Desislava Todorova

Desislava Todorova serves as a Researcher in Renewable Energy at the Environmental Research Institute (ERI) of the University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), where she contributes to the Energy Innovation Team. Her work bridges academic research with real-world applications in sustainable energy solutions for peripheral and remote communities.

Her research expertise centers on implementing renewable energy systems in Arctic and isolated regions, green hydrogen production from excess renewable energy, and decarbonization strategies for industrialized islands. She actively leads projects such as HUGE (Hydrogen Utilization and Green Energy) and ROBINSON (Horizon 2020), emphasizing community-led initiatives, circular economy principles, and just transition frameworks to address energy challenges in harsh environments. Her work integrates technological innovation with transnational collaboration across 10+ European countries.

Todorova has supervised over 20 research students and provided academic mentorship to more than 100 students. Her grant portfolio includes major projects funded by the Scottish Government, Horizon 2020, UKRI, and Interreg—including Just Transition, SATE, GREBE, and Circular Ocean—with extensive international partnerships spanning 8 countries in green hydrogen research and 18 partners in island decarbonization initiatives.

As a core member of ERI's Energy Innovation Team, she drives knowledge transfer among SMEs, start-ups, and communities through collaborative platforms that connect academic research with practical sustainability solutions in remote regions.