The Energy Management major at the Louvain School of Management regularly hosts guest lectures and site visits that expose students to real-world energy market challenges.
If you would like to attend one of these lectures, please contact bert.willems@uclouvain.be or pieter.vingerhoets@uclouvain.be.
Copy this URL and add it as an internet calendar to receive automatic updates.
https://www.bertwillems.com/guestlectures.ics
Guest Lectures
The location of the auditoria at the campus Louvain-La-Neuve can be found here.
27 March 2026
10:45-12:45
DOYEN 22
Manuel Sintubin – Geodynamics KU Leuven>
Climate Change … seen through the eyes of a geologist
Abstract
Manuel Sintubin is Professor of Geodynamics at KU Leuven in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences. His lecture will place climate change in historical, geological and anthropological context. He will discuss the status of climate change science, adaptation to climate change impact and cover solutions such as negative emissions.
3 April 2026
10:45-12:45
DOYEN 22
Inge Mayeres – Transport Mobility Leuven >
Decarbonizing the transportation sector
Abstract
Dr. Inge Mayeres is a senior researcher in transport and environmental economics. Her research covers both fundamental and applied research topics in transport and environmental economics. During her career she has made economic evaluations of various aspects of transport policy.
14 April 2026
10:45-12:45
SOCR 25
Tomas Wyns – Brussels School of Governance, VUB >
Towards sustainable industry in Belgium – a technology perspective
Abstract
Tomas Wyns is a Doctoral Researcher in the Environment and Sustainable Development cluster at the Brussels School of Governance of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
17 April 2026
10:45-12:45
DOYEN 22
Edward Calthrop – European Investment Bank >
The EU Investment Challenge
Abstract
Dr. Edward Calthrop is head of the climate policy unit at the European Investment Bank. He had a key role in the following projects: Climate Bank Roadmap Phase 2; Climate Bank Roadmap 2021-2025 and EIB 2019 energy lending policy.
Edward will talk about:
- the role of the EIB
- the investment case around RES/storage, grids;
- energy-intensive industry and innovation
- role of ETS/ETS2/CBAM to drive relative prices
- targeted use of public funds to help reduce cost of capital / risk sharing
17 April 2026
14:00-16:00
DOYEN 22
Sebastian Sterl – DG Energy / Energy Meteorology VUB >
Critical questions to inform African energy transition pathways
Abstract
Prof. dr. Sebastian Sterl works as energy analyst at the Directorate-General for Energy (DG Energy) of the European Commission in Brussels and part-time professor at VUB. The term “energy transitions” has a different meaning across countries. For instance, in Europe, it refers to decarbonisation and energy independence from Russia. In many countries in Africa, it refers to the needs for energy access and industrial development. In this lecture, we explore critical questions and data required to understand energy transition pathways on the African continent.
5 May 2026
8:30-10:30
SOCR 25
Dorien Emmers – KU Leuven >
Geo politics and China
Abstract
Dr. Dorien Emmers is an Assistant Professor at the Chinese Studies Group and the Department of Economics of KU Leuven. She is also an affiliated research scholar of the Stanford Center on China’s Economy and Institutions (SCCEI). She previously worked as a Postdoctoral Research Scholar at Stanford SCCEI.
8 May 2026
8:30-10:30
DOYEN 22
Peter Reusens – National Bank of Belgium >
Impact on house prices of an energy renovation obligation for homebuyers
Abstract
Dr. Peter Ruesens is an economist at the Economics & Research Department of the National Bank of Belgium. He will talk about the impact of the energy renovation obligation in Flanders based on some recent work:
Reusens, P., van Kempen, T. Vandenbergh, J., Vastmans, F. & Damen, S. (2026) Impact on house prices of an energy renovation obligation for homebuyers (latest SSRN version March 2026)
8 May 2026
10:45-12:45
DOYEN 22
Ruben Baetens – KU Leuven Institute for Energy & Society >
Towards zero-emission buildings – from distraction to traction
Abstract
Dr. Ruben Baetens is manager of the KU Leuven Institute for Energy and Society and works at the interface of engineering, policy, and society to help accelerate a just and effective energy transition.
Site Visits
31 March 2026
Whole Day
EnergyVille >
Energy research center for renewable energy and intelligent energy systems
Research partnership of VITO, IMEC, KU Leuven, and UHasselt
Abstract
10:00 Energy transition in Africa (TBC)
11:00 Bart Mantels, flow batteries
11:30 dr. Jan Diriken, heat technologies
12:00 lunch
13:00 Prof. Hakan Ergun, grid technologies
14:00 Tour in EnergyVille 1 – Energy System Lab (electricity, heating, smart application, battery)
15:00 Tour in EnergyVille 2 – PV lab and clean room
16:30 end
10 April 2026
12:30-
ELIA >
Belgian Transmission System Operator
