The negative air temperature has prevailed in Lithuania for a while, therefore the first ice phenomena have begun to form in the rivers. When the air temperature drops below zero degrees, the cooling process of the surface water layers begins, so ice formations appear near the banks and in places where the river current is weak or almost standing. The freezing of the water creates favourable conditions for the formation of ice crystals, which later merge into blocks of a sponge structure, due to which the density of the ice decreases. First, pancake ice begins to form, and only then do these formations merge into larger ice floes. In places where the river is narrowed or makes sharp turns, near islands or artificial structures, the speed of ice floes increases, or decreases if their density on the river surface is high. In the presence of long-term negative air temperatures, this leads to the formation of a continuous ice cover.
Scientists from the LEI Laboratory of Hydrology, as part of the project “Ice-jam flood risk management in Latvian and Lithuanian regions with respect to climate change” (ICEREG), monitor river changes to improve the management of ice jam flood risks.
In visuals: floating pancake ice in the Neris River.
The registration deadline has been extended!
Dear potential Attendee, we would like to kindly remind You that the deadline to submit your application to participate in the 21st International Conference of Young Scientists on Energy and Natural Sciences Issues (CYSENI 2025) is approaching fast. The Registration deadline has been extended by an additional week, to February 14th, 2025.
Ready to participate? Head to our registration page:
🔗 https://cyseni.com/registration/
Need guidance on the application process? Refer to our instructions for authors:
📝 http://cyseni.com/instructions-for-authors/
Scientists at the LEI Laboratory of Combustion Processes have developed and launched an innovative device for producing torrefied wood, a significant achievement unveiled late last year. Due to its technical complexity and energy costs, this advanced method of processing wood waste is rarely utilized in Europe.
According to Junior Researcher Justas Eimontas, torrefied wood offers several advantages over conventional wood. It requires less maintenance, is easier to store and transport, and resists moisture absorption, thus avoiding the need for drying.
The torrefied wood produced at the laboratory will be supplied to international partners, who will use it in plasma-assisted gasification processes to generate synthetic gas.
The investigation of biomass thermal processing is part of the GIFFT project, funded under the European Commission’s Horizon Europe program. The project’s primary goal is to support the glass industry in becoming more sustainable by reducing its CO2 emissions.
Ice jam floods have not been recorded in Lithuania’s major rivers – the Nemunas and the Neris – for more than a decade. The last such event was documented in 2010, when an ice blockage in the Neris River near Kaunas caused a sudden rise in water levels and flooding of surrounding areas.
These changes may be linked to climate change and milder winters, which reduce the likelihood of ice formation in rivers. In the past, ice jam floods were among the most significant challenges. “As winters become milder, ice forms less frequently in the Nemunas and Neris rivers, significantly reducing the threat to urban and residential infrastructure. However, we should not become complacent, as this unpredictable natural phenomenon could strike with even greater force and catch communities unprepared. To ensure safety, hydrological monitoring of rivers must remain a priority,” says project expert Dr. Diana Meilutytė-Lukauskienė.
Reflecting on the events of 2010, it is worth emphasizing once again the importance of planning urban infrastructure with natural factors in mind, even if the current risk appears minimal. As Lithuania’s climate changes, winters are becoming significantly warmer, and rivers rarely freeze, making ice jam floods and their associated risks less frequent. For comparison with 2010, we present images of the Neris river recorded in January 2025.
Registration to the conference is open. We encourage prospective attendees and guests to subscribe to the event CYSENI 2025 for the latest updates.
REGISTRATION: https://cyseni.com/registration/
FACEBOOK EVENT: https://www.facebook.com/events/1249208983072559
DESCRIPTION
The 21st International Conference of Young Scientists on Energy and Natural Sciences Issues (CYSENI 2025) is an annual event initiated and organised by the Lithuanian Energy Institute and brought to life with the support of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry, RTO Lithuania, and many other valued collaborators. The conference will be held in the venue of the Lithuanian Energy Institute in Kaunas, Lithuania (