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Ursula Eicker, PhD

Professor, Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering


Ursula Eicker, PhD
Phone: (514) 848-2424 ext. 8779
Email: ursula.eicker@concordia.ca
Website(s): CERC Smart Cities

Prof. Ursula Eicker is the Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Cities and Communities at Concordia University Montreal. She is a German physicist who received her PhD in Solid State Physics from Heriot-Watt University and her Habilitation in Renewable Energy Systems from the Berlin Technical University. Prof. Eicker has held leadership positions at the Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences and its Centre for Sustainable Energy Technologies, and has coordinated many international research projects in the fields of building energy efficiency, renewable energy systems and urban scale simulation.

Since June 2019, she has led an ambitious research program to establish transformation strategies toward zero-carbon cities. Around 50 graduate students work on pathways to zero-carbon cities in the domains of the built environment, renewable energy systems, sustainable transport and circular economy.

Education

1995/6 - 2011/5
Habilitation
Habilitation, Renewable Energy Systems
Technische Universitat Berlin 
Degree Status: Completed
Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Felix Ziegler, 1995/6 -

1986/9 - 1989/5
Doctorate
PhD Doctor of Philosophy, Solid State Physics
Heriot-Watt University 
Degree Status: Completed
Supervisors: Wilson, John, 1986/6 - 1989/5

1985/9 - 1986/6
Master's Equivalent
Diploma Studies, Physics
Technische Universitat Berlin 
Degree Status: Completed
Supervisors: Twele, Joachim, 1985/9 - 1986/6

Honours and Awards

2018/5 - 2019/5
German-African Innovation Incentive Award - 130,000 (Euro)
Federal Ministry of Science Germany
Award for outstanding research in cooperation with Egypt on photovoltaic thermal collectors by the Federal Science Ministry


Research activities

Projects

Eco-Quartier Lachine-Est
In collaboration with a real estate developer company and the municipality of Lachine, Prof. Eicker and her team developed concepts for an Eco-Quartier in the former Dominion Bridge area. The involvement of different professionals, organizations, community groups and the municipality bridged the project from theoretical approaches and scenario simulations to financial and social realization potentials. 

Urban Platform (INSEL4Cities)
The Urban Platform, also referred to as INSEL4Cities, is an urban simulation platform currently under development by the CERC team. INSEL is a graphical programming language used for the simulation of renewable energy systems, it offers ready-made simulation models or users can design completely new models for whatever kind of system they are working with. The objective of INSEL4Cities is to offer cities a platform that can be used to model the city in a holistic way, including features such as buildings and their demands, transportation, networks, waste management, and greenery and ecosystem services.

Canadian Energy End-Use Mapping Project
The objective of this project is to create a basis of knowledge on key topics, characterize data workflows and perform selected data cleaning and integration tasks. The work done by CERC primarily supported the development of the CEE Map prototype for Kelowna BC with findings shared with related initiatives such as the Building Energy Mapping and Analytics Concept Development Study (BEMA-CDS). The group of researchers worked on the development of a generic, systematic workflow to extract useful information from various data sources for building energy modeling requirements and energy retrofit recommendations. The developed workflow has leveraged datasets originated from various sources and scales in multi-operational platforms to analyze and derive the building data for building energy modeling and mapping. Property assessment records were used to discover Kelowna patterns and distribution of dwelling type and vintage. The Kelowna permit dataset provided information on the building and heating permits registered by the municipality.

Residential Densification Strategies
Residential densification can significantly contribute toward retrofitting existing communities into resilient positive energy districts. A simulation study was conducted for Québec, to determine the impact of densification on energy and space use and analyze future electricity demand in the Quebec province due to electrification of heating and transport. It was found that by densification g and energy efficiency electricity consumption can be reduced by 65% and photovoltaic (PV) roofs could generate nearly three times more electricity than the houses consumed. The combined effect of energy efficient construction and on-site renewable energy production would enable single home owners to shift from consuming 5,640 kWh/yr to producing 3,540 kWh/yr.

