Meet the Team

Nuno Souza e Silva is the Managing Director of R&D Nester since 2013.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Nuno was Country Manager in Portugal for DNV KEMA Energy Consulting, an energy consulting multinational company. Nuno has also assumed engineering and senior management roles in several telecommunications and energy related companies and in the Ministry of Economy.

Nuno has a Degree in Electrical Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico in Portugal, an MSc. in Electrical Engineering from the same University, an MBA from Universidade Nova de Lisboa and an MSc. in Business Management from Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

Xia Chao is Deputy General Manager at R&D Nester since January 2023.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Xia Chao worked at State Grid Electrical Power Research Institute (SGEPRI) in Generator Control and Power Grid Engineering Test Research Section, Power System Department with Focus on Power system stability and control research/studies.

Xia Chao holds a Master Degree of Electronic Engineering from China Electric Power Research Institute (CEPRI) and also a Bachelor of Electronic Engineering from North China Electric Power University.

Aleksandr Egorov is Project Researcher at R&D Nester since November 2018.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Aleksandr worked at Federal Grid Company of Unified Energy System, in Moscow, as Senior Specialist (Department of UES Development).

Aleksandr holds a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Electrical and Power Engineering, from Moscow Power Engineering Institute (Technical University).

Ângelo Casaleiro is a Project Researcher at R&D Nester since November 2020.

Ângelo holds a Master Degree in Energy and Environmental Engineering from the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon and is currently pursuing PhD degree in Sustainable Energy Systems of the MIT-Portugal Program.

Cao Yang is Project Researcher at R&D Nester since May 2019.

Cao holds a B.Sc in Renewable Energies, and a M.Sc. in Electrotechnics and Computers, from Instituto Superior Técnico.

Cristina Joaquim is Assistant to General Manager & Team Support at R&D Nester since December 2015.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Cristina worked in retail, advisory, audit, banking and telecommunications industries for the last 19 years (Henkel Ibérica, KPMG, Brandia Central, Banco Privado Atlântico Europa and Timwe) assuming office management and executive assistant roles.

Frederico is a Project Researcher at R&D Nester since December 2024.

Frederico holds a M.Sc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico, Lisbon University, with major in Power Systems.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Frederico worked at E-REDES as a Senior Data Analyst since 2018.

Gonçalo Glória is Project Researcher at R&D Nester since April of 2018.

Holds a Master Degree in Electrical and Computers Engineering from Instituto Superior Tecnico of Lisbon University, with a specialization in Energy, Power Systems.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, he worked in EDP Comercial as Junior Project Manager at Energy Services in B2B.

His main areas of interest are related with power systems analysis and simulation, planning and operation of power grids and renewables integration.

Inoussa is a Project Researcher at R&D Nester since November 2022.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Inoussa worked at the Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA), University of Lisbon and at Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Algarve, as researcher.

Inoussa holds a BSc in physics with major in electronics from Faculty of Sciences, Chouaib Doukkali University, El Jadida, Morocco & MSc in Smart and Communicating Systems from the National School of Applied Sciences-Fez, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah University, Fez, Morocco.

Inoussa holds his PhD in Electrical Engineering with focus on computational intelligence techniques, by the Faculty of Science and Technology, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah University, Fez, Morocco.

João is a Project Researcher of R&D Nester since October 2025.

João holds an Integrated Master's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, with a specialization in the Energy field, from Instituto Superior Técnico. He also completed a postgraduate program in Data Science and Machine Learning, also at Instituto Superior Técnico.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, , João worked at Floene Energias as a Process Optimization Specialist, and at E-REDES as a Data Analyst.

João has been a Researcher at R&D Nester since October 2025.

He holds a BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering and is currently in the process of defending his Master's thesis in Mechanical Engineering with a specialization in Energy.

Before joining R&D Nester, João worked at Técnico Fuel Cell (2021-2025), where he developed the suspension system for the first Portuguese city car powered exclusively by hydrogen. He also completed an internship at Cascais Próxima, where he conducted a study to optimize the levelized cost of hydrogen for the refuelling station that will be inaugurated soon.

Kamalanathan is Project Researcher at R&D Nester since February 2024.

Holds a PhD Degree from the MIT-Portugal Doctoral Program in Sustainable Energy Systems from Faculty of Engineering (FEUP), University of Porto, Portugal and Master's Degree in Sustainable Energy Technologies from the University of Southampton, UK.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, he worked at INESCTEC Porto as a Graduate Research assistant and promoted to Post-Doc after the award of PhD. Prior to his PhD, he worked at InfiniteERCAM Solar Systems as a Project Engineer & Business Analyst.

His main areas of interests are energy communities, electricity markets, power systems analysis and renewable energy integration, and his specialization focus on Causal Analysis, AI and Data-Driven models, Commodity adoptions and behaviors, Advanced Analytics for behavioral analysis.

