Matteo Giacomo Prina

My doctoral work on energy system modelling started a research trajectory at Eurac Research: beginning as a PhD student in the Photovoltaics group investigating high-renewable-penetration scenarios, the work led Eurac to create a dedicated Overall Energy System Modelling and E-Mobility group in 2019.

As post-doc and senior researcher I coordinated grants worth over 2.5 M€, and since October 2025 I lead the group, securing participation in further projects totalling 5.4 M€. My current focus is AI-enhanced surrogate models for fast, transparent and uncertainty-aware planning of large-scale energy systems, and the coupling of transport and energy sectors.

• Author of the European Climate Risk Assessment (EEA, 2024), lead author of Chapter 8 — Energy.
• Coordinator & PI of LIFE PLANtoACT (1.75 M€, 9 partners) and EFRE V2G-BOOST (650 k€).
• Junior Research Award Südtirol/Alto Adige 2025.
• Included in the Stanford/Elsevier World's Top 2% Scientists list, 2025.
• National Scientific Qualification as Associate Professor in Fluid Machinery, Energy Systems and Power Generation (09/C1), 2024.
• EUREGIO Young Researcher Award 2021 (2nd place); best paper SDEWES 2020 and best presentation SES 2020.
• Co-supervisor of 4 PhD and 15 MSc students — MSc theses led to 8 journal papers.

1. Accuracy, robustness and comprehensibility – Challenges in bottom-up energy system modelsPrina MG, Noussan M. · PLOS Climate, 2026
2. Deep learning surrogate model to explain decision variable synergies in energy system modellingPrina MG, Pelizzoni C, Judson M, McPherson M, et al. · Smart Energy, 2026
3. Machine learning as a surrogate model for EnergyPLAN: speeding up energy system optimization at the country levelPrina MG, Dallapiccola M, Moser D, Sparber W. · Energy, 2024
4. Energy modelling challenges for the full decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectorsGroppi D, Pastore LM, Nastasi B, Prina MG, et al. · Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2025
5. Evaluating near-optimal scenarios with EnergyPLAN to support policy makersPrina MG, Johannsen RM, Sparber W, Østergaard PA. · Smart Energy, 2023
6. Optimisation method to obtain marginal abatement cost-curve through EnergyPLAN softwarePrina MG, Fornaroli FC, Moser D, Manzolini G, Sparber W. · Smart Energy, 2021
7. Classification and challenges of bottom-up energy system models – A reviewPrina MG, Manzolini G, Moser D, Nastasi B, Sparber W. · Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2020
8. Multi-objective investment optimization for energy system models in high temporal and spatial resolutionPrina MG, Casalicchio V, Kaldemeyer C, et al. · Applied Energy, 2020
9. Transition pathways optimization methodology through EnergyPLAN software for long-term energy planningPrina MG, Lionetti M, Manzolini G, Sparber W, Moser D. · Applied Energy, 2019
10. Multi-objective optimization algorithm coupled to EnergyPLAN software: The EPLANopt modelPrina MG, Cozzini M, Garegnani G, et al. · Energy, 2018