Future City Playgrounds
The CERC team works on an urban gamified simulation platform. It brings together two worlds that deal with 3D urban data handling and merge both approaches' strong points. On the one hand, the world of Computer Games with 3D cities and various responsive scenarios connected to highly engaging storylines and aim to learn, succeed, and get to the next level or another task. On the other hand, the real-world with urban planning, 2D plans, 3D (BIM) and geospatial urban data. The merger of these two worlds with the help of gamification will lead to a prototype for a product enabling different user groups to find a new way to communicate, learn together, and facilitate co-creation processes in the building and urban planning industry. By applying gamification methodologies to digital twins' use for simulations, a new way of planning urban interventions will be possible. This will boost sustainability transformation and maybe even re- invent the city building, urban development processes and the building industry. The work is done in collaboration with the software company Behaviour.

Funding

2019/6 - 2026/5
Research Chair: Canada Excellence Research Chair Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Cities and Communities
10,000,000 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Applicant

2020/2 - 2023/1
Grant, Infrastructure: Next-Generation Cities Laboratory
425,000 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Applicant

2020/6 - 2025/5
Grant: Multiscale urban modeling and monitoring strategies for urban 
CO2 reduction
275,000 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Applicant

2020/6 - 2023/5
Grant: Help cities offset the effects of heat islands
100,000 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Applicant

2021/5 - 2022/1
Grant: Assessing Canadian Real-estate Stock for Sustainable Futures
15,000 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Investigator

2020/12 - 2021/3
Contract: Canadian Energy End-use Mapping Project Support
18,400 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Applicant

2020/6 - 2020/9
Contract: Canadian Energy End-use Mapping Project Support
20,000 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Applicant

2020/6 - 2023/5
Grant: La ville extraordinaire
200,000 (Canadian dollar)
Co-applicant

2018/1 - 2022/12
Grant: Innovation laboratory for the Stuttgart metropolitan region (M4_LAB)
12,000,000 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Investigator

2018/9 - 2021/8
Grant: New possibilities for data collection, analysis and impact assessment for the water energy Nexus (NeMDa)
235,500 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Applicant

2017/9 - 2021/8
Grant: Leading project intelligent city: Energy, information, urban development, building, mobility, participation (i_city-Impuls)
6,785,000 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Investigator

2018/6 - 2021/5
Grant: Integrated analysis and modeling for the management of sustainable urban FWE ReSOURCEs (IN-SOURCE)
558,500 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Investigator

2017/1 - 2020/12
Grant: Intelligent city Management project to long-term establish HFT's intelligent city research in the Stuttgart Metropolitan Region (i_city-Management)
564,500 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Investigator

2016/9 - 2020/8
Grant: Simulation Supported Real Time Energy Management in Building Blocks (Sim4Blocks)
8,345,000 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Investigator

2017/9 - 2020/8
Grant: Multi-scale Urban Scenario Interface (i_city-MUSI)
380,000 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Investigator

2017/9 - 2020/8
Grant: Facade integrated Photovoltaic with CIGS technology (CIGS-Facade)
173,500 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Investigator

2017/3 - 2020/7
Grant: Graduate School Windy Cities
169,500 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Investigator

2017/7 - 2020/6
Grant: 3D Simulation of urban Energy Systems (SimStadt 2.0)
1,295,000 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Investigator

2018/6 - 2020/5
Grant: The Adaptability of PhotoVoltaic-Thermal Collectors to Increase the Share of REnewable Energy Production for Heating-, Cooling-, and Electric-Energy in Systems of Buildings (PVT-Resyst)
270,000 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Investigator

2017/4 - 2020/3
Grant: Sustainable Data Centers (EcoRZ)
203,500 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Investigator

2017/1 - 2019/12
Grant: Municipal grid-bound energy supply - Vision 2020 using the example of the municipality of Wüstenrot phase III, Monitoring, operational optimization, analyses and implementation of the electricity grid and expansion of heating networks (EnVisaGE Plus)
1,074,500 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Investigator

2017/1 - 2019/12
Grant: Research scientist support program for Center of Sustainable Energy Technology
417,000 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Applicant

