Meet the Speakers
MANUEL COSTEIRA DA ROCHA
Smartenergy
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Manuel is a green hydrogen and energy expert. Since 2019 his team developed 3GW+ and 20+ green H2, eFuel and derivatives projects in Portugal, Spain, Italy, Germany and Egypt. Manuel has over 30 years experience in the energy sector as Engineer and Executive Director,with expat experiences in France (with EDF), in Portugal, Germany and Macau (with Siemens), Portugal, Mozambique, South Africa and Southern Africa countries (with Efacec). Manuel holds a PhD in Sustainable Energy Systems, a MBA from Oporto Business School, and a MsC in Electrical Engineering from FEUP (Universidade do Porto). He is a senior member of Ordem dos Engenheiros and Specialist in Energy. He is part of the Energy Comission at Ordem dos Engenheiros. He is invited Professor and co-author of various peer reviewed publications.
PAULO BRITO
Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre
Hydrogen and renewable gases production Technologies from waste materials
Paulo Sérgio Duque de Brito has a degree in chemical engineering, Processes and Industry specialization, in the Technical Superior Institute; has a master’s degree in “Corrosion Science and Engineering” by UMIST, Manchester University; is a PhD in Chemical Engineering, by the Superior Technical Institute in the electrochemical – on fuel cells. He has also an MBA –
Master of Business and Administration. Currently, he is Full Professor of the Superior School of Technology and Management of the Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre (IPP). Is coordinator of the research centre VALORIZA – Research Centre for Endogenous Resource Valorization and the Coordinator of the Master Technologies for Environmental Valorization and Energy Production. The main areas he investigates are related with Bioenergy, waste environmental
treatments, materials corrosion and energy galvanic production. He has published more than 300 works, in books, articles and conferences presentations.
DIOGO COUTO
PRF
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Diogo Couto has a master's degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Coimbra and developed his career in the construction and metal building industries, until he started working in the energy sector, specifically LNG, CNG, biomethane and hydrogen. He is responsible for business development in several countries, which gives him an overview of the sector at European level. Diogo believes that the fight against climate change takes place both in national and international political decision-making bodies and in companies, but also in the daily lives of all citizens. Anyone can, and should, be an agent of change at home, in the street or at work, through small gestures that, multiplied by millions of people, become a real wave of energy with a positive impact.
MATHEUS (THIJS) DE GROOT
Eindhoven University of Technology
Increasing performance, flexibility and durability of Alkaline Water Electrolysis
Thijs de Groot is a professor in the field of electrochemical engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology. He received a PhD degree from the same university in 2007 in the field of electrocatalysis, after which he worked for 16 years in innovation roles for companies active in the chlor-alkali and water electrolysis industry focusing on the development of sustainable solutions. In 2016 he rejoined the university in a part-time position carrying out electrochemical engineering research and education. In his research he focuses on improved cell and stack design for alkaline and anion-exchange membrane electrolysis, addressing topics such as ohmic resistance, gas crossover, bubbles, the role of additives and reverse currents on electrolyzer performance and flexibility. He also looks beyond the stack to the optimization of the complete electrochemical plant. Since 2023 Thijs is employed full-time at the university.
PEDRO MENDES
European Commission
The R&I policy of the European Commission on hydrogen
Pedro is a policy officer on clean hydrogen at the European Commission Directorate-General for Research & Innovation. He manages the relationship with the Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertaking, a public-private partnership committing over €1 billion throughout seven years to bring hydrogen projects close to the market, from production to distribution to storage to end-use. He holds a MSc in Engineering Physics at the University of Lisbon and an MA in European Interdisciplinary Studies at the College of Europe.