Mark Runacres

Mark Runacres is a Professor at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), affiliated with the Faculty of Engineering Technology and the Department of Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics. He leads research groups focused on fluid dynamics, wind energy, and decarbonization technologies. His work bridges computational modeling, experimental validation, and real-world applications in renewable energy systems.

His research interests include fluid mechanics, wind turbine aerodynamics, and data-driven modeling of complex systems. He has pioneered studies on vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs), wake dynamics, and turbulence effects on energy extraction efficiency. Recent projects involve optimizing high-altitude propellers and developing synthetic wind speed models for sustainable energy planning.

Runacres has led over 20 funded projects, including the Flanders Institute for Decarbonisation Technologies (FIDT) initiative and the BRussels Institute for Thermal-fluid systems. His collaborations span academia and industry, addressing challenges in wind farm design, microclimate impact assessments, and sustainable urban energy solutions.

He has authored/co-authored 120+ peer-reviewed publications and supervised multiple graduate theses. Current research emphasizes nonlinear system identification, multi-fidelity optimization, and bridging experimental data with predictive models for engineering systems.