2016/8 - 2019/7
Grant: Graduate School Energy Systems and Resource Efficiency (ENRES)
178,500 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Investigator

2016/9 - 2019/6
Grant: Urban Energy Systems for Zero-carbon Cities; International collaboration and partnership Stuttgart - New York
157,500 (Canadian dollar)
Principal Investigator

2019/3 - 2022/2
Grant: Contracting for social institutions (CoSo)
1,418,000 (Canadian dollar)
Co-investigator

2018/10 - 2021/9
Grant: Energy system analysis - Local energy markets as a link between the regional and central energy system transformation (EnSysLe)
503,000 (Canadian dollar)
Co-investigator


Teaching activities

Courses

ENCS 691 GA

Summer 2020 marked the first edition of the engineering and computer science course ENCS 691 in “Urban energy systems”. Within this summer course, students had a unique chance to get in touch with practitioners, improve team and collaboration skills, and work proactively on an innovative real-world project: the Eco-Quartier Lachine-Est. Using concepts such as solutions for building efficiency and renewable integration, active transportation, and intelligent waste management for the ex-industrial heritage area of Dominion Bridge offer different solutions for transforming this place into a liveable, desirable, sustainable and energy-efficient neighbourhood.

In Summer 2021 the urban energy system course ENCS 691 focused on the localisation of relevant UN sustainable development goals in various local case studies (Montreal, Baie St Paul and Centerville in Nova Scotia). Data and system modeling was done to analyse how to achieve SDG targets related to renewable energy system integration, building efficiency, food and water access and more.


Publications

Books

  • Eicker, U. (Ed.). (2019). Urban Energy Systems for Low-Carbon Cities. Academia Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2016-0-00821-5

Book Contributions

  • Teráb de Lober, L. N., Eicker, U., & Cuviella, C. I. (2019). Energy Consumption Reduction in Large Buildings. In A. Colmenar-Santos, E. Rosales-Asensio, & D. Borge-Diez (Ed.), Alternative Energy Systems in Buildings (pp. 43–76). Nova Science Publishers.
  • Teran, L., Eicker, U., Cotrado, M., & de Palacio-Rodríguez, C. (2019). Chapter 1: Solar Thermal and PV Cooling Systems. In A. Colmenar-Santos, D. Borge-Diez, & E. Rosales-Asensio (Ed.), Novel Systems and Applications in Clean Energy: Energy Science, Engineering and Technology (pp. 1 – 42). Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Peer Reviewed Papers

