WIRE COST Action 7th Working Groups Workshop
3 & 4 July 2025, Faro, Portugal
Located in the south of Portugal, in a region with a Mediterranean climate and a renowned tourist destination, the University of Algarve (UAlg) (https://www.ualg.pt/en) is headquartered in Faro, the capital of the Algarve.
Its privileged location near Faro International Airport and the increasing number of air routes connecting it to Lisbon, Porto, and major European cities gives UAlg a truly central and international character.
Each year, Faro welcomes around 2,000 international students from over 100 nationalities, contributing to a vibrant academic and cultural atmosphere.
The University of Algarve is spread across three campuses—two in Faro and one in Portimão—and offers a wide range of undergraduate, integrated master’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees across disciplines such as Arts, Communication and Heritage; Economics, Management and Tourism; Science and Health Technologies; Exact and Natural Sciences; Social Sciences and Education; and Engineering and Technologies. UAlg provides excellent infrastructure, including classrooms and labs for teaching and research, online-accessible libraries, campus-wide Wi-Fi, student accommodation, catering and medical services, as well as cultural and sporting facilities.
These resources make the University and the surrounding region an ideal place for learning, research, entrepreneurship, and personal development.
Scientific research is a core pillar of UAlg’s mission. The university has established itself nationally and internationally through the excellence of its R&D activities and through a dense network of partnerships with institutions and universities worldwide in diverse fields of knowledge.
The 7th WIRE Working Groups Workshop aims to reinforce the collaboration within and across WIRE’s Working Groups. The event will include oral and poster presentations, and our traditional STSM session, as well as keynote lectures. The workshop will provide a platform to advance each WG’s objectives and deliverables while encouraging dynamic interaction between WIRE participants and external stakeholders.
More details on the program, and logistics can be found below.
We look forward to welcoming you in Faro!
PROGRAM
Program available here.
KEYNOTES
Paulo Brito
Keynote: “Production of renewable gases from waste via thermal gasification”
Paulo Brito has a degree in Chemical Engineering with a Processes and Industry specialization, from Instituto Superior Técnico (IST, University of Lisbon, Portugal). Has a master’s degree in “Corrosion Science and Engineering” by UMIST (Manchester University) and has a PhD in Chemical Engineering (Electrochemistry, IST). He also has an MBA (INDEGISCTE). He is Principal Coordinator Professor at the Technology and Management School (ESTG) of the Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre (IPPortalegre), President of the ESTG Scientific Council and the coordinator of the institution’s research center VALORIZA – Research Center for Endogenous Resource Valorization. His main research areas are bioenergy, renewable gases, waste environmental treatments, materials’ corrosion, and galvanic energy production. He has published more than 200 works, in books, articles and conferences presentations.
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2581-4460
Margarida Gonçalves
Keynote: “Biochar and activated carbon as functional materials for biorefineries”
Maria Margarida Boavida Pontes Gonçalves is an Associated Professor of DQ-FCT-NOVA, Coordinator of the Master Course in Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies, Researcher at MEtRICS (Mechanical Engineering and Resource Sustainability Center, FCT-NOVA and UMinho) and Collaborator at VALORIZA (Research Center for the Valorization of Endogenous Resources, ESTG-IP-Portalegre). Has been supervisor or co-supervisor of 21 PhD students, 8 of which are on-going. Main research interests include valorization of biomass and wastes, carbonization, hydrothermal carbonization, pyrolysis, gasification, effluent treatment with microalgae, circular economy, and bioeconomy. She is the author of 211 publications in scientific journals and conference proceedings from which 102 papers are indexed by Scopus. She is a Member of the Editorial Board of Energies and Reviewer of various scientific journals from the areas of Biomass, Energy and Waste Valorization.
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0940-519X
Nelson Sousa
Keynote: “Enhancing fuel properties of biomass and RDF via solar-powered torrefaction”
Professor Nelson Sousa graduated in Mechanical Engineering in 1997 and earned his Ph.D. in 2014 from Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), University of Lisbon, Portugal. He is currently a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Institute of Engineering, University of Algarve. Over the years, he has held management positions within the department and played a key role in developing several academic programs.He has been actively involved in projects related to sustainable energy and mobility, as well as in establishing an accredited laboratory for testing biomass combustion equipment. His research focuses on solid fuel combustion, and the torrefaction of biomass and Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF), with several publications in peer-reviewed journals and international conferences.