Mário Couto is a Research Engineer & Innovation Management Specialist at R&D Nester since April 2026.

He holds a PhD in Sustainable Energy Systems and an Integrated Master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), with experience in electric power systems, integration of distributed energy resources (DER) into electrical networks, flexibility, TSO-DSO coordination, and European R&D and consultancy projects with utilities related to the modernisation and advanced operation of electrical networks.

He combines experience in distribution network operation with R&D experience in power systems. Previously, he worked at EPRI Europe, E-Redes and INESC TEC.

Mateo Toro-Cárdenas is a Project Researcher at R&D Nester since March 2022.

Mateo holds a MSc Degree in Energy Engineering and Management, by Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon (IST-UL).

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Mateo worked at researcher at Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Investigação e Desenvolvimento (INESC-ID). Mateo is interested in the designing, planning and operation processes of the electric sector, especially in transmission and distribution, as well as in the technological progress required for an optimal inclusion of renewable energy generation towards a sustainable future. He has knowledge in power systems analysis, stability and automation, and protection systems, and also has experience in modelling and handling large data sets.

Nuno Pinho da Silva is Researcher at R&D Nester since September 2014.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Nuno was responsible for Operations Research RD&I activities at Albatroz Engineering. He served as principal investigator at the Instituto Superior Técnico of the University of Lisbon and as professor at the High Institute of Engineering of Lisbon of the Polytechnic Institute of Lisbon (ISEL) and at the School of Business and Administration of the Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal (ESCE - IPS).

Nuno Pinho da Silva holds a 5 year Degree, M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Instituto Superior Técnico of the University of Lisbon, with major in Systems, Decision and Control. He holds the Executive Master in Applied Business Analytics from the INDEG-IUL Executive Education and the certificate in the Regulation of Power Sector from the Florence School of Regulation of the European University Institute, both with honors.

Nuno is senior member of the Ordem dos Engenheiros (the Portuguese professional association of Engineers).

Raquel is a Project Researcher at R&D Nester since February 2024.

Raquel holds a Degree in Engineering Physics from Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), a PhD in Sustainable Energy Systems from the MIT-Portugal Program, and a post-graduation in Data Science Engineering from Técnico+.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Raquel worked at IDMEC-IST as a researcher focused on energy planning, renewable energy integration, energy-water nexus, and biomass valorization. She was also a guest assistant in the Department of Mechanical Engineering of IST.

Ricardo Pastor is a Project Researcher at R&D Nester since April 2014.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Ricardo worked at Portuguese Air Force since 2007.

Ricardo holds a Degree and MSc. in Electrical Engineering with Major in Energy from Lisbon Polytechnic Institute (Lisbon Institute of Engineering - ISEL) with a dissertation in the field of network planning and renewables operation and a specialization in the field of Energy.

Among his areas of interest, it includes the simulation and analysis of power networks and the development and application of optimization methods.

Rui Pestana is collaborating in several R&D NESTER projects as a project manager, in the integration of renewable energies in the electrical system, in forecasting wind and solar power, in the use of Dynamic Line Ratings for overhead lines, etc.

Rui is advisor to the System Operator division of REN - Rede Eléctrica Nacional, S.A. since April 1989, and he is also a invited professor at ISEL - Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa since October 1990.

Rui holds a Master's degree in electrical and computer engineering from IST - Instituto Superior Técnico of the University of Lisbon (1990), as well as a bachelor degree in electrical and computer engineering from IST (1986). He received the title of specialist in Energy by the IPL-Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa (2012).

Sonam Parashar is a Project Researcher at R&D Nester since October 2024.

Sonam holds a Ph.D. from the Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, and a Master's degree in Power System Engineering from Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, she worked as a Postdoc at IDEAS NCBR Sp. z o.o. in Warsaw, Poland, and as an Assistant Professor (Adhoc) at Nirma University, Ahmedabad, India. Before pursuing her Ph.D., she held various positions, including as a Temporary Faculty at the National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, Mangalore, India; a Lecturer at Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal, India; and an Assistant Professor at ITM Universe, Gwalior, India.

Her main areas of interest include the planning, operation, control and analysis of modern power systems integrated with renewable energy, energy storage, and electric vehicles; microgrids; energy communities; electricity markets, TSO-DSO coordination, Demand Response; relay coordination for power system protection; IoT applications in microgrids; and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in modern power systems, including forecasting, optimization, classification and decision-making.

Alexandre Gouveia was Project Researcher at R&D Nester since May 2022 until December 2023.

Alexandre holds a MSc. Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, from Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon (IST-UL), with a major in Energy.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Alexandre interned in EDP Innovation in the Smarter Grids team and then worked in E-REDES in the System Operation & Management Department with the Optimization and Forecast Team.