  • Barco-Burgos, J., Carles-Bruno, J., Eicker, U., Saldana-Robles, A.L., & Alcántar-Camarena, V. (2021). Hydrogen-rich syngas production from palm kernel shells (PKS) biomass on a downdraft allothermal gasifier using steam as a gasifying agent. Energy Conversion and Management, 245(114592). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2021.114592
  • Barco-Burgos, J., Bruno, J.C., Eicker, U., Saldaña-Robles, A.L., & Alcántar-Camarena, V. (2021). Review on the integration of high-temperature heat pumps in district heating and cooling networks. Energy, (122378). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.12237
  • El-Bayeh, C.Z., Zellagui, M., Brahmi, B., Alqaisi, W., & Eicker, U. (2021). Impact of Charging Electric Vehicles Under Different State of Charge levels and Extreme Conditions. Energies, 14(20), 6589. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14206589
  • Shirzadi, N., Nasiri, F., El-Bayeh, C., & Eicker, U. (2021) Optimal dispatching of renewable energy-based urban microgrids using a deep learning approach for electrical load and wind power forecasting. International Journal of Energy Research, 1- 16. DOI: 10.1002/er.7374
  • Mor, G., Cipriano, J., Grillone, B., Amblard, F., Menon, R.P., Page, J., Brennenstuhl, M., Pietruschka, D., Baumer, R., & Eicker, U. (2021). Operation and energy flexibility evaluation of direct load controlled buildings equipped with heat pumps. Energy and Buildings, 253(111484). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111484.
  • Seyedabadi, M. R., Eicker, U., & Karimi, S. (2021). Plant selection for green roofs and their impact on carbon sequestration and the building carbon footprint. Environmental Challenges, 4(100119). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envc.2021.100119
  • Mohammadi, S., Monsalvete Álvarez De Uribarri, P., & Eicker, U. (2021). Decentral Energy Generation Potential of Anaerobic Digestion of Black Water and Kitchen Refuse for Eco-District Planning. Energies, 14(10), 2948. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14102948
  • Samadzadegan, B., Samareh Abolhassani, S., Dabirian, S., Ranjbar, S., Rasoulian, H., Sanei, A., & Eicker, U. (2021). Novel Energy System Design Workflow for Zero-Carbon Energy District Development. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 3, 23. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2021.662822
  • Hussain, S., El-Bayeh, C.Z., Lai, C., & Eicker, U. (2021) Multi-Level Energy Management Systems Toward a Smarter Grid: A Review. IEEE Access, 9, 71994-72016. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3078082
  • Hedman, Å., Rehman, H.U., Gabaldón, A., Bisello, A., Albert-Seifried, V., Zhang, X., Guarino, F., Grynning, S., Eicker, U., Neumann, H-M., Tuominen, P., & Reda, F. (2021) IEA EBC Annex83 Positive Energy Districts. Buildings, 11(3),130. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings11030130
  • Bambara, J., Athienitis, A. K., & Eicker, U. (2021). Residential Densification for Positive Energy Districts. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 3, 3. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2021.630973
  • El-Bayeh, C. Z., Alzaareer, K., Brahmi, B., Zellagui, M., & Eicker, U. (2021). An original multi-criteria decision-making algorithm for solar panels selection in buildings. Energy, 217(119396). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2020.119396
  • Braun, R., Padsala, R., Malmir, T., Mohammadi, S., & Eicker, U. (2021). Using 3D CityGML for the Modeling of the Food Waste and Wastewater Generation—A Case Study for the City of Montréal. Frontiers in Big Data, 4, 44. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdata.2021.662011
  • El-Bayeh, C.Z., Hussain, S., Eicker, U., Alquasi, W., & Zellagui, M. (2021). Is It Necessary to Fully Charge Your Electric Vehicle? IEEE Access, 9, 81612-81623. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3085244
  • El-Bayeh, C. Z., Zellagui, M., Shirzadi, N., & Eicker, U. (2021) A Novel Optimization Algorithm for Solar Panels Selection towards a Self-Powered EV Parking Lot and Its Impact on the Distribution System. Energies, 14(15), 4515. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14154515
  • Esfahani, Z., Salahshoor, K., Farsi, B., & Eicker, U. (2021). A New Hybrid Model for RUL Prediction through Machine Learning. Journal of Failure Analysis and Prevention. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11668-021-01205-8
  • Malmir, T., Ranjbar, S., & Eicker, U. (2020). Improving Municipal Solid Waste Management Strategies of Montréal (Canada) Using Life Cycle Assessment and Optimization of Technology Options. Energies, 13(21), 5701. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13215701
  • Malmir, T., & Eicker, U. (2020). Theoretical Energy Recovery Potential from Food Waste and Yard Waste in New York and Montréal. International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering, 4(15), 157-161.
  • El-Bayeh, C. Z., Eicker, U., Alzaareer, K., Brahmi, B., & Zellagui, M. (2020). A Novel Data-Energy Management Algorithm for Smart Transformers to Optimize the Total Load Demand in Smart Homes. Energies, 13(18), 4984. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13184984
  • Calise, F., Eicker, U., Schumacher, J., & Vicidomini, M. (2020). Wastewater Treatment Plant: Modelling and Validation of an Activated Sludge Process. Energies, 13(15), 3925. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13153925
  • Shirzadi, N., Nasiri, F., & Eicker, U. (2020). Optimal Configuration and Sizing of an Integrated Renewable Energy System for Isolated and Grid-Connected Microgrids: The Case of an Urban University Campus. Energies, 13(14), 3527. https://doi.org/10.3390/en13143527
  • Dochev, I., Gorzalka, P., Weiler, V., Estevam Schmiedt, J., Linkiewicz, M., Eicker, U., Hoffschmidt, B., Peters, I., & Schröter, B. (2020). Calculating urban heat demands: An analysis of two modelling approaches and remote sensing for input data and validation. Energy and Buildings, 226(110378). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110378
  • Eicker, U., Weiler, V., Schumacher, J., & Braun, R. (2020). On the design of an urban data and modeling platform and its application to urban district analyses. Energy and Buildings, 217(109954). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.109954
  • Barco-Burgos, J., Eicker, U., Saldaña-Robles, N., Saldaña-Robles, A., & Alcántar-Camarena, V. (2020). Thermal characterization of an alkaline electrolysis cell for hydrogen production at atmospheric pressure. Fuel, 276(117910). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.117910
  • Heendeniya, C. B., Sumper, A., & Eicker, U. (2020). The multi-energy system co-planning of nearly zero-energy districts – Status-quo and future research potential. Applied Energy, 267(114953). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.114953
  • Braun, R., Haag, M., Stave, J., Abdelnour, N., & Eicker, U. (2020). System design and feasibility of trigeneration systems with hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) collectors for zero energy office buildings in different climates. Solar Energy, 196, 39–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2019.12.005
  • Zirak, M., Weiler, V., Hein, M., & Eicker, U. (2020). Urban models enrichment for energy applications: Challenges in energy simulation using different data sources for building age information. Energy, 190(116292). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.116292
  • De Rosa, M., Brennenstuhl, M., Andrade Cabrera, C., Eicker, U., & Finn, D. P. (2019). An Iterative Methodology for Model Complexity Reduction in Residential Building Simulation. Energies, 12(12), 2448. https://doi.org/10.3390/en12122448
  • Weiler, V., Stave, J., & Eicker, U. (2019). Renewable Energy Generation Scenarios Using 3D Urban Modeling Tools—Methodology for Heat Pump and Co-Generation Systems with Case Study Application †. Energies, 12(3), 403. https://doi.org/10.3390/en12030403
  • Romero Rodríguez, L., Brennenstuhl, M., Yadack, M., Boch, P., & Eicker, U. (2019). Heuristic optimization of clusters of heat pumps: A simulation and case study of residential frequency reserve. Applied Energy, 233–234, 943–958. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.09.103
  • Gürlich, D., Reber, A., Eicker, U., & Biesinger, A. (2019). Quantifizierung der Tageslichtnutzung in einem transluzenten Membrandachbau - Einsparpotenzial an Kunstlicht anhand eines Fallbeispiels. Bauphysik 41(1), 67-72. DOI: 10.1002/bapi.201800021

