Dr. fernando merino blanco

Fernando Merino Blanco holds a PhD in Nuclear Engineering and an MSc in Industrial Engineering with a specialization in Energy, both from the Polytechnical University in Madrid. His academic background is rooted in advanced energy systems, nuclear reactor physics, and simulation modeling, providing a robust foundation for evaluating the technical performance and resilience of power generation assets.

With over 30 years of experience in the energy sector, Fernando has developed deep expertise in the operation, simulation, and performance analysis of power generation facilities, including nuclear, thermal, combined cycle, and hydroelectric plants. His career has focused on enhancing the efficiency, reliability, and adaptability of generation systems, key priorities in the context of climate vulnerability and resilience planning.

 He has also contributed to the design and implementation of centralized monitoring systems that integrate real-time data with model-based analytics, enabling utilities to track performance trends and respond proactively to disruptions. This experience is directly applicable to identifying critical generation assets, assessing their exposure and sensitivity to climate risks, and recommending technical measures to enhance their resilience.

 His international experience includes collaboration with utilities and research institutions in Spain and abroad, including participation in nuclear fuel development programs with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) (US), advanced nuclear reactor design with Westinghouse (US), development of asset performance monitoring tools with General Electric (US) and different project collaborations with some of the largest utilities in the world (Enel in Italy, Iberdrola/Naturgy in Spain, Scottish Power in the UK, EDP in Portugal, etc.).