On Tuesday 24 March 2026, nine young TU Delft researchers went head-to-head in the competition for the best climate and energy paper of the past year. The contest produced two winners: Caroline van Calcar (Climate) examined the interplay between the melting of the ice sheet and the deformation and rebound of the Earth’s crust and mantle, while Pierfrancesco Ombrini (Energy) won for his research on LFP batteries, which are becoming increasingly important for large-scale energy storage, for example in electric vehicles and for stabilising the electricity grid.
Eerder werd bekend dat negen finalisten het tegen elkaar zouden opnemen voor twee hoofdprijzen: de Best Climate Action Paper Award en de Best Energy Paper Award. Negen frisse inzichten die volgens Herman Russchenberg, hoogleraar atmosfeeronderzoek en Pro Vice Rector Magnificus voor Climate Action , hoopvol stemmen. -De wereld is de afgelopen jaren razendsnel en ingrijpend veranderd. Toch zien we jùist onder jonge onderzoekers een enorme energie, creativiteit en drive om het verschil te maken. Ze brengen nieuwe ideeën, slimme technologieën en onverwachte invalshoeken die laten zien dat verandering mogelijk is. Dat maakt deze prijs zo ongelooflijk bijzonder.-
Winner #1: Caroline van Calcar (Climate) - The fall and rise of the Antarctic ice sheet
Melting of the Antarctic ice sheet is expected to become the dominant contributor to sea-level rise, potentially adding eight metres by the year 2300. But as the ice sheet thins, the ground beneath slowly rises, somewhat reducing ice loss and thereby sea-level rise. Caroline van Calcar studied this interplay in great detail, linking how the ice sheet melts with how the Earth’s crust and mantle deform and rise. She incorporated the newest climate projections and even considered how the Earth’s mantle -flowsmore easily as ice mass loss continues. Her study shows that in West Antarctica, where the mantle beneath is relatively soft, the ground can rise by 150 metres. Putting everything together, meters high sea-level rise can be reduced by 10% because of this rebound effect - or twice that if we manage to cut global greenhouse gas emissions. The whole scenario will take hundreds of years to play out, but projecting sea-level rise in detail is essential for planning future climate mitigation and adaptation strategies.
here .
Winner #2: Pierfrancesco Ombrini (Energy) - Ready, steady... (dis)charge!
Large-scale energy storage, such as in electric vehicles and for grid stabilisation, is rapidly shifting to lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. Using abundant, easy to mine materials, these are more environmentally friendly than their cobalt-based predecessors. But the models used for optimizing their performance and facilitating integration with renewable energy sources still date back to the 1990s. Relying heavily on trial-and-error adjustments, they are in urgent need of an update. Or better: a paradigm shift. Trained as a nuclear engineer, Pierfrancesco applied a bottom-up approach, modelling the electrode as a network of electrically connected nanoparticles. His approach allows the accurate prediction of battery behaviour given its charging and usage history. This is important because, for example, a battery may not be able to deliver the required power while still recovering from a previous peak demand. His model even explains why LFP batteries - and perhaps your electric car - struggle in cold weather. Running the model takes a mere 30 seconds, where similar simulations used to take hours. Fit for many other types of batteries as well, both current and future, his model advances next-generation energy storage for the energy transition.
here .
Public Choice Award
During the ceremony at the Co-Creation Centre, visitors were also invited to vote for their favourite research. The public choice award was decisively won by Pierfrancesco Ombrini. Peter Palensky, an expert in intelligent electricity networks and Chair of the Delft Energy Initiative , is impressed not only by Pierfrancesco’s scientific achievements but also by his rhetorical skills: -Pierfrancesco has a remarkable ability to communicate complex science in a clear and accessible way. This not only made him a public favourite, but also demonstrates how young researchers can truly make a difference, both within and beyond the academic world.-
If you would like to interview one or more of the winners, please feel free to contact Dave Boomkens, Press Officer for Climate & Energy at TU Delft, at +31 6 34081461 or d.j.boomkens@tudelft.nl. You can also take a look at all the research from the nine finalists here.