Newspaper Publications and Interviews

  • Eicker, U. (2021, November 15). Opinion: As time runs out, progress on climate change is incremental. Montreal Gazette. https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/opinion-as-time-runs-out-progress-on-climate-change-is-incremental
  • Eicker, U. (2021, August 25). Building sustainable infrastructure for next generation cities. The Hill Times. https://www.hilltimes.com/2021/08/25/building-sustainable-infrastructure-for-next-generation-cities/313237
  • Eicker, U. (2021, August 25) Building sustainable infrastructure for next-generation cities. The Hill Times. https://www.hilltimes.com/2021/08/25/building-sustainable-infrastructure-for-next-generation-cities/313237
  • Eicker, U. (2020, December 9). Rethinking resources towards zero-carbon next-generation cities. The Hill Times. https://www.hilltimes.com/2020/12/09/rethinking-resources-towards-zero-carbon-next-generation-cities/274838.
  • Eicker, U. (2020, October 21). Create eco-district pilots now to show how to live, work, and play in next-generation cities. The Hill Times. https://www.hilltimes.com/2020/10/21/create-eco-district-pilots-now-to-show-how-to-live-work-and-play-in-next-generation-cities/268256
  • Eicker, U., Cucuzzella, C., & Athienitis, A. K. (2020, October 6). Opinion: Namur-Hippodrome project can help change how we live. Montreal Gazette. https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/opinion-namur-hippodrome-project-can-help-change-how-we-live
  • Eicker, U. (2020, May 21). Penser les quartiers de l’avenir. La Presse. https://www.lapresse.ca/debats/opinions/2020-05-21/penser-les-quartiers-de-l-avenir


