Willy Villasmil

Willy Villasmil is a Professor at the Lucerne School of Engineering and Architecture (HSLU), leading the Research Group on District Heating and Cooling (DHC) and serving as Program Head of the CAS Thermal Networks program. He specializes in optimizing DHC networks for decarbonization through modeling, simulation, and adaptive energy systems. His research focuses on low-temperature anergy networks, thermal storage integration, and climate-resilient energy infrastructure.

Education: BSc Mechanical Engineering (Universidad Simón Bolívar, 2006); MSc (ETH Zurich, 2010) and PhD (ETH Zurich, 2013) in Thermochemical Energy Storage. Postdoctoral work at the Paul Scherrer Institute (Switzerland) and industry experience at Flow Products Ltd. (UK).

Key research areas include:

• Thermal energy storage systems (seasonal, geothermal)
• Integration of renewable energy into DHC networks
• Building energy efficiency and autonomous systems
• Smart control strategies for energy systems

Notable projects include SWEET PATHFNDR (DHC optimization), DeCarbCH (sector decarbonization), and development of 3D directed borehole storage. He leads the Institute of Building Technology and Energy (IGE) and is a board member of Thermische Netze Schweiz.

Publications focus on thermal storage innovation, DHC network archetypes, and solar thermochemical fuel production. Recent work emphasizes exergy-based modeling and cost optimization of renewable energy systems.