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Renewable Energy and Built Environment

About the research team

The Renewable Energy and Built Environment (REBE) is a newly established team within the School of Technology and Innovations at the University of Vaasa. REBE brings together passionate researchers dedicated to advancing energy technologies for the benefit of society. The group collaborates closely with academic and industry partners to deliver impactful solutions. REBE is led by Professor Xiaoshu Lü.

REBE undertakes interdisciplinary research across the entire energy cycle, including energy sources, storage, and consumption. Our primary focus lies on the consumption side within building sector, particularly in the context of low-emission and low-energy buildings, districts, and cities.

Research topics include:

  • Renewable Energy Sources (RES)
  • Integration of RES into the Building Sector
  • Sector Coupling
  • Low-Carbon, Low-Energy Buildings
  • Energy Storage Solutions
  • Advanced Materials (e.g. Phase Change Materials)
  • Smart Cities and Urban Energy Systems
  • Data Centres and Cooling Technologies
  • Hydrogen Production and Storage
  • Mathematical Modelling and Optimization
  • Data Science 

News and events

Recent publications

2024

  • Experimental investigation on flue gas condensation heat recovery system integrated with heat pump and spray heat exchanger

    Zhang, Qunli; Liu, Tao; Cheng, Xuanrui; Guo, Shuaifei; Zhang, Lin; Lü, Xiaoshu, 2024, Thermal science and engineering progress, 102454, DOI: 10.1016/j.tsep.2024.102454, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • Application of deep dehumidification technology in low-humidity industry: A review

    Zhang, Qunli; Li, Yanxin; Zhang, Qiuyue; Ma, Fengge; Lü, Xiaoshu, 2024, Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, 193, 114278, DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2024.114278, A2 Review article in a scientific journal (peer-reviewed)

  • Drying characteristics of sewage sludge pre-conditioned by CaO and sawdust under low-temperature drying conditions

    Qunli Zhang; Baozhong Wang;Yuhao Xing; Gang Wang; Xinchao Zhang; Xiaoshu Lü, 2024, Environmental technology, 1-12, 2330474, DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2024.2330474, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • Research on global path planning algorithm for mobile robots based on improved A*

    Xu, Xing; Zeng, Jiazhu; Zhao, Yun; Lü, Xiaoshu, 2024, Expert systems with applications, 243, 122922, 122922, DOI: 10.1016/j.eswa.2023.122922, A2 Review article in a scientific journal (peer-reviewed)

2023

  • Artificial intelligence (AI)-based optimization of power electronic converters for improved power system stability and performance

    Gros, Ioana-Cornelia; Lü, Xiaoshu; Oprea, Claudiu; Lu, Tao; Pintilie, Lucian, 2023, 2023 IEEE 14th International Symposium on Diagnostics for Electrical Machines, Power Electronics and Drives (SDEMPED), DOI: 10.1109/sdemped54949.2023.10271490,  A4 Article in conference proceedings (peer-reviewed)

  • IoT Sensor Challenges for Geothermal Energy Installations Monitoring: A Survey

    Prauzek, Michal; Kucova, Tereza; Konecny, Jaromir; Adamikova, Monika; Gaiova, Karolina; Mikus, Miroslav; Pospisil, Pavel; Andriukaitis, Darius; Zilys, Mindaugas; Martinkauppi, Birgitta; Koziorek, Jiri, 2023, Sensors, 23, 12, 5577, DOI: 10.3390/s23125577, A2 Review article in a scientific journal (peer-reviewed)

  • Wear Resistance Study of Bionic Pitted Ni Cladding Layer on 7075 Aluminum Alloy Drill Pipe Surface

    Li, Xu; Gao, Ke; Zhao, Yan; Xie, Xiaobo; Lü, Xiaoshu; Zhang, Cong; Ai, Hongxin, 2023, Coatings, 13, 10, 1768, DOI: 10.3390/coatings13101768, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • Study on wear resistance of nickel cladding layer with imitation shell convex strip structure on the surface of 7075 aluminum alloy drill pipe