Fan Chen was Project Researcher at R&D Nester in 2014.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Fan Chen worked at SGEPRI/NARI - R&D Center until 2009 and at NARI Technology Development Co. Ltd. until February 2012. In March 2012 he started working at CEPRI, until December 2014 assuming also the role of Technology Supervisor at Power substation automation research section, Power Automation Department. Focused on the research about the application of IEC61850, smart substation and automation control of power system.

Chen Fan holds a MSc. in Electric Power System & Automation from Southwest Jiaotong University.

Francisco Reis was Senior Research Development and Innovation Engineer at R&D Nester between 2013 and 2021.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Francisco worked at REN since 1996 in the Planning Division carrying out several studies in areas such as Load-Flow studies, probabilistic simulation of power systems, development of models for a probabilistic and chronological simulation tool, etc . More recently has been Planning Methods Advisor for ENTSO-E carrying out studies concerning Pan-European network modeling and European Planning Standards.

Francisco holds a Degree, MSc and PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Technical University of Lisbon, Instituto Superior Técnico.

His main fields of interest include power system planning and optimization methods.

Francisco Silva was a Project Researcher at R&D Nester since February 2021 until September 2022.

Francisco holds a BSc and MSc Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering, both by Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon (IST-UL), where he majored in Computer Engineering, Decision and Control Systems. In academic context, he was involved in several R&D projects both in IST-UL and Aalborg University, in topics such as Statistics, Stochastic Processes and Artificial Intelligence.

His major research interests revolve around Data Science, Machine Learning and Optimization algorithms.

Hong Shen was Deputy General Manager of R&D Nester since May 2013 until December 2016.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Hong Shen was a teacher in NEIEP in the area of power systems automation control and researching of new technology, before joining CEPRI in 2003. At CEPRI, Hong Shen worked in the power grid planning division and in the Consulting Service Department.

Hong Shen holds a Bachelor and a MSc. in Electrical Engineering from China North East Institute of Electric Power (NEIEP), and a PhD. in Electrical Engineering from China Electric Power Research Institute (CEPRI).

Shubang Huang was Project Researcher at R&D Nester in 2016.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Shubang Huang worked at State Grid Electrical Power Research Institute (SGEPRI) Substation Technology Research section, Power Automation Department.

Shubang Huang holds a Master Degree of Electrical Engineering from Southeast University and also a Bachelor Degree of Electrical Engineering from Hohai University.

Isabel Alvite was R&D and Innovation Manager of R&D Nester between July 2013 and March 2026.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Isabel worked at REN since January 1990, in the area of power system planning, regarding electricity generation simulation models. In the last years, she has been focusing her work on Innovation and R&D management area.

Isabel holds a Degree in Applied Mathematics/Informatics from Portucalense University (UPT), and a Post-Graduation in Information Management from Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto (FEUP).

Jiang Dajun was Project Researcher at R&D Nester in 2016.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Jiang Dajun worked at State Grid Electrical Power Research Institute (SGEPRI) Grid Integration Planning and Simulation Technology of New Energy Research Department focused on new energy generation modeling, simulation analysis and operation control technology research.

Jiang Dajun holds a Master Degree of Engineering from State Grid Electric Power Research Institute (SGEPRI) and also a Bachelor of Engineering from Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Jiangwen Meng was Project Researcher at R&D Nester in 2018, developing work at the Project ‘Smart Substation Testing and Implementation' of R&D Nester.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Jiangwen Meng worked at China Electric Power Research Institute (CEPRI) on Research on protection testing and dynamic simulation technology of half-wavelength AC transmission line.

Jiangwen holds a B.Sc.(Outstanding Graduate), Majoring in electrical engineering and automation and a M.Sc. (Recommend Exemption), Majoring in electrical engineering, both by North China Electric Power University, China.

João Afonso collaborated in an R&D Nester project related to the Substation of the Future in order to define and demonstrate a new concept of substation that may be adopted by transmission grid utilities, thru a research that outcomes a real-time testing platform for future smart+ generation substations.

João is working at REN since 1996 assuming the role of Head of Planning and Engineering Division.

João holds a Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico, a MSc. in Electrical and Computer Engineering (Energy) from Instituto Superior Técnico and a Post-Graduation in Economics and Management from Universidade Nova de Lisboa.

João Esteves was Project Researcher at R&D Nester since January 2016 until September 2022.

João holds a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa and also a Master Degree in Electrical Engineering - Energy from Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL).

João Saragoça was Project Researcher of R&D Nester since May 2018 until March 2022.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, João worked at GE Grid Solutions, as Control, Command and Protection Systems Engineer

João holds a Master Degree Electrical and Computer Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico

Min Zhao was Project Researcher at R&D Nester in 2016.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Xia Chao worked at State Grid Electrical Power Research Institute (SGEPRI) as responsible for the development of electromechanical transient simulation program.

