- Dr. Talebi, Girasol’s Chief Data Scientist and a selectee of Iran's National Foundation, is committed to making our planet cleaner and bringing value to society beyond national borders. -

In Iran, Dr. Farzad Talebi emerged from an elite background, excelling in national-level problem-solving. He has received numerous awards both nationally and internationally. 

His career journey includes three transitions: from Iran to Japan, academia to industry, and from a structural engineer to a data scientist. 

These experiences have shaped him into a potential future leader in Girasol and the renewable energy industry.

Structural engineer who has solved national-level problems in his home country (Iran)

As a structural engineer in Iran, he served as a simulation and structural design instructor for five years, imparting his knowledge to other engineers. His expertise extended over five years in the field of structural design, with a focus on buildings and underground structures such as subway tunnels. A significant highlight of his career was a three-year involvement in a subway tunnel project in his hometown. This project was particularly challenging due to cracks in the tunnel lining over a 3-kilometer stretch during construction. Supported by an award from the National Elites Foundation of Iran, he was exempted from military service to dedicate his efforts to this critical research. His innovative approach led to the successful redesign of 20 kilometers of Tabriz city's 2nd line subway tunnel within 18 months, effectively resolving the cracking issue.

Dr. Talebi's expertise caught the attention of a professor from Kyoto University, leading to a discussion that would change his career trajectory. Having collaborated with Japanese universities and demonstrated a long-standing interest in Japan, he received an invitation for doctoral studies in Japan. He received a full scholarship from MEXT (文部科学省奨学金) to join the Earthquake and Lifeline Engineering laboratory at Kyoto University for his Doctoral course, a globally renowned lab for earthquake Engineering research." 

From Academia to industry, from structural engineer to data scientist

Dr. Talebi's journey took him from academia to industry, transitioning from a structural engineer to a data scientist. At one of Japan's top labs in Earthquake and Lifeline Engineering, he developed innovative analytical, numerical, and experimental methods for the evaluation of earthquake impacts on underground structures and created new mathematical models. Concurrently, he nurtured his interest in data science by working part-time as a programming developer, honing skills he would later integrate into his career.

After graduating with his Ph.D. in Engineering from Kyoto University and a short post-doctoral career in the same laboratory, he shifted to the industry in Tokyo, combining roles as a structural engineer and data analyst. His desire to apply his skills in a meaningful way led him to the renewable energy sector in solar, wind, and geothermal energy. Initially, He was more focused on wind energy data. At his first company, his data analysis projects in wind energy stood out, leading to a decrease in his structural projects and the formation of a dedicated data science team under his leadership. 

Later, he joined Girasol Energy Inc., where he established and led a data science team focusing on research and development. The environment at Girasol, reminiscent of a university lab yet distinctly industrial, was filled with open-minded, highly educated Japanese and international professionals dedicated to research for a sustainable future, which was very interesting. This unique blend of academia and industry in the renewable energy industry especially in Girasol Energy Inc., coupled with a mission to contribute to society, aligned perfectly with Dr. Talebi's aspirations and expertise.

The two-faced approach（likens to Nitoryu "二刀流"）that fully realized at Girasol Energy Inc., What he would like to achieve in the future.

At Girasol, he takes pride in seeing his research turn into practical solutions for societal issues. As the Chief Data Scientist, he balances his roles, merging research-oriented data exploration with the industrial task of creating tangible products. This dual capability, he believes, is where the true value lies, as university research often doesn't directly translate to real-world applications.

Moreover, Talebi's expertise isn't confined to data science; he continues to engage in structural engineering. This dual role enriches his professional life and leverages his diverse background from Iran to Japan, and from researcher to engineer. His extensive knowledge and experience in both data science and structural engineering are being fully utilized at Girasol, reflecting his multifaceted career journey. He is also responsible for the structural repowering of aging solar power plants and the design and supervision of new ones, working closely with his structural team. This dual capacity underscores his Nitoryu approach combining the intricacy of data science with the practicality of structural engineering.

He values Girasol for its unique blend of academia-like research and industrial application, and his work is a testament to this synergy. By innovating in energy production methods for higher efficiency and lower costs, he sees his varied experiences from Iran to Japan, and across multiple engineering disciplines come to fruition, directly contributing to societal betterment.

To turn the energy within me into the future energy of society and the planet.

Recently, with the changing landscape of renewable energy policies, Dr. Talebi and his team at Girasol are concentrating on preparing both the company and society for these significant transformations. They are employing data, and artificial intelligence (AI), statistical models to simulate the policy changes, preparing tools, and seeking the most economically viable and energy-efficient solutions for their customers and the company. 

A primary area of focus for them is improving the performance of the numerous underperforming solar power plants across Japan. They use advanced data analysis to identify issues within the power plants, covering a range of problems from PCSs and PV modules to cables and degradation, shading, derating, etc. Dr. Talebi has developed a method that allows for the remote detection of power plants in need of repowering using just electricity bills and satellite data. This innovative approach reduces the need for costly professional site visits while effectively identifying areas for repowering. He has conducted extensive research in this domain, creating several predictive models for future energy generation of solar power plants that have garnered high acclaim.

At the core of Talebi's work is a strong desire to positively impact society and contribute to a cleaner planet. He is committed to leveraging his expertise and experience, in collaboration with his teams, to address larger societal issues. For Dr. Talebi, solving these energy challenges and enhancing the efficiency of energy generation is the ultimate legacy he aims to leave.

In addition to his diverse professional endeavors, to impact the scientific society, Dr. Talebi is also a significant member of the Research Committee on Ground Reaction Forces Acting on Underground Structures within the Japan Association of Earthquake Engineering (JAEE). In this unique role, he collaborates with leading professors and research center representatives to develop standardized methods for assessing the impact of seismic activities on underground structures. As the youngest and sole international member, his contributions are instrumental in advancing ground reaction force evaluations for structures like tunnels and pipes under various ground conditions.

From  Editor.

There is recent exciting news about the work Dr. Talebi has been involved in.

Girasol Energy Inc. won an award in a recent AI competition on solar forecast for the prediction of Energy generation of Solar power plants.

Dr. Talebi's significant role in winning the award is a testament to his extensive involvement and expertise in various critical areas. He contributed to research on model improvement and development, the development of machine learning (ML) models, pre-processing and data cleaning, as well as preparing input weather forecast data. His skills were also instrumental in training these models and predicting power plant Energy generation.

Dr. Talebi's advanced skills and knowledge as well as his "uncompromising attitude for the future society" will continue to contribute to sustainable solutions for the future of our planet, Earth.