Congratulations to Rita Petlickaitė on completing her PhD

Congratulations to Rita Petlickaitė, a PhD Student at the LEI Laboratory of Heat-Equipment Research and Testing, who successfully defended his PhD dissertation on 27 September 2024 on the topic of Technological environmental assessment of biofuel and heat production from multi-crop biomass and the use of ash for fertilisation (Technological Sciences, Environmental Engineering, T004).

The mid-term workshop of the ICEREG project was successfully held

On 29 April 2025, the mid-term workshop and Steering Group meeting of the project “Ice-jam flood risk management in Latvian and Lithuanian regions with respect to climate change” (ICEREG) took place at the Lithuanian Energy Institute (LEI) in Kaunas.

Project progress, budget, key results and challenges were discussed. Experts from the Lithuanian Energy Institute, Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service under the Ministry of Environment, and Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre presented insights on ice-jam flood modelling, river data analysis, climate change scenarios, and early warning systems.

The “ICEREG” project aims to enhance the management of ice-jam flood risk by developing comprehensive flood maps and refining the conceptual model of ice-jam flood formation, particularly in the context of climate change.

The Project is funded by the European Union’s Interreg VI-A Latvia–Lithuania Programme 2021–2027
More information: https://www.lei.lt/en/projektas/icereg/

Midway through the ICEREG project: research results and future outlook

Halfway through the “Ice-jam flood risk management in Latvian and Lithuanian regions with respect to climate change” (ICEREG) project, significant progress has been made in understanding and modeling hazardous ice phenomena in border rivers.

At the start, 8 river sections and 10 water measurement stations were selected, providing data to assess the historical ice jam situation. Based on data from 1961–2023, the frequency of ice jams and dangerous water levels were evaluated. The critical levels were most often exceeded in the Lėvėn and Mūša rivers, which were chosen for detailed study.

In September 2024, two expeditions were conducted, during which cross-sections and discharge measurements were made using GPS equipment, drones, and echo sounders. The data collected on river geometry and other characteristics will be used for hydrodynamic model calibration in HEC-RAS.

Currently, detailed hydrodynamic models are being developed for the Lėvėn and Mūša rivers. These models will help forecast flood zones under various climate scenarios. Notable results include calculations of rare flood probabilities, which predict a gradual decrease in discharge in the Mūša basin and a slight increase followed by a decrease in the Lėvėn river.

By summer 2025, the hydrodynamic models will be completed, and flood risk zone predictions will be finalized, contributing to better management of ice jam floods in the future.

The Project is funded by the European Union’s Interreg VI-A Latvia–Lithuania Programme 2021–2027

PhD Studies at Lithuanian Energy Institute 2025

Lithuanian Energy Institute invites active students who have obtained a master’s degree in mathematics, physics, chemistry, energy, thermal engineering, materials engineering, electrical engineering, mechanics, environmental engineering, natural sciences, economics to contribute to the goals of the European Green Deal and apply to doctoral studies in the fields of
▶️ Energetics and Power Engineering,
▶️ Environmental Engineering,
▶️ Economics.

Doctoral research topics and admission procedure (2025):
https://www.lei.lt/en/phd-studies/admission-to-phd-studies/

🔹 Who can apply for PhD studies?
Individuals with Master’s qualification degree or having graduated from one-level higher education system.
🔹 Financing:
The PhD studies can be financed by the budget of the Republic of Lithuania or a PhD student‘s personal finances.
🔹 Scholarships:
Doctoral students admitted to state-funded positions receive monthly scholarships: during the 1st year – 1330 Euro/month, during the 2nd-4th years – 1540 Euro/month.

IMPORTANT DATES:
✓ Submission of applications: 5 – 20 June, 2025
✓ Admission competition: 26 – 30 June, 2025
✓ Additional admission: September, 2025.

Lithuanian and Latvian Experts Met in Vilnius to Discuss the Progress of the ICEREG Project

Yesterday, a meeting of ICEREG (Ice-jam flood risk management in Latvian and Lithuanian regions with respect to climate change) project experts took place at the Lithuanian Hydrometeorological Service.

The meeting was attended by 20 participants, including project managers, financial specialists, experts, and researchers working on improving the accuracy of forecasting and managing ice jam-induced floods in the context of climate change.

During the meeting, the results of the project’s second phase were discussed, including the analysis of historical data, the development of a conceptual model, climate change analysis, and insights from pilot areas in the Mūša and Lėvuo rivers.

Based on the project’s findings, the upcoming period will focus on improving the ice jam warning system in Lithuania by incorporating both historical analysis and climate scenarios.

The Project is funded by the European Union’s Interreg VI-A Latvia–Lithuania Programme 2021–2027
More information: https://www.lei.lt/en/projektas/icereg/

LEI Center for Hydrogen Energy Technologies scientists led student lectures and workshops over the weekend

On Saturday, 8 March, at the Faculty of Informatics of Vytautas Magnus University, a mathematics Olympiad for students from 5-8 grades “Mathematical Challenge” took place.
The pupils were offered interesting mathematical problems, puzzles and other activities. Scientists from the LEI Center for Hydrogen Energy Technologies and the Laboratory of Nuclear Installation Safety also participated in the event, presenting hydrogen reaction experiments, a quiz and a lecture “Unlock the Future with Hydrogen”.