    Zhao, Yan; Liao, Guorui; Li, Xu; Gao, Ke; Zhang, Congshan; Lü, Xiaoshu; Ai, Hongxin; Xie, Xiaobo, 2023, Coatings, 13, 8, 1317, DOI: 10.3390/coatings13081317, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • Experimental Research on Effects of Combustion Air Humidification on Energy and Environment Performance of a Gas Boiler

    Zhang, Qunli; Li, Yanxin; Zhang, Qiuyue; Jiao, Yuqing; Shi, Qiu; Lü, Xiaoshu, 2023, Journal of energy resources technology: transactions of the ASME, 146, 2, 022304, DOI: 10.1115/1.4063432, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • Research on the indoor temperature regulation characteristics of a nearly zero energy building with the nonlinear heat capacity building components : A simple model

    Zhang, Qunli; Liu, Yimo; Zhang, Qiuyue; Wang, Gang; Lü, Xiaoshu, 2023, Journal of building engineering, 76, 1-15, 106850, DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2023.106850, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • 钻孔救援连续缆管储放设备研制 [Development of storage equipment of continuous cable pipe for borehole rescue]

    Gao, Ke; Niu, Xin; Zhao, Yan; Qin, Xiaolin; Lyu, Xiaoshu; Xie, Xiaobo, 2023, Meitian dizhi yu kantan, 51, 3, 168-176, DOI: 10.12363/issn.1001-1986.22.06.0443, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • Investigation of the thermal performance of cascaded latent heat thermal energy storage system based on composite phase change materials

    Zhang, Qunli; Liu, Yimo; Yang, Zhaosheng; Wang, Gang; Lü, Xiaoshu, 2023, International journal of exergy, 41, 2, 197-218, DOI: 10.1504/ijex.2023.131487, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • 双钻头自平衡钻进系统用多通道连续缆管设计 [Design of multi-channel continuous cable duct for double-bit self-balancing drilling system]

    Zhao, Yan; Ai, Hongxin; Gao, Ke; Zhang, Congshan; Lyu, Xiaoshu; Xie, Xiaobo, 2023, Meitian dizhi yu kantan, 51, 4, 164-169, DOI: 10.12363/issn.1001-1986.22.06.0472, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • Simulation and experimental investigations of ultrasonic-assisted drilling with Micro-PDC bit

    Zhang, Congshan; Zhao, Yan; Gao, Ke; Zhang, Cong; Lv, Xiaoshu; Xie, Xiaobo, 2023, Geoenergy science and engineering, 223, 211480, DOI: 10.1016/j.geoen.2023.211480, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • Towards Integration of Energy Storage Systems for Carbon Neutral Buildings : A Review of Multi-Criteria Decision Making Approaches

    Lü, Xiaoshu; Lu, Tao; Tervola, Pekka, 2023, Schossig, Peter; Droege, Peter; Riemer, Antonia; Speer, Martin, Proceedings of the International Renewable Energy Storage Conference (IRES 2022), Atlantis highlights in engineering, 297-307, 20, DOI: 10.2991/978-94-6463-156-2_20, A4 Article in conference proceedings (peer-reviewed)

  • Numerical simulation of heat recovery from asphalt pavement in Finnish climate conditions

    Songok, Joel; Mäkiranta, Anne; Rapantova, Nada; Pospisil, Pavel; Martinkauppi, Birgitta, 2023, International journal of thermal sciences, 187, 1-8, 108181, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2023.108181, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • Results of Seaside Energy Solutions in Land Uplift and Climate Change in the Kvarken Archipelago: A Mixed-Method Investigation

    Girgibo, Nebiyu, 2023, Acta wasaensia, 525, 1-316, G5 Doctoral dissertation (articles)

  • Thermal Impact of 5G Antenna Systems in Sandwich Walls

    Lu, Tao; Vähä-Savo, Lauri; Lü, Xiaoshu; Haneda, Katsuyuki, 2023, Energies, 16, 6, 2657, DOI: 10.3390/en16062657, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • Urban short-term traffic speed prediction with complicated information fusion on accidents