Min Zhao holds a Master Degree of Automation of Electrical Engineering from China Electric Power Research Institute (CEPRI) and also a Bachelor Degree of Electrical Engineering from China Agricultural University.

Nicolò was a Project Researcher at R&D Nester since November 2022 until September 2024.

Nicolò holds a BSc Degree in Energy Engineering from Università La Sapienza of Rome and a Double MSc Degree in Renewable Energy, from Instituto Superior Técnico of Lisbon and from École Polytechnique of Paris.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Nicolò interned at Principle Power, as a Project Manager Assistant.

His main interests include energy data analysis, power systems simulation and renewable energy integration.

Nuno Amaro was Project Researcher at R&D Nester since September 2015, until May 2022.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Nuno worked at the Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa where he was Researcher and Teaching Assistant in different courses at the Electrical Engineering Department until 2015.

Nuno holds a PhD and MSc in Electrical and Computer Engineering in the field of Energy from the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of Universidade Nova de Lisboa. His main areas of interest include simulation and analysis of power systems, renewable energy integration and sustainable power production and transportation.

Nuno Fulgêncio was a Project Researcher at R&D Nester since from December 2020 until July 2023.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Nuno worked at the Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science (INESC TEC) (Porto, Portugal), as part of the Center of Power and Energy Systems team, also as a researcher.

Nuno holds an Integrated Master's degree in Electrical and Computers Engineering (Energy major), by the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto.

Qu Linan was a Project Researcher at R&D Nester in 2014.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Qu Linan worked at CEPRI at Renewable Energy Grid Integration Planning & Simulation Technologies Division in the Renewable Energy Department.

Qu Linan holds a Bachelor Degree on Electrical Engineering from Hebei University of Technology and a Master Degree in of Electrical Machinery and Apparatus from Harbin Institute of Technology.

Ricardo Cartaxo was Project Researcher at R&D Nester since July 2013 until September 2024.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Ricardo worked at REN since 2000 in several projects as Engineer at Substation Control Systems Department and before in EFACEC for 11 years.

Ricardo holds a Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico, and a MSc. on Energy of Electrical and Computer Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico.

Wan Lei was Project Researcher at R&D Nester in 2015.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Wan Lei worked at State Grid Electrical Power Research Institute (SGEPRI) Power System Simulation and Modeling Research Section focused on electromechanical and electromagnetic transient and their hybrid research and high voltage direct current transmission modeling research.

Wan Lei holds a Bachelor Degree of Electrical Engineering from Tsinghua University and also a Master Degree of Electrical Engineering from State Grid Electric Power Research Institute (SGEPRI).

Yang Wei was Deputy General Manager at R&D Nester since January 2017 until December 2022.

Yang Wei works in China Electric Power Research Institute (CEPRI) since March 1995. Since April 2012, he is Director of Power Automation Test Lab at China EPRI.

He was Co-Leader of R&D Nester for the joint project ‘Substation of the Future' between Portugal and China, working at R&D Nester in Portugal for one year from December 2013 to December 2014.

Yang Wei holds a Master of Science(MSc) Degree in Electric Power System Automation and a Bachelor of Science(BSc) Degree in Computer Science and Application, both from Northeast China Electric Power University.

Yu Ruoying was Project Researcher at R&D Nester in 2016.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Xia Chao worked at State Grid Electrical Power Research Institute (SGEPRI) in Renewable Energy Department with Focus on planning and grid integration technology of renewable energy power system research. Mainly participated and completed the related projects and technical services.

Yu Ruoying holds a Master Degree of Automation of Electric Power Systems from South East University and also a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from South China University of Technology.

Yuan Hao was Project Researcher at R&D Nester in 2017.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Yuan Hao worked at China Electric Power Research Institute (CEPRI) as Engineer of Power Automation Department.

Yuan Hao holds a Master Degree of Computer Science from Southeast University (China) and also a Bachelor Degree of Electrical Engineering from Southeast University (China).

Zhao Liang was Project Researcher at R&D Nester in 2015.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Zhao Liang worked at State Grid Electrical Power Research Institute (SGEPRI) Clean Energy Generation Department until 2012. After 2012, assumed functions in the Renewable Energy Department focused on modeling and grid integration technology of renewable energy power system research.

Zhao Liang holds a MSc. in Thermal Power Engineering and a Phd. in Energy Information Technology from Southeast University.

Zutao Xiang was Project Researcher at R&D Nester in 2015.

Prior to joining R&D Nester, Zutao Xiang worked at Yupont Electric Power Corporation, as Software engineer and project manager of power grid billing system until 2004. After July 2005, Zutao Xiang worked at China Electric Power Research Institute (CEPRI) in the Power System Department.

Zutao Xiang holds a Bachelor Degree and a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Tsinghua University