Kevin Verleysen

Kevin Verleysen serves as a postdoctoral researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), affiliated with the Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics research group. His work is centered on the development and optimization of sustainable energy systems, with a strong focus on ammonia and hydrogen as energy carriers. He investigates the integration of wind energy into ammonia production processes, robust design under uncertainty, and the combustion characteristics of ammonia-hydrogen mixtures for power generation, contributing to the decarbonization of the energy sector.

Verleysen's academic background includes a PhD in Engineering from VUB (2023) on the robust optimization of power-to-ammonia processes for seasonal hydrogen storage. He also completed two Master's theses: one in 2018 on optimizing wind-powered ammonia plants for hydrogen storage, and another in 2015 on the design of residential water turbines.

His primary research interests encompass ammonia energy systems, hydrogen storage, uncertainty quantification in energy modeling, sensitivity analysis, wind energy integration, and bioenergy potential assessment. Verleysen employs advanced optimization techniques to address the challenges of variability in renewable energy sources, aiming to design resilient and flexible energy infrastructure that can support high shares of renewables. His work spans from process-level optimization of the Haber-Bosch process to system-level analysis of energy storage and bioenergy deployment in Europe.

Analysis of Verleysen's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a cohesive research program focused on making ammonia a viable energy vector. Key themes include the robust design of ammonia production under wind variability, reduction of NOx emissions from ammonia-hydrogen combustion, and assessment of bioenergy's role in Europe's energy transition. His approach consistently incorporates uncertainty and dynamic control, highlighting the need for flexible and resilient energy systems in a renewable-dominated grid.

While no specific scientific awards are mentioned in the available information, Verleysen has actively disseminated his research through conference presentations, including a 2022 talk on robust optimization of the Haber-Bosch process. His work has been published in reputable journals such as the Journal of Energy Storage and the Proceedings of the Combustion Institute.

Verleysen is an integral member of the Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics research group at VUB, which conducts cutting-edge research on sustainable energy conversion and storage technologies. The group's work on ammonia and hydrogen aligns with global efforts to achieve carbon neutrality through innovative energy solutions.