    Xu, Xing; Hu, Xianqi; Zhao, Yun; Lü, Xiaoshu; Aapaoja, Aki, 2023, Expert systems with applications, 224, 119887, DOI: 10.1016/j.eswa.2023.119887, A2 Review article in a scientific journal (peer-reviewed)

  • Experimental research on direct expansion heat pump flue gas waste heat recovery and humidification nitrogen reduction system

    Zhang, Qunli; Huang, Haotian; Zhai, Hongbao; Zhao, Wenqiang; Lü, Xiaoshu, 2023, Journal of cleaner production, 406, 137000, DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.137000, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • Numerical investigation on heat and mass transfer characteristics of inclined plate falling film absorption with nano-lithium bromide solution

    Wang, Gang; Li, Jitong; Yan, Gang; Xu, Rongji; Xie, Guozhen; Lü, Xiaoshu, 2023, Applied thermal engineering, 239, 122124, DOI: 10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2023.122124, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • Renewable energy resources and multi-energy hybrid systems for urban buildings in Nordic climate

    Lü, Xiaoshu; Lu, Tao; Karirinne, Suvi; Mäkiranta, Anne; Clements-Croome, Derek, 2023, Energy and buildings, 282, 1-12, 112789, DOI: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2023.112789, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • Numerical simulation of the thermal response of seabed sediments to geothermal cycles in Suvilahti, Finland

    Mohyla, Marek; Hrubesova, Eva; Martinkauppi, Birgitta; Mäkiranta, Anne; Tuomi, Ville, 2023, Renewable energy, 221, 119770, DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2023.119770, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • Electromagnetic–Thermal Analyses of Distributed Antennas Embedded Into a Load-Bearing Wall

    Vähä-Savo, Lauri; Haneda, Katsuyuki; Icheln, Clemens; Lü, Xiaoshu, 2023, IEEE transactions on antennas and propagation, 71, 8, 6849-6858, DOI: 10.1109/TAP.2023.3284368, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • The air temperature change effect on water quality in the Kvarken Archipelago area

    Girgibo, Nebiyu; Lü, Xiaoshu; Hiltunen, Erkki; Peura, Pekka; Dai, Zhenxue, 2023, Science of the total environment, 874, 162599, DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162599, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • Innovative approaches for deep decarbonization of data centers and building space heating networks: Modeling and comparison of novel waste heat recovery systems for liquid cooling systems

    Lu, Tao; Lü, Xiaoshu; Välisuo, Petri; Zhang, Qunli; Clements-Croome, Derek, 2023, Applied energy, 357, 122473, DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.122473, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • Simulation and Experimental Study on Rock-Breaking Mechanism of the Reverse Rotary Torque Self-balancing Dual Drill Bit

    Zhang, Cong; Gao, Ke; Zhao, Yan; Xie, Xiaobo; Zhang, Congshan; Lv, Xiaoshu, 2023, Arabian journal for science and engineering, 48, 16571–16586, DOI: 10.1007/s13369-023-07699-8, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • A Novel AI-Based Thermal Conductivity Predictor in the Insulation Performance Analysis of Signal-Transmissive Wall

    Wang, Xiaolei; Lü, Xiaoshu; Vähä-Savo, Lauri; Haneda, Katsuyuki, 2023, Energies, 16, 10, 4211, DOI: 10.3390/en16104211, A1 Journal article (peer-reviewed)

  • Performance Comparison of Indoor Humidity Modeling: A Novel Hybrid Model vs. the Simplified Calculation Model by EN ISO 13788

    Lu, Tao; Lü, Xaoshu; Salonen, Heidi, 2023, Journal of physics : Conference series, 2654, 1, 012052, DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/2654/1/012052, A4 Article in conference proceedings (peer-reviewed)

Research projects

REBE has the highest percentage of the Research Council of Finland projects at the University of Vaasa. The Research Council of Finland project funding is designed to promote the quality of research, scientific impact and impact beyond academia as well as scientific renewal and diversity. The aim is to attain internationally as high a scientific standard of work as possible and to support scientific breakthroughs and top-tier international research collaboration. Additionally, REBE is involved in numerous EU-funded projects. REBE warmly welcomes collaboration with industry and municipalities on a wide range of R&D projects in energy technology and the built environment.