Participation activities

Conference Participation

  • Belda, A., Giancola, E., Dabirian, S., Iradj, M., Volpe, R., Samareh, S., Fichera, A., & Eicker, U. (2021, September 15-17). Reviewing challenges and limitations of energy modelling software in the assessment of PEDs using case studies. SEB 2021: International Conference on Sustainability in Energy and Buildings, Split, Croatia.
  • Amayri, M., Pawar, Y., Bouguila, N., Ploix, S., & Eicker, U. (2021, April 10-13). Occupancy Estimation in Smart Buildings: Impact of Data Quality on Feature Selection. 19th International Conference on Information Technology - New Generations (ITNG 2022), Las Vegas, USA.
  • Panchabikesan, K., Ouf, M., Eicker, U., Newsham, G., & Knudsen H. (2021, September 1-3). Investigating thermostat setpoint preferences in Canadian households. 2021 IBPSA USA, Bruges, Belgium.
  • Panchabikesan, K., Ouf, M., Eicker, U., Doma, A., & Newsham, G. (2021, February 9-11). Knowledge Discovery of Thermostat Setpoint Profiles in Canadian Households for Building Energy Codes and Standards. 2021 ASHRAE Winter Conference, Chicago, USA.
  • Roser, A., Schakib-Ekbatan, K., Weiler, V., Eicker, U., & Lohse, R. (2020, February 1-5). Net zero energy strategies and planning support tools for campuses and residential neighborhoods in Germany. 2020 ASHRAE Winter Conference, Orlando, USA.
  • Chaverri, J., Del Pino, M.A., Schmitt, K.A., & Eicker, U. (2020, September 21-22). A framework for gender equality for localizing the SDGs: A first approach from policy to implementation. 8th Annual International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD), Virtual.
  • Eicker, U., Schumacher, J., Dabirian, S., Shirzadi, N., & Samareh, S. (2020, October 16). Planning and simulation of net-zero, carbon neutral and resilient communities. CAE Roadmap to Resilient Ultra-Low Energy Built Environment with Deep Integration of Renewables in 2050, Montreal, Canada.
  • El-Bayeh, C.Z., Alzaareer, K., Brahmi, B., Mougharbel, I., Saad, M., Chandra, A., & Eicker, U. (2020, March 24-26). A Novel Programmable Smart Transformer for Energy Management in Buildings. The 5th International Conference on Renewable Energies for Developing Countries, Marrakech, Morocco.
  • Malmir, T., & Eicker, U. (2020, June 11-12). Theoretical Energy Recovery Potential from Food Waste and Yard Waste in New York and Montréal. ICFWRTT, Tokyo, Japan.
  • Calise, F., Eicker, U., Schumacher, J., & Vicidomini, M. (2020, June 22-25). Wastewater treatment plant: model of an activated sludge process for the energy demand analysis. Seed Conference, San Francisco, USA.
  • El-Bayeh, C.Z., & Eicker, U. (2020, March 24-26). A Comparison between Photovoltaic and Dish Stirling Systems Towards Energy Self-Sufficient Buildings. 5th International Conference on Renewable Energies for Developing Countries (REDEC), Marrakech, Morocco.
  • El-Bayeh, C.Z., Zaareer, K., M.H., Brahmi, B., Panchabikesan, K., Venturini, W., & Eicker, U. (2020, March 24-26). A Comparison between PV and Dish Stirling Systems Towards Self-Sufficient Energy Building in Lebanon. 2020 5th International Conference on Renewable Energies for Developing Countries (REDEC), Marrakech, Morocco.
  • Eicker, U., Schumacher, J., Brennenstuhl, M., & Weiler, V. (2019, November 4-7). Renewable energy supply concepts for next generation cities using the integrated urban modeling platform INSEL 4D. Solar World Congress, Santiago, Chile
  • Mittelstädt, A., Köhler, S., Kesnar, C., Sihombing, R., Duminil, E., Coors, V., Eicker, U., & Schröter, B. (2019, June 24-26). A multi-scale, web-based interface for strategic planning of low-carbon city quarters. International Conference on Urban Informatics, Hung Hom, Hong Kong.
  • Brennenstuhl, M., Lust, D., Yadack, M., & Eicker, U. (2019, October 17-18). Evolutionary Algorithm Based Demand Response Optimization of a Prosumer Household with Heat Pump and PV in Germany. 4th Annual APEEN Conference Energy Demand Side Management and Electricity Markets, Covilhã, Portugal.
  • Lust, D., & Eicker, U. (2019, March 12-14). Decentralized city district hydrogen storage system based on the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to formate. 13th International Renewable Energy Storage Conference, Düsseldorf, Germany.
  • Köhler, S., Betz, M., & Eicker, U. (2019, August 25-28). Stochastic generation of household electricity load profiles in 15 minute resolution on building level for whole city quarters. 16th IAEE European Conference, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
  • D’Ettorre, F., Brennenstuhl, M., Kathirgamanathan, A., De Rosa, M., Yadack, M., Eicker, U., & Finn, D. (2019, May 26-29). A set of comprehensive indicators to assess energy flexibility: a case study for residential buildings. CLIMA2019 Conference, Bucharest, Romania. 
  • Ge, X., Kremers, E., Yadack, M., & Eicker, U. (2019, September 18-20). Simulation-supported quantification of flexibility: assessing the potential for blocks of buildings to participate in demand response markets. 16th International Conference on the European Energy Market, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
  • Eicker, U. (2019, January 28-29). Optimierte Energieanalysen mittels 3D Simulation für urbane Energiesysteme. Kongresses Energiewende bauen, Berlin, Germany.
  • Weiler, V., & Eicker, U. (2019, September 2-4). Individual Domestic Hot Water Profiles for Building Simulation at Urban Scale. International Building Performance Simulation Conference, Rome, Italy.
  • Eicker, U., Schumacher, J., & Coors, V. (2019, September 2-4). On the design of an urban data and modelling platform and its application to an urban district case study. International Building Performance Simulation Conference, Rome, Italy.


