Vladimir Abdelnour
Energy Systems Researcher & Entrepreneur
I'm a Lebanese‑born PhD candidate in Electrical & Systems Engineering at Arizona State University and founder of multiple clean‑tech ventures. My passion lies in microgrid design, virtual power plants, and electric‑vehicle integration—turning rigorous research into deployable solutions that drive decarbonization at scale. Across my PhD work, I've:
- •Modeled EV load growth over 11 million census-block datapoints, identifying distribution-substation upgrade hotspots in 3,000 U.S. utilities.
- •Chaired the utility working group for the Arizona Climate Action Plan, collaborating with APS, SRP & TEP to draft emission-reduction measures.
- •Published peer-reviewed findings on resilience improvements from distributed VPP assets under extreme weather events.
When I'm not crunching algorithms or drafting single-line diagrams, you might find me:
- •Leading 10-km trail runs in the Sonoran desert.
- •Organizing youth leadership camps with the Orthodox Youth Movement.
- •Sketching carbon-neutral startup ideas over a perfectly pulled espresso.
Experience
Energy Researcher · LEAPS Lab, Arizona State University
- •Lead distribution‑level study on EV load growth vs. substation capacity using 11 million census‑block datapoints to forecast upgrade needs.
- •Chair the utility working group for the Arizona Climate Action Plan, drafting GHG‑reduction measures and securing stakeholder buy-in from APS, SRP & TEP.
- •Authored and taught an internal crash‑course on Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), covering architecture, control strategies, and market participation.
Partner · CEM (Smart‑Grid Solutions)
- •Built a $5 M sales pipeline for commercial & industrial energy-management systems within 90 days, navigating complex international regulations.
- •Integrated advanced metering infrastructure and VPP-ready forecasting metrics into the product roadmap, boosting proposal accuracy by 40%.
- •Rolled out CRM workflows and sales scripts, cutting deal-closing time by 3× and improving customer satisfaction scores.
CEO & Founder · Takatcom
- •Secured 1st place at Spark22 incubator; raised $250 K seed funding for an AI‑driven energy‑procurement platform.
- •Architected end-to-end IoT and software solution: sensor networks, edge computing, and React-based dashboards.
- •Presented technical roadmap at Berytech National Climate Conference and engaged with strategic investors across MENA.
Design & Business Development Engineer · NovaEnergia
- •Conducted Level‑2 energy audits and drone-based site surveys for >5 MW of solar PV installations in the Southwest.
- •Generated detailed single-line diagrams, shadow analyses, and Bills of Quantities, reducing engineering rework by 25%.
- •Authored a winning UNDP-funded proposal for microgrid consultancy in Beirut's Karantina district, securing $150 K in grants.
Microgrid Engineering Intern · Association of Energy Engineers
- •Sized lithium-ion battery storage and configured SCADA controls for a hybrid microgrid deployment in Tajikistan.
- •Evaluated CAPEX/OPEX trade-offs across multiple battery chemistries, optimizing for lifecycle cost and performance.
Research
My research focuses on the intersection of energy systems, electric vehicle integration, and distributed grid technologies. I am particularly interested in developing scalable solutions for microgrid optimization, virtual power plant coordination, and sustainable energy infrastructure that can address real-world decarbonization challenges.
Impact of EV Load Growth on Distribution Substations (2025‑2035)
Arizona State University – LEAPS Lab
National‑scale model combining 11.1 M census‑block socioeconomic datapoints with logistic S‑curve adoption to predict EV demand and pinpoint upgrade hotspots across 3,000 utilities.
Projects
NovaGreen Aeroponics Unit
Home‑scale aeroponics system integrating nutrient‑mix automation, climate control, and LED lighting. Winner of Murex 'Most Innovative Project 2022'.