On-going projects 

  • DISCAS project, funded by the Research Council of Finland, 2024–2028
  • SustainSchool project. funded by the Research Council of Finland, 2024–2026
  • CleanSchool project, funded by the Research Council of Finland, 2020–2024
  • WSTARproject, funded by the Research Council of Finland, 2023–2025
  • LEAP-RE project, funded by the EU,2020–2025
  • NewHeatIntegrated project, funded by the EU CETP, 2024–2026
  • DiTArtiSproject, funded by the EU Horizon, 2020–2025
  • ENHANCED project, funded by the EU CETP, 2024–2027
  • OptiDCG4H2 project, funded by the EU CETP, 2024–2027
  • RESILIFY, project funded by EU Interreg Aurora, 2024–2027
  • InnoWind, project funded by the EU JTF, 2024–2026

Recently completed projects 

  • STARCLUB project, funded by the Research Council of Finland, 2019–2023
  • GeoUs, funded by EU Horizon, 2020–2023
  • E4IoT, funded by EU, 2021–2023 

Infrastructure 

REBE leverages the University of Vaasa's advanced infrastructure to support our research. In particular, we have actively contributed to the high-quality research and design of the Wasa Zero Emission Data Centre (WSTAR), a state-of-the-art facility enabling pioneering research on climate-neutral data centres. Additionally, we operate an asphalt test field and a Suvilahti low-temperature district heating network pilot, and we collaborate closely with the VEBIC platform, especially with its geoenergy laboratory.

Courses

REBE offers courses in Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD level. More information on doctoral education can be found here: Doctoral studies in technical sciences.

Open Positions

REBE is currently seeking project researchers and PhD students:

Open jobs - uva.rekrytointi.com.

Research group members

Research group leader: Professor Xiaoshu Lü

Kuva
Xiaoshu Lu

Xiaoshu Lu

Professor
School of Technology and Innovations, Energy Technology
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498520
Toimisto
Fabriikki F212A
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Kuva
Birgitta Martinkauppi

Birgitta Martinkauppi

University Lecturer
School of Technology and Innovations, Energy Technology
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498539
Toimisto
Fabriikki F212D
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Kuva
Anne Mäkiranta

Anne Mäkiranta

University Lecturer
School of Technology and Innovations, Energy Technology
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498302
Toimisto
Fabriikki F212C
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Kuva
Tao Lu

Tao Lu

Postdoctoral Researcher
School of Technology and Innovations, Energy Technology
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
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Kuva
Nebiyu Girgibo

Nebiyu Girgibo

Postdoctoral Researcher
School of Technology and Innovations, Energy Technology
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Puhelin
+358294498720
Toimisto
Fabriikki F212B
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Kuva
Sara Javadi

Sara Javadi

Postdoctoral Researcher
School of Technology and Innovations, Energy Technology
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Toimisto
Ankkuri 2 floor.
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Kuva
Xiaolei Wang

Xiaolei Wang

Project Researcher
School of Technology and Innovations, Energy Technology
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Toimisto
Ankkuri 2 floor.
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Christopher Otoo

Christopher Otoo

Doctoral Researcher
School of Technology and Innovations, Energy Technology
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Toimisto
Ankkuri 2 floor.
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Kuva
Ali Shokri Kalan

Ali Shokri Kalan

Doctoral Researcher
School of Technology and Innovations, Energy Technology
Puhelin
+358294498559
Toimisto
Ankkuri 2. floor
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Kuva
Giang Tran

Giang Tran

Project Researcher
Digital Economy
firstname.lastname@uwasa.fi
Toimisto
Ankkuri K236
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Naghmeh Mohammadpourlima

Naghmeh Mohammadpourlima

Guest
School of Technology and Innovations, Energy Technology
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