Dear colleagues,

We regret to inform you that on February 28, an outstanding energy scientist, scientific leader of the Melentiev Energy Systems Institute SB RAS, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Nikolay Ivanovich Voropai passed away.

N.I. Voropai was born on November 1, 1943. He was Doctor of Sciences in Engineering (1990), Professor (1993), Honorary Scientist of the Russian Federation (1999), Honorary Power Engineer (2003), a laureate of the USSR State Prize (1986), two prizes of the Russian Government (1999, 2011), the G.M. Krzhizhanovsky Prize (2005, 2021), and the I.M. Gubkin Prize (2004). He was awarded the Order of Friendship (2004) and the Order of Honor (2013).

He worked at the Melentiev ESI SB RAS since 1966. He served as Director of the Institute from 1997 to 2016.

N.I. Voropai was a renowned expert in the field of energy systems research, author and co-author of more than 700 published research contributions. N.I. Voropai identified and investigated the fundamental features of complex extended electric power systems, which allowed to explain many particular phenomena and processes, such as system accidents, on the basis of clear physical representations and to develop theoretical foundations for the analysis and synthesis of structurally heterogeneous power interconnections. This direction is the methodological backbone of research efforts by a school of thought that still leads its field to this day. He successfully supervised over 20 PhD students.

Under the leadership of N.I. Voropai, a methodology, mathematical models, and methods for expansion planning of the power industry, power systems, and utilities under multiple decision criteria and divergent interests of the entities of relations were developed. The methodology is unparalleled in the science of power engineering.

N.I. Voropai was one of the first to initiate pioneering research on ensuring the energy security of Russia and its regions. In recent years, he was actively engaged in the issues of smart energy systems.

N.I. Voropai was a full member of the Russian Academy of Electrical Engineering Sciences and the International Energy Academy, a member of the Presidium of the Russian Scientific and Engineering Society of Power Engineers and Electrical Engineers, a member of several scientific councils of RAS and SB RAS, a member of the Scientific and Engineering Council of FGC UES and RAS, chairman of the thesis committee of the Melentiev Energy Systems Institute SB RAS, a member of the technical committee of the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC), a member of the International Conference on Large Electric Systems CIGRE, an IEEE Life Fellow, and a member of other international and Russian organizations. He was the editor-in-chief of the international journal Energy Systems Research and served on editorial boards of prominent Russian and international journals and publishers.

N.I. Voropai always took an active part in scientific and social life, which was always substantial, useful, and unselfish. In many respects, thanks to him, a team of like-minded people with a healthy and friendly atmosphere was formed. His personal qualities – sincerity, humanity, patience combined with determination, wisdom, and intelligence – are the qualities of a true leader both in the institute and beyond its walls.

All friends and colleagues mourn and remember N.I. Voropai and express their condolences to the bereaved family and relatives.

Condolences can be sent to: info@isem.irk.ru