Martin Boelli

Martin Boelli is Electrical and Environmental Engineer and works as an expert on renewable energy and environmental technologies since 2004. His main activities are planning, design, capacity building, technical and environmental assessments of renewable energy systems (with a strong focus on small hydropower) and the improvement of frame conditions for an increased utilisation of renewable energy resources.

Studies which he elaborated e.g. in Ethiopia included among others assessment of hydropower potential, energy and electrification policies, legal requirements, willingness and ability to pay and productive use of electricity to increase the load factor. Martin Boelli significantly contributed to the formulation of energy policies in different countries (Switzerland, Ethiopia, Nepal, and Azerbaijan). As electrical engineer he has the specific competence to link policy and legal aspects to the respective technical implications, e.g. in the case of feed-in rules, tariff setting and power purchase agreements.

He has specific experience not only in pure hydropower (isolated and grid-connected systems) but also hybrid power systems. In several projects (Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia) he analyses the hydropower potential in drinking and irrigation water systems. Besides his international assignments Martin Boelli is managing the Swiss Small Hydropower Promotion Program of the Federal Office of Energy (Switzerland) where he is responsible for the coordination of different players in the energy market. Martin Boelli worked in more than 15 countries on four continents and is accustomed and experienced to work in less and least developed countries in interdisciplinary and international project teams, as a team member as well as a project leader.