This article is a commemorative editorial dedicated to the 75th anniversary of Professor Sergey Evgenievich Shcheklein – an outstanding scientist, educator, organizer of science, and one of the key architects of modern energy thought. His name is firmly associated with the advancement of nuclear and hydrogen energy, the formation of scientific schools, the training of thousands of specialists, and the implementation of innovative technologies capable of transforming the global energy landscape.

 Over five decades of Professor Shcheklein’s scientific and educational career encompass a broad spectrum of disciplines: from fundamental research in thermophysics, hydrodynamics, and stochastic processes to applied developments in energy-efficient systems, renewable energy sources, and hydrogen technologies. His work on two-phase vapor-liquid flows, liquid phase inversion, and heat and mass transfer control in film boiling regimes laid the foundation for improving the safety and efficiency of nuclear power plants. These studies not only expanded theoretical understanding of complex physical phenomena but also found practical application in reactor modernization and the creation of new types of equipment.

 Special attention in this article is given to Professor Shcheklein’s contribution to the development of hydrogen energy – a field in which he became a recognized leader. His research on ultrasonic intensification of water electrolysis, biomass hydrolysis, fuel cell design, and the creation of energy-efficient hydrogen complexes opened new horizons in the production of clean energy carriers. Under his leadership, projects were implemented to build an energy-efficient house integrating renewable energy sources, which was awarded the national environmental prize named after V. I. Vernadsky. He also founded the Euro-Asian Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, which became a platform for scientific research, startups, and international collaboration.

 Professor Shcheklein is the author of over 400 scientific publications, including 11 monographs and textbooks, and holds 71 patents. His Hirsch index (Google Scholar) is 29. He has received numerous honors, including the V. I. Vernadsky Prize, the Don Quixote Order, medals for safe operation of nuclear power plants, and is a member of the International Energy Academy. His teaching career includes the training of more than 20,000 specialists –master’s students, engineers, and postgraduates – and the Department of Nuclear Power Engineering at Ural Federal University, under his leadership, has become a recognized center for preparing personnel in advanced energy technologies.

 The author of this editorial – a colleague, scientific associate, and initiator of Professor Shcheklein’s nomination for the Global Energy Prize – shares not only biographical facts but also a personal perspective on a man whose life has become a symbol of scientific service, intellectual integrity, and pedagogical wisdom. This editorial aims not only to honor the jubilarian but also to emphasize the relevance of his scientific legacy in the context of the global energy transition, where the ideas of sustainable development, hydrogen transformation, and renewable energy integration are becoming strategic priorities for humanity.

The article is addressed to a wide audience – from energy professionals and technical university faculty to students, researchers, and science organizers. It may serve as a source of inspiration, a model of scientific service, and a guidepost for future generations striving to build a safe, sustainable, and intellectually honest energy future.

Two-stage anaerobic fermentation is a promising method for producing a mixture of H₂ and CH₄ (biogas) from various organic waste materials. However, scaling up this process requires optimization of the conditions to maximize the specific yield and rate of gas production, as well as to ensure an optimal ratio of H₂ and CH₄ in the biogas.  In this work, the hydraulic retention time (HRT) and organic load rate (OLR) were varied in the mesophilic acidogenic (RH) and thermophilic methanogenic (R) reactors in order to optimize the continuous two-stage production of biogitan from the wastewater of the confectionery industry. The specific yield of H₂ (87,8 ± 20,3 ml/g COD) and the rate  of H₂ formation (2352 ± 376 ml/(l∙day)) were maximum at an OLR in RH equal to 26,8 g COD/(l∙day). The specific yield of CH₄ (286,3 ± 29,1 ml/g COD) was maximum at HRT and OLR in R equal to 2 days and 2,05 g COD/(l·day), respectively, and the rate of CH₄ formation (964,6 ± 162 ml/(l·day)) was maximum at HRT and OLR in Requal  to 2 days and 4,6 g COD/(l·day), respectively. The optimal composition of biogitan (10% H₂, 50,4% CH₄ , 39,6% CO₂ ) was obtained when RH was operated at an OLR of 12,8 g BOD/(l·day), and R was operated at an HRT of 3 days and an OLR of 1,37 g BOD/(l·day), respectively. In the optimal operating modes, the H₂-producing microbial community RH was dominated by Caproiciproducens and Clostridium sensu stricto 12, while R was dominated by syntrophic bacteria Cloacimonadaceae W5, Lentimicrobium, Anaerolinea, and hydrogenotrophic methanogens Methanothermobacter. These results contribute to the further improvement of two-stage anaerobic fermentation for the production of biogas from concentrated wastewater.