Scholarly and Professional Activities

Editorial Activities

2020/1 – 2025/12
Associate Editor, Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, Journal 

2010/2 - 2021/1
Associate Editor, Solar Energy, Journal

2018/11 - 2019/11
Guest Editor, Energy and Buildings, Journal

Organizational Review Activities

2019/2 - 2019/11
Conference Chair, International Solar Energy Society
Scientific chair of Solar Air Conditioning Conference Chile 2019 and program concept developer
Knowledge and Technology Translation

2016/2 - 2021/6
Principal investigator, United States
International collaboration with City University, New York University andNew York
Institute of Technology on Food Water Nexus research. Joint project with Belmont Forum for Sustainability

Committee Memberships

2019/06 - 2023/04
Committee Member, Board of Directors of the Institute for Solar Energy Research Hamelin, Research Center
Advise on research strategy in prestigious solar energy research center in the state of Lower Saxony

2019/05 - 2023/04
Committee Member, Member of the Board of Directors for the 
International Solar Energy Research Institute, Lower Saxony, Research Center
Board member of research center strategic directions

2016/06 - 2020/07
Committee Member, Board of Directors of the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden Württemberg, Research Center Strategic decisions and determination of leadership of state research center in Stuttgart

Service to Concordia University Bodies

2020/11 - Present
Founding Co-Director of Next Generation Cities Institute Memberships

2021/09 - Present
Representative for the Global Secretariat Hubs Boards and Funders in Future Earth Governing Council

2021/02 - Present
Member of Expert Committee for Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

2021/04 - Present
Participant in the Montreal Climate Partnership

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