The Olympiad aims to: (1) Encourage Lithuanian students to take an interest in non-standard mathematics problems. (2) To develop the creative abilities and independent thinking skills of mathematically gifted students in non-standard situations. (3) To stimulate students’ desire to compete with their peers and to provide opportunities for students in grades 5-8 to participate in national mathematics Olympiads.

During the first half of the day, while solving the tasks of the olympiad, students from all over Lithuania had to demonstrate their knowledge to prove they are among the best. Meanwhile, educators had the opportunity to participate in seminars: “The Presentation of the 8th Grade Textbook from the ‘Mathematics for All’ Series” (led by expert teacher Vilma Pipirienė) and “Analysis of the ‘Mathematical Challenge’ Olympiad Tasks” (led by expert teacher Leonas Narkevičius).

The second half of the day is where lectures and workshops for both students and educators took place. “Unlock the Future with Hydrogen,” led by Dr. Darius Milčius, Senior Researcher at the Center for Hydrogen Energy Technologies of the Lithuanian Energy Institute, and “How Artificial Intelligence Helps Combat Negative Comments Online?” led by Dr. Danguolė Kalinauskaitė, a researcher at Vytautas Magnus University, a Doctor of Humanities, and the head of the language technology company “Lingo data.”

We congratulate and appreciate the students, teachers, and fellow scientists who willingly dedicated their day off to science and were able to contribute to inspiring students to choose STEM study fields!

Organisers of the event: the Faculty of Informatics of Vytautas Magnus University and Delta School
The event was sponsored by TEV Publishing House, VMU IF Alumni, Lithuanian Energy Institute, Lithuanian Mathematical Society.
 

Formation of Ice Phenomena in Lithuanian Rivers Amid Prolonged Subzero Temperatures

The negative air temperature has prevailed in Lithuania for a while, therefore the first ice phenomena have begun to form in the rivers. When the air temperature drops below zero degrees, the cooling process of the surface water layers begins, so ice formations appear near the banks and in places where the river current is weak or almost standing. The freezing of the water creates favourable conditions for the formation of ice crystals, which later merge into blocks of a sponge structure, due to which the density of the ice decreases. First, pancake ice begins to form, and only then do these formations merge into larger ice floes. In places where the river is narrowed or makes sharp turns, near islands or artificial structures, the speed of ice floes increases, or decreases if their density on the river surface is high. In the presence of long-term negative air temperatures, this leads to the formation of a continuous ice cover.

Scientists from the LEI Laboratory of Hydrology, as part of the project “Ice-jam flood risk management in Latvian and Lithuanian regions with respect to climate change” (ICEREG), monitor river changes to improve the management of ice jam flood risks.

In visuals: floating pancake ice in the Neris River.

Registration deadline to “CYSENI 2025” Conference has been extended

The registration deadline has been extended!

Dear potential Attendee, we would like to kindly remind You that the deadline to submit your application to participate in the 21st International Conference of Young Scientists on Energy and Natural Sciences Issues (CYSENI 2025) is approaching fast. The Registration deadline has been extended by an additional week, to February 14th, 2025.

Ready to participate? Head to our registration page:
🔗 https://cyseni.com/registration/
Need guidance on the application process? Refer to our instructions for authors:
📝 http://cyseni.com/instructions-for-authors/

An Innovative Device Developed at the LEI Laboratory of Combustion Processes

Scientists at the LEI Laboratory of Combustion Processes have developed and launched an innovative device for producing torrefied wood, a significant achievement unveiled late last year. Due to its technical complexity and energy costs, this advanced method of processing wood waste is rarely utilized in Europe.

According to Junior Researcher Justas Eimontas, torrefied wood offers several advantages over conventional wood. It requires less maintenance, is easier to store and transport, and resists moisture absorption, thus avoiding the need for drying.

The torrefied wood produced at the laboratory will be supplied to international partners, who will use it in plasma-assisted gasification processes to generate synthetic gas.

The investigation of biomass thermal processing is part of the GIFFT project, funded under the European Commission’s Horizon Europe program. The project’s primary goal is to support the glass industry in becoming more sustainable by reducing its CO2 emissions.

Ice jam floods in Lithuania have become a rare phenomenon – the last recorded event was in 2010

Ice jam floods have not been recorded in Lithuania’s major rivers – the Nemunas and the Neris – for more than a decade. The last such event was documented in 2010, when an ice blockage in the Neris River near Kaunas caused a sudden rise in water levels and flooding of surrounding areas.

These changes may be linked to climate change and milder winters, which reduce the likelihood of ice formation in rivers. In the past, ice jam floods were among the most significant challenges. “As winters become milder, ice forms less frequently in the Nemunas and Neris rivers, significantly reducing the threat to urban and residential infrastructure. However, we should not become complacent, as this unpredictable natural phenomenon could strike with even greater force and catch communities unprepared. To ensure safety, hydrological monitoring of rivers must remain a priority,” says project expert Dr. Diana Meilutytė-Lukauskienė.

Reflecting on the events of 2010, it is worth emphasizing once again the importance of planning urban infrastructure with natural factors in mind, even if the current risk appears minimal. As Lithuania’s climate changes, winters are becoming significantly warmer, and rivers rarely freeze, making ice jam floods and their associated risks less frequent. For comparison with 2010, we present images of the Neris river recorded in January 2025.