The article is dedicated to the development of a mobile and environmentally friendly device that allows converting solar energy into electrical energy. The device is designed taking into account the need for easy transportation and installation in various places. Such characteristics make it indispensable in situations where mobility and rapid deployment play a key role, making it ideal for use in remote areas, temporary facilities, or field conditions. The device has wide possibilities in horticulture and agriculture. From powering pumps for irrigating remote areas to lighting greenhouses at night, the device can significantly increase efficiency and reduce dependence on stationary networks. In mountainous areas and other locations with limited access to centralized infrastructure, a mobile energy source can play a crucial role in improving people’s living conditions. The use of solar energy is distinguished by its environmental friendliness and ease of operation, and the amount of solar energy reaching the Earth’s surface in a week exceeds the reserves of all the studied minerals used to generate electricity. The main disadvantages of solar energy are the variability of energy flow density over time, the need to use expensive equipment for its conversion and storage, and the low efficiency of solar panels. To achieve maximum efficiency of solar panels, it is necessary to ensure that the light f lux falls at an angle of 90° to their surface. In this device, photoelectric batteries can not only be positioned at a 90° angle to the surface but also have convenient options for adjusting them to optimal angles specific to a particular area. To maintain the optimal angle of insulation of solar panels, mechanisms for adjusting their position can be used, which allows increasing the efficiency of the mobile photovoltaic device by 1.2-1.3 times. The photoelectric device has been modernized. The side solar panels are folded and laid on the main central panel. The design is fixed on a mobile platform for convenient movement and use.

The multifunctional mobile photovoltaic device ensures environmental sustainability by converting solar radiation into environmentally friendly electrical energy without harming the environment.

The growing global demand for energy is stimulating the rapid development of low-head micro hydropower plants. Currently, scientific research aimed at increasing the energy efficiency of gravitational vortex micro hydropower plants is actively being carried out in various regions of the world. Within the framework of this study, the effect of turbine blade geometry on the energy efficiency of three turbine models designed for gravitational vortex micro hydropower systems was analyzed. The geometry of the basin and turbine components was digitally modeled using ANSYS 2022R1 (Fluent Flow) software. The numerical simulations were performed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with the SST k-ω turbulence model. According to the CFD analysis results, three turbines with different geometries  (a, b, and c) were tested at rotational speeds ranging from 20 to 150 RPM, and the highest efficiency was observed in the c) turbine model. To ensure perpendicular impact of the water flow onto the turbine blades inside the basin, the c) turbine was tilted by 45° relative to the vertical axis, which increased its energy efficiency to 85,5%. To validate the results,  3D physical prototypes of the turbines were fabricated and tested under real conditions. As a result, the c) turbine model inclined at 45°, which showed the highest efficiency in the CFD simulation, also achieved a high efficiency of 79,6% in experimental testing.

One of the obstacles to the large-scale implementation of NPPs is the low maneuverability of nuclear power units, which can be increased by integrating an energy storage system. A possible solution to this problem is to produce hydrogen using water electrolysis during periods of load failure, and to burn it in a gas turbine unit during peak consumption hours. This paper describes the developed process flow diagram of the NPP with an electrolyzer and a hydrogen gas turbine unit, the methodology and results of modeling. It has been calculated that the efficiency of the developed process solution exceeds the efficiency of the NPP with an electrolyzer and a fuel cell by 1,7%. In addition, it has been found that for the NPP with an electrolyzer and a hydrogen gas turbine unit, marginal profit appears when the ratio of electricity prices during peak and trough periods exceeds 4.

The article examines the impact of the long-term reform of the Russian education system on the quality of training the future employees of energy enterprises and industries, as well as the role of basic and additional education in the electric power industry in accordance with the strategic planning documents of the Russian Federation, including the Energy Strategy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2050. The current state of affairs related to the transition to a fundamental system of training the specialists by levels of education in accordance with the pilot project launched in 2023 is considered. Elements of the practice-oriented training for employees of energy companies in the Centre for Science and Education “Ecology of Power Engineering” of the National Research University “MPEI” are presented. The article demonstrates the examples of the innovative projects developed using 3D modeling and virtual reality technologies, implemented in the educational process. The effectiveness of new teaching methods is assessed under  VR projects “Visualization of elements of the TGMP-314 steam boiler” and “Visualization of elements of the gas insulated switchgear 110 kV”, indicating a significant increase in the effectiveness of training the employees of energy enterprises under additional professional education programs in the fields of Thermal Power Engineering and Electric Power Engineering. The projects developed in 2023 as part of the R & D program of PJSC Mosenergo are presented: a virtual reality simulator and interactive instructions aimed at improving skills of power plant personnel when interacting with electrical equipment, simulating normal, emergency and non-stationary operating modes of power equipment. The paper provides information on the current and planned innovative projects that will improve the skills of operating and repair personnel of power enterprises. The practical significance of programs for advanced training and professional retraining in the electric power industry for key energy companies is shown. The prospects for developing new programs for additional professional education together with the possibility of creating and implementing innovative projects to improve the quality of training in the field of hydrogen technologies are considered. The results of a survey of energy company personnel regarding improvement of the training effectiveness in the electric power industry are shown.

The models of setting the optimal control problem based on multiple states of functioning and models of the computational space are formalized. The direct and inverse problems of energy-saving control on the multiple states of functioning are formulated. The concept of computational space is introduced for the operational solution of direct and inverse optimal control problems. The methods used to develop a computing space are considered.