User:Nima Asgari

User data

Name	Nima Asgari
Affiliations	Western University
Location	London, Ontario, Canada
Nationality	Iran
Languages	English, Azerbaijani, Persian, Turkish
Groups	FAST Research Group
Email	nasgari [at] uwoca nimaasgari139 [at] gmailcom
Registered	2021
Contributions	Net Zero Agrivoltaic Arrays for Agrotunnel Vertical Growing Systems: Energy Analysis and System Sizing Greenhouse applications of solar photovoltaic driven heat pumps in northern environments Effects of Spectral Ranges on Growth and Yield in Vertical Hydroponic–Aeroponic Hybrid Grow Systems for Radishes and Turnips Open-source manufacturing of polypropylene replacements for peat cups in vertical farming: improvements in life cycle embodied energy, greenhouse gas emissions, labor and operational costs Integration of semi-transparent photovoltaic modules and heat pumps into agrivoltaic tomato greenhouses: Energy, economic, and environmental savings Some like it hot, some like it partially shaded: The effect of semi-transparent solar photovoltaic modules on the growth metrics of greenhouse cultivated spicy peppers Full Heads or Cut and Come Again? Economic Analysis of Leafy Green Cultivation in Solar-Powered Indoor Vertical Farms Is Non-Thermal Plasma Treatment of Commodity Lettuce Seeds Worth It? Economic Impacts and Yield of Lettuce in Indoor Vertical Farming Testing Dry Air, Wet Air, N2 and O2 Plasmas Lighting Energy and Revenue Analysis in an Agrivoltaic Agrotunnel for Lettuce and Swiss Chard Production

I will never give up attempting to make a better, safer, and cleaner world by conducting scientific studies on sustainable energy conversion technologies.

Currently, being a member of the FAST (Free Appropriate Sustainability Technology) group directed by Dr. Joshua Pearce, I am doing my PhD in Electrical Engineering at Western University. My field of expertise is design and optimization of renewable-based hybrid thermal-electrical systems for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. For my PhD, I am working on Sustainable Indoor Agrivoltaics which involves PV-powered controlled agricultural environments (indoor vertical farms, greenhouses, nursery houses, etc.) that are maintained by sustainable energy provision systems such as heat pumps and/or waste heat sources such as data centers. I actively manage ongoing projects with a practical and forward-looking perspective, engaging all team members, including students, engineers, and business owners, in the process. I also contribute to a range of side projects, both within FAST and through collaborations with fellow researchers.

• Leading researcher in Indoor Agrivoltaics in Canada.
• R&D scientist at the world’s first agrivoltaic agrotunnel.
• Two-time recipient of the Mitacs Accelerate Award.
• Interviewed by CTV News at the Cleantech Conference 2023 regarding indoor agrivoltaics.
• Participated in $30k grant submission with Eddi Farming greenhouse manufacturer for Mitacs Accelerate Program.
• Developed Python-based open-source sizing and performance models for greenhouse, indoor farming building, residential house, heat pump, and thermal storage system.
• Core research participant in the Agrivoltaics Canada Annual Conference (2022–2026).
• Core research participant in the Annual Conference of Sustainability, Food, and AI.
• Showcased research at the Cleantech Conference 2023.
• Completed an internship at Heliolytics, a provider of aerial infrared inspections.
• Operating and maintaining the world’s first agrivoltaic agrotunnel.
• Project planner of multiple agrivoltaic projects running at ICFAR (Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources).
• Featured in Québec Science Magazine.
• Mentored and served as a judge for student teams in the Engineering Senior Design course at Western University (2023 & 2025)
• Published over eight peer-reviewed papers, with seven+ additional manuscripts under review in prestigious journals.
• Delivered a guest lecture on Indoor Agrivoltaics to MBA students at Ivey Business School.
• Volunteered at Science Rendezvous 2025 at Western University to engage youth with sustainable technologies.
• Supervised up to four work-study students, four summer interns, and three volunteers on agrivoltaic projects.

• Contributed to the construction of several open-source agrivoltaic structures.
• ...

Agrivoltaics || Applied thermodynamics and heat transfer || Hybrid electrical-thermal systems || Sustainable and renewable energy systems (Solar, Biomass, Geothermal) || Decarbonization || Power-to-X || Technoeconomic feasibility and optimization || Net-zero energy || Solar PV systems || Project planning || Energy policy || Waste heat recovery from data centers || Multigeneration systems || District and space heating and cooling || Domestic hot water || Buildings energy systems || HVAC || Anaerobic digestion || Desalination

• Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering-Power Systems at Western University (2022-2026)

Ph.D. Thesis: "Agrivoltaic Food Production Systems for Cold Climates: Technoeconomic Feasibility Assessment of Heat Pump-Integrated Greenhouses and Near-Zero Vertical Agrotunnels", Supervised by Professor Joshua M. Pearce

• M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering-Energy Conversion at Tabriz (Sahand) University of Technology (2015-2018)

M.Sc. Thesis: "Thermodynamic and Thermo-economic Analysis and Multi-Objective Optimization of a Trigeneration Combined Cycle Fueled by Biomass and Natural Gas", Supervised by Professor Rahim Khoshbakhti Saray

• B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering at University of Tabriz (2010-2014)

B.Sc.  Project: "Investigation of the Thermodynamic Effects of Water Injection to Exhaust Gases of a Marine Turbocharged Diesel Engine", Supervised by Professor Faramarz Ranjbar

2025:

Research and project implementations on indoor agrivoltaics.

• 
  Energy, Economic, and Environmental analysis of agrivoltaic heat pump-based greenhouses - Fall 2025
• 
  Technoeconomic sizing of PV-powered heat pump-based greenhouse - Summer 2025
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  Maintaining the Agrivoltaic Agrotunnel - Project planning, data acquisition, team leading.
• 
  Running agrivoltaic experiments under semi-transparent modules - Summer 2025
• 
  Effects of Spectral Ranges on Root Vegetables - May 2025

2024:

Research and project implementations on Indoor Vertical Farming Facility, named Agrivoltaic Agrotunnel.

• 
  Maintaining the Agrivoltaic Agrotunnel - Project planning, data acquisition, team leading.
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  Heat pump performance modeling and PV sizing - Sep. 2024
• 
  Thermal/electrical model of Agrotunnel - Jul. 2024
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  Open-source house thermal model - Aug. 2024

Building various Agrivoltaic racking systems and installing controlled environments.

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  Ballast-supported PV racking construction - Mar. 2024
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  POSCAS construction - Mar. 2024

2023:

Greenhouse thermal model and agrivoltaic greenhouse installing

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  Open-source greenhouse thermal model - Dec. 2022
• 
  Agrivoltaic greenhouse installing - Summer 2023

My PhD in a few minutes (1st part)

My PhD in a few minutes (2nd part)

Undergraduate: Power Plants-Internal Combustion Engines-Heat Exchangers Design-Air Conditioning Principles-Water Transmission Systems

Graduate: HVAC I & II -Machine Learning-Power Systems Modeling-Principles of Combustion-Advanced Thermodynamics-Advanced Heat Transfer (Convection)-Advanced CFD

• 2025: Energy Plus - Open Studio - SketchUp softwares, Private online course.
• 2024: Explaining Difficult Concepts in Science, Online course, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
• 2022: Solar Energy and Photovoltaic Systems, Private course, Tabriz, Iran.
• 2020: Optimization of Energy Systems (GA and ANN), Private online course, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2020: Smart Energy Systems, Public online workshop, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
• 2014: CATIA Drawing (Complex Surfaces), Iran Technical & Vocational Training Organization, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2013: CATIA Drawing (Preliminary), Iran Technical & Vocational Training Organization, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2013: Water Distribution and Sewage Disposal Systems Design, Private workshop, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.

• 2025: Interview on Hiking with Kathleen Youtube Page.

• 2025: Featured in Western All in Campaign.

• 2023-2026: Mitacs Accelerate Award, FSSC, London, Ontario, Canada.
• 2025: Featured in Québec Science Magazine.
• 2023: Interview on CTV News London - Cleantech Conference hosted by Western University | CTV News

  

• 2022: Mitacs Internship Award, Heliolytics Ltd., Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• 2018: Top Ranked Student, Mechanical Engineering Department, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2015: M.Sc. Fellowship, Mechanical Engineering Department, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2010: B.Sc. Fellowship, Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.

• Language skills: English (TOEFL IBT:102, CELPIP: 10/12)-Azerbaijani (Native)-Persian (Native)-Turkish
• Teaching skills: Thermodynamics-Heat Transfer-Internal Combustion Engines-EES software
• Programming software: MATLAB-Python
• Engineering software: EES-CATIA-Homer Pro-OS SAMA-SAM-EnergyPlus
• Office, graphical and data analysis software: Microsoft Office-Adobe Photoshop-Origin Pro-EDrawMax
• Managerial skills: Project planning-Project managing

• 2024-Present: R&D Intern, Food Security Structures Canada (FSSC), Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR), Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
• 2024-Present: Full-time Research Assistant/Project Planner, Institute for Chemicals and Fuels from Alternative Resources (ICFAR), Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
• 2022-Present: Full-time Research Assistant, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
• 2022: Intern, Heliolytics, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
• 2018-2022: Part-time Research Assistant, Mechanical Engineering Department, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2015-2022: Scientific Consultant/Advisor (Part-time), “Hamgaman Shayan Tose'e (HASHT) Engineering and Technical Ltd.”, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2015-2022: Lecturer/Instructor (Part-time) for Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer courses, “Hamgaman Shayan Tose'e (HASHT) Engineering and Technical Ltd.”, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2016-2018: Graduate Research Assistant (Full-time), Mechanical Engineering Department, Sahand University of Technology, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.

• 2015-2017: Trainer (Part-time) of CATIA and EES engineering softwares, “Hamgaman Shayan Tose'e (HASHT) Engineering and Technical Ltd.”, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2016: Teaching Assistant (Part-time) for Internal Combustion Engines course (Prof. Faramarz Ranjbar), University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2015: Teaching Assistant (Part-time) for Engineering Drawing course (Mr. Hamid Poorziaei), University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2013: Engineering CAD Intern (Part-time), “HydroOmid Co. (Manufacturer of hydraulic valves and couplings)”, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2012-2013: Private Tutor (Part-time) for Physics course, “Dana Educational Group (Teaching center of high school courses)”, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.

• 2022: Senior editor (Volunteer) of the 18th volume of “Gashtavar” journal, Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2021-2022: Senior advisor (Volunteer) of Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2016: Senior advisor (Volunteer) of Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2014: Head of Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering (Volunteer), University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2014: Executive director (Volunteer) of the first state competition for glider drones, Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2013: Executive coordinator (Volunteer) of software training courses, Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2012: Scientific editor (Volunteer) of the 4th volume of “Gashtavar” journal, Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.

• 2015: Graphic designer, “Hamgaman Shayan Tose'e (HASHT) Engineering and Technical Ltd.”, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2015: Volunteer Intern in auto repair shop, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2014: Graphic designer, Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2011: Assistant for a plumber of water distribution and sewage disposal systems, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.
• 2010-2011: Insurance Broker for Tose-eh (Iran) Insurance Co., Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.

I was born on May 29th, 1992, in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran.

While choosing mathematics and physics, I entered high school. Fortunately, I could always get good grades in school, and I was a first-ranked student. Since childhood, I have been interested in creating novel and manageable things. My passion for making crafts, solving mathematical problems, and building various personal stuff led me to choose Mechanical Engineering.

2010-2014:

Ranked in the top 1% of 260,000 participants in Iran's national university entrance exam, I received a B.Sc. Fellowship from the Ministry of Science and was admitted to the University of Tabriz for Mechanical Engineering. For my final project, I proposed a novel optimization of a cogeneration system using a steam-assisted turbocharged marine diesel engine, which led to my first experience publishing a research article. I also completed internships at Tabriz Steam and Gas Power Plant, gaining practical insight into thermal power systems as well as HydroOmid Co. (Manufacturer of hydraulic valves and couplings), acquiring CAD design experience by contributing to manufacturing process drafting. Alongside my academic studies, I gained extensive experience in teamwork and scientific program management. As head of the Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Tabriz, I led several pioneering socio-scientific initiatives. Motivated by challenges in energy and environmental systems, I focused my research on the design, modeling, and optimization of large-scale energy conversion systems, including power plants, district energy systems, and HVAC for buildings. These efforts led to multiple publications and original project developments initiated by myself.

• 
  Tabriz Steam Power Plant - Jul. 2014
• 
  The first state competition for glider drones, Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tabriz-2014.
• 
  Automechanic Lab-University of Tabriz-2014

2015-2022:

Pursuing my passion for sustainable energy systems, I earned my M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering (Energy Conversion) from Sahand University of Technology. My thesis involved a comprehensive thermodynamic and exergo-economic analysis of a novel trigeneration system (power, heating/cooling, and hot water), optimized for local climate conditions. The project aimed to provide a preliminary design for a waste-to-energy CCHP plant to inspire municipal action toward renewable energy adoption.

Driven by global challenges such as water scarcity and climate change, I extended my expertise by scientific advising and project planning on over five industrial and M.Sc., Ph.D., and B.Sc. theses involving CHP systems, hydrogen production, desalination, cold storage design and waste heat recovery.

Since completing my M.Sc. in 2018, I’ve worked as a research assistant at Sahand University, collaborating on cross-institutional scientific projects. I also co-founded an engineering and consulting firm (HASHT Ltd.), serving as instructor, and energy analyst. Over seven years, I taught Thermodynamics, Heat Transfer, CATIA, and EES, and served as a TA for Internal Combustion Engines and Engineering Drawing, refining a student-centered, practical teaching approach.

• 
  Holding the CATIA software training courses by HASHT Ltd- University of Tabriz - 2015-2017
• 
  MSc thesis defense meeting - Sahand University of Technology - 2018.02

Since 2022:

After two years of persistence, I was admitted to a fully funded Ph.D. program in Electrical Engineering at Western University. In September 2022, I began my studies as a member of the FAST Research Group, focusing on agrivoltaics.

Soon after starting, and with the support of my supervisor, Professor Joshua Pearce, I secured a Mitacs Internship with Heliolytics, a global leader in PV aerial infrared inspections and site analytics. I even participated in a scanning flight to identify faults in large-scale PV farms.

Later, in partnership with Food Security Structures Canada (FSSC), we received a Mitacs Accelerate grant to support our agrivoltaics research. In the second phase of my Ph.D., I became deeply involved in indoor agrivoltaics projects, serving as project planner, technical designer, analyst, and R&D scientist. My work included PV and HVAC system design, low-cost open-source retrofits, and technoeconomic evaluations.

• 
  CEA Agrivoltaics at ICFAR - 2025
• 
  Vertical PV installation at ICFAR - 2025
• 
  Indoor Farming Facility (Agrivoltaic Agrotunnel)
• 
  FAST - Dec. 2023
• 
  FAST Office - Nov. 2022
• 
  PV Site Scanning with Heliolytics - Oct. 2022

• N. Asgari, J. M. Pearce, "Full Heads or Cut and Come Again? Economic Analysis of Leafy Green Cultivation in Solar-Powered Indoor Vertical Farms", Green and Low-Carbon Economy., 2026.
• M. Mottaghi, N. Asgari, R. Roy, J. M. Pearce, "Open-source manufacturing of polypropylene replacements for peat cups in vertical farming: improvements in life cycle embodied energy, greenhouse gas emissions, labor and operational costs", Journal of Cleaner Production, 2026.
• A. Shadd, N. Asgari, J. M. Pearce, "Effects of Spectral Ranges on Growth and Yield in Vertical Hydroponic–Aeroponic Hybrid Grow Systems for Radishes and Turnips", Foods, 2025.

• S. Mirmasoumi, R. Khoshbakhti Saray, N. Asgari, "Exergy-based economic, environmental, and sustainability analysis of two different biogas-fueled trigeneration proposals for a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP)", Energy, 2025.

• N. Asgari, K. S. Hayibo, J. Groza, S. Rana, J. M. Pearce, "Greenhouse applications of solar photovoltaic driven heat pumps in northern environments", Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2024.
• N. Asgari, U. Jamil, J. M. Pearce, "Net Zero Agrivoltaic Arrays for Agrotunnel Vertical Growing Systems: Energy Analysis and System Sizing", Sustainability, 2024.
• S. Rana, U. Jamil, N. Asgari, K. S. Hayibo, J. Groza, J. M. Pearce, "Residential Sizing of Solar Photovoltaic Systems and Heat Pumps for Net Zero Sustainable Thermal Building Energy", Computations, 2024.
• A. Sohrabi, N. Asgari, M. Imran, M. Wakil Shahzad, "Comparative energy, exergy, economic, and environmental (4E) analysis and optimization of two high-temperature Kalina cycles integrated with thermoelectric generators for waste heat recovery from a diesel engine", Energy Conversion and Management, 2023.
• N. Asgari, M. T. McDonald, J. M. Pearce, "Energy Modeling and Techno-Economic Feasibility Analysis of Greenhouses for Tomato Cultivation Utilizing the Waste Heat of Cryptocurrency Miners", Energies, 2023.
• N. Asgari, R. Khoshbakhti Saray, S. Mirmasoumi, “Seasonal exergoeconomic assessment and optimization of a dual-fuel trigeneration system of power, cooling, heating, and domestic hot water, proposed for Tabriz, Iran”, Renewable Energy, 2023.
• A. Jafarzad, N. Asgari, F. Ranjbar, F. Mohammadkhani, “Thermodynamic Assessment and Optimization of the Influences of the Steam-Assisted Turbocharging and Organic Rankine Cycle on the Overall Performance of a Diesel Engine-Based Cogeneration Integrated with a Reverse Osmosis Desalination Unit”, Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessment, 2021.
• H. Ghiasirad, N. Asgari, R. Khoshbakhti Saray, S. Mirmasoumi, “Thermoeconomic assessment of a geothermal based combined cooling, heating, and power system, integrated with a humidification-dehumidification desalination unit and an absorption heat transformer”, Energy Conversion and Management, 2021.
• N. Asgari, R. Khoshbakhti Saray, S. Mirmasoumi, “Energy and exergy analyses of a novel seasonal CCHP system driven by a gas turbine integrated with a biomass gasification unit and a LiBr-water absorption chiller”, Energy Conversion and Management, 2020.

• H. Ghiasirad, N. Asgari, R. Khoshbakhti Saray, S. Mirmasoumi, “Geothermal-based freshwater production by humidification-dehumidification and evaporating desalination units integrated with a CCHP system: Energy and exergy analysis”, International Conference on Desalination and Water Purification (ICDWP2021), 16-18 Feb 2021, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran.
• F. Mohammadkhani, F. Ranjbar, N. Asgari, “Utilization of Waste Heat from Condenser of Steam Power Plant Using Organic Rankine Cycle”, The 25th Annual International Conference on Mechanical Engineering ISME2017, 2-4 May 2017, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.

• A. Sohani, A. Mohammadian, N. Asgari, ..., "Simulation and Thermodynamic Modelling of Heat Extraction from Abandoned Wells", "Utilization of Thermal Potential of Abandoned Wells", Elsevier, 2022.

• 
  Journal of Cleaner Production
• 
  Energy
• 
  Applied Thermal Engineering
• 
  Journal of Building Engineering
• 
  Chemosphere
• 
  Atmosphere
• 
  Scientia Iranica
• 
  Open Research Europe-Horizon Europe

1. Speaker at Agrivoltaics Conference, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada (13th Feb. 2026)
2. Speaker at Sustainability, Food and AI Conference, ICFAR, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada (25th Apr. 2025)
3. Speaker at Agrivoltaics Conference, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (3rd Dec. 2024)
4. Guest Speaker at MBA class about Indoor Agrivoltaics, Ivey Business School, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada (26th Aug. 2024)
5. Presenter at Indoor Agrivoltaics booth, Cleantech Conference, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada (21st Nov. 2023)
6. Speaker at Agrivoltaics Conference, Ivey Business School, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada (8th Dec. 2022)

1. FSSC Company, ICFAR, London, Ontario, Canada (2023-2026)
2. Heliolytics Company, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (2022)
3. Tabriz Steam Power Plant, Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran (2014)
4. Hydroomid Co. (Manufacturer of hydraulic valves and couplings), Tabriz, East Azerbaijan, Iran (2014)

1. Solar Energy Harvest: Addressing its challenges
2. Waste heat recovery for greenhouses literature review
3. Greenhouse thermal model
4. Heat pumps integrated with greenhouses literature review
5. Solar Photovoltaics for Electric Vehicle Charging (Application of Machine Learning Techniques) - Literature Review
   

If you would like to access a comprehensive collection of scientific documents, including videos, diagrams, codes, discussions, and more - compiled over the course of my academic studies and scientific/industrial projects - please visit the link below:

Nima's Scientific Bank