Yanfei Li | Green Hydrogen | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Green Energy Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yanfei Li | Green Hydrogen | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor | Shenzhen Technology University | China

Dr. Yanfei Li is a prominent scholar in energy economics, industrial policy, and technological innovation, with research spanning the full spectrum of Asia’s low-carbon transition. His work covers hydrogen energy systems, new energy vehicle deployment, green fuel trade, regional gas markets, and cross-border electricity market design, while also addressing broader themes such as technological catch-up, industrial upgrading, and innovation policy in emerging economies. Dr. Li has played significant roles in various interdisciplinary and policy-driven research initiatives, collaborating with leading institutions, regional forums, and intergovernmental organizations across East and Southeast Asia. His contributions include formulating ASEAN’s hydrogen energy development roadmap, assessing large-scale green hydrogen demonstration projects, evaluating China’s green hydrogen trade potential, and analyzing the economic value and carbon mitigation impacts of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. He has also undertaken extensive studies on integrated regional electricity systems, market mechanisms for multilateral power trade, energy infrastructure planning, and strategic pathways for achieving sustainable industrial competitiveness. Dr. Li’s scholarship is characterized by rigorous quantitative modelling, techno-economic assessment, and policy-oriented analysis, consistently bridging academic research with real-world energy planning and strategic decision-making. His academic output includes 29 peer-reviewed journal articles, books, and institutional reports, many published in high-impact outlets such as Energy Policy, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Energy Economics, Energy for Sustainable Development, Renewable Energy, and Journal of Cleaner Production. Several of his publications have been recognized as ESI Highly Cited Papers and ESI Hot Papers, reflecting their influence on both scholarly debates and policymaking communities. His research continues to shape regional discourse on hydrogen commercialization, sustainable transport transitions, green industrial development, and long-term energy security strategies across Asia. Dr. Li’s academic influence and research productivity are reflected in his metrics 1,235 citations, 29 documents, and an h-index of 13, underscoring his substantial contributions to global energy and technology policy research.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID 

Featured Publications

1. Li, Y., & Taghizadeh-Hesary, F. (2022). The economic feasibility of green hydrogen and fuel cell electric vehicles for road transport in China. Energy Policy, 160, 112703.

2. Shi, X., Liao, X., & Li, Y. (2020). Quantification of fresh water consumption and scarcity footprints of hydrogen from water electrolysis: A methodology framework. Renewable Energy, 154, 786–796.

3. Li, Y., & Kimura, S. (2021). Economic competitiveness and environmental implications of hydrogen energy and fuel cell electric vehicles in ASEAN countries: The current and future scenarios. Energy Policy, 148, 111980.

4. Khanna, R. A., Li, Y., Mhaisalkar, S., Kumar, M., & Liang, L. J. (2019). Comprehensive energy poverty index: Measuring energy poverty and identifying micro-level solutions in South and Southeast Asia. Energy Policy, 132, 379–391.

5. Li, Y., Shi, X., & Phoumin, H. (2022). A strategic roadmap for large-scale green hydrogen demonstration and commercialisation in China: A review and survey analysis. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 47(58), 24592–24609.

Muhammad Ali Shahbaz | Bioenergy | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Green Energy Award

Dr. Muhammad Ali Shahbaz | Bioenergy | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor | University of Engineering and Technology | Pakistan

Dr.-Ing. Muhammad Ali Shahbaz is an accomplished academic and researcher in Mechanical Engineering, currently serving as an Assistant Professor at the Automotive Engineering Centre, University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore, Pakistan. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany, where his research focused on developing advanced endoscopic optical diagnostics for combustion engines, including temperature imaging, fuel film analysis, and soot incandescence studies. His M.Sc. research involved visualization of flame fronts using OH*-chemiluminescence and LIF techniques, and he holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from UET Lahore with a thesis on biodiesel synthesis and engine performance. Professionally, he has over 14 years of teaching and research experience, having supervised multiple master’s and bachelor’s theses, reviewed and developed graduate curricula, and advised government agencies on EV policy and emissions testing standards. His research interests span optical diagnostics for internal combustion engines, alternative fuels, pyrolysis for bio-oil and biochar, waste-to-energy technologies, renewable energy systems, and integrated solid waste management. He possesses strong experimental and analytical skills in LIF, chemiluminescence, soot imaging, MATLAB, instrumentation, and pyrolysis systems. Dr. Shahbaz has contributed to major projects including EU Horizon 2020 research, biodiesel optimization funded by HEC Pakistan, and vibration analysis for electric vehicle development. His work is widely published in reputed journals such as Applied Optics, Experiments in Fluids, and Energy Science & Engineering and presented at global conferences including the Gordon Research Conference and European Combustion Meeting. He is the recipient of multiple awards including the Best Teacher Award and DAAD Scholarship. His growing academic impact is reflected in 2,940 citations, 139 documents, and an h-index of 31, demonstrating his significant and sustained influence in the field of combustion diagnostics and sustainable energy research.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID | ResearchGate | LinkedIn

Featured Publications

1. Munir, M. A., Habib, M. S., Hussain, A., Shahbaz, M. A., Qamar, A., Masood, T., Sultan, M., Mujtaba, M. A., Imran, S., Hasan, M., Akhtar, M. S., Ayub, H. M. U., & Salman, C. A. (2022). Blockchain adoption for sustainable supply chain management: Economic, environmental, and social perspectives. Frontiers in Energy Research, 10, 899632. (Cited by 150)

2. Razzaq, L., Mujtaba, M. A., Shahbaz, M. A., Nawaz, S., Khan, H. M., Hussain, A., & others. (2022). Effect of biodiesel–dimethyl carbonate blends on engine performance, combustion and emission characteristics. Alexandria Engineering Journal, 61(7), 5111–5121.  (Cited by 33)

3. Nawaz, A., Ahmed, Z., Shahbaz, A., Khan, Z., & Javed, M. (2014). Coagulation–flocculation for lignin removal from wastewater – A review. Water Science and Technology, 69(8), 1589–1597. (Cited by 27)

4. Shahbaz, M. A., Jüngst, N., Grzeszik, R., & Kaiser, S. A. (2021). Endoscopic fuel film, chemiluminescence, and soot incandescence imaging in a direct-injection spark-ignition engine. Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, 38(4), 5869–5877. (Cited by 12)

5. Nawaz, A., Shahbaz, M. A., & Javed, M. (2015). Management of organic content in municipal solid waste – A case study of Lahore. International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 15(1), 15–23. (Cited by 8)