Who
Dr. Christos Mytafides
When
21 Jan 2026, 12:00 Athens time, Science Building 145Π58
Title
Multiscale Energy Engineering: Connecting Materials, Devices, and Power Systems
Abstract
This lecture presents a coherent, interdisciplinary research agenda that bridges innovation in materials and devices with the operational realities of power systems. Advances in materials and interfaces, such as printed multifunctional energy harvesting materials (e.g. thermoelectric and hybrid PV-TEG architectures), and enhancements in the performance of energy harvesting materials and devices, are not considered as isolated device improvements, but as enablers of system-level performance, reliability, and cost reduction. By improving efficiency, stability, and ageing characteristics at the device scale, these technologies reduce the levelized cost of energy and enhance the predictability of distributed generation. The resulting shift transforms buildings and embedded structures from passive loads into active, controllable nodes within the distribution network. At the grid level, this evolution directly impacts voltage regulation, reverse power flows, protection coordination, and planning margins across generation, transmission, and, most critically, the distribution systems. The lecture argues for a "device-aware" power-system paradigm, where physics-based models of performance and degradation inform network planning, operational strategies, and techno-economic assessments. Such a framework is particularly relevant for weak and islanded grids, including high-renewables regions such as Crete, where distributed energy resources must simultaneously support decarbonization and system resilience.
Overall, the proposed approach integrates materials science, power electronics, and power-system engineering into a unified device-to-grid methodology, positioning electric power networks as adaptive infrastructures capable of fully exploiting next-generation energy-harvesting technologies.
About the Speaker
Christos Mytafides holds a B.Eng. degree in Civil Engineering,a M.Sc. degree in Environmental Engineering, a M.Sc. degree in Materials Science and Engineering, and a Ph.D. degree in Materials Science and Engineering. Recently, he has been a postdoctoral researcher and an academic teaching associate with the School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, as well as a civil engineer / superintendent with the Institute of GeoEnergy, Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH), Chania.