ORCID ID: 0000-0001-5205-8608
Jânio Monteiro
Keynote: “The Smart Grids research at the Smart and Sustainable Systems Lab of the University of Algarve”
Jânio Monteiro is a Professor of the Institute of Engineering, Universidade do Algarve, in Portugal. He holds a PhD degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon, Portugal. He is the President of the Board of Directors of CINTAL, a Technological Research Center of the Algarve. He participated in 14 European R&D projects funded by the European Union, 5 as Principal Investigator (PI), and 8 national projects, with local companies, 2 as PI. He is also a member of the coordination team of the Culatra 2030 project, a pilot project supported by the Clean Energy for EU Islands Secretariat, that aims to create a Sustainable Community in the Culatra Island, in Portugal.
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4203-1679
Gökhan Türker
Keynote: “Biogas industry in Türkiye: Past, present and future with cases from the field”
Gokhan TURKER is working as Ass. Prof. at Engineering Fundamental Sciences Department in Istanbul Medeniyet University. He is also co-founder and technical manager of two R&D Company located in Bogazici University Dudullu Teknopark.
Having long years of business and academic experience in the fields of renewable energy and environmental problems, he has specifically focused on biomass to energy projects as well as valorization of biomass. Mr. TURKER has also experience in the fields of energy efficiency and management, sustainable environment, GHG emissions, renewable energy sources, environmental biotechnology and microbial ecology. Mr. TURKER holds a bachelor’s degree in Molecular Biology and Genetics, Master’s and PhD in Environmental Sciences from Bogazici University, Turkey. Currently, he is positioned as Ass. Prof. at Engineering Fundamental Sciences Department in Istanbul Medeniyet University. He also was lecturer in various national and international workshops on uses of molecular techniques in environmental biotechnology organized by Microbial Ecology Group (MEG). Currently, he has published two book chapters, two books and twelve scientific articles in different journals. He has also performed ten oral and six poster presentations in international symposiums.
Transport & accommodation suggestions
How to get to University of Algarve: WIRE’s 7th Working Groups Workshop will be held at the “Complexo Pedagógico”, of the Penha Campus, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal. Please use this LINK from Google Maps to navigate to the Conference location.
Going from the Faro Airport to the Penha Campus: Faro airport distances 8 km from the Penha Campus. The trip takes approximately 11 minutes by car. You can take a taxi or rent a car.
Going from Faro Airport to the city center: From Faro Airport to the city center, you can take a taxi, rent a car or take a bus. PROXIMO bus lines 14 and 16 operate from Faro Airport from 05:00 h to 23:00 h. The 20-minute bus ride to Faro is frequent and affordable (€2,40 single fare). For more information, visit www.proximo.pt.
Going from the City Centre to the Penha Campus: The “Complexo Pedagógico” building at Penha Campus is located around a 20 minutes walking distance from the city centre. Bus line 18 connects the central bus station (near Hotel Eva) to Penha Campus. GPS: 37°01’42.4″N 7°55’28.4″W
Faro, the administrative centre of the Algarve region in southern Portugal, is a city where history, culture, and natural beauty converge. With origins dating back to Roman times and a rich heritage shaped by Moorish and Christian influences, Faro stands today as a gateway to both the past and the stunning coastal landscapes of the region.
At the heart of the city lies the well-preserved Cidade Velha (Old Town), enclosed by ancient defensive walls and accessed through the iconic Arco da Vila. Visitors can explore a wealth of historical landmarks, including the Faro Cathedral, the Municipal Museum housed in a former convent, and the Church of Nossa Senhora do Carmo, renowned for its Chapel of Bones.
Faro is also a point of access to the Ria Formosa Natural Park, a unique coastal lagoon and one of Portugal’s most important protected areas. The park’s diverse ecosystem can be experienced through guided boat tours, offering access to tranquil barrier islands and pristine beaches.
With a vibrant cultural life, modern infrastructure, and a welcoming atmosphere, Faro offers a compelling destination for travellers seeking both authenticity and comfort in the Algarve.
Faro offers a wide variety of accommodation options, from hotels, to hostels, local accommodation units (self-catering), or Bed and Breakfast. Most of these are announced on booking websites, like booking.com. Please find below some accomodation suggestions:
Hotel Alnacir – Estrada Senhora Da Saúde, 24, 8000-500 Faro, Portugal
Hotel Made inn Faro – Rua Miguel Bombarda 64, 8000-394 Faro, Portugal
Stay Hotel Faro Centro – Rua de Portugal nº17, 8000-281 Faro, Portugal
Alameda Exclusive House – Rua da Polícia de Segurança Pública nº12, 8000-408 Faro, Portugal
Travel reimbursement rules
For details on COST reimbursement rules, please consult: https://www.cost.eu/uploads/2025/04/Travel_Reimbursement_Rules_2025.pdf