in these interesting times. Peter is an internationally acknowledged expert in digitisation of energy grids, which will be instrumental in the energy transition. Digitisation will revolutionize the entire energy system. I am very proud of the achievements of the ESE department over recent years under leadership of Miro Zeman and hope to see even more successes under Peter Palensky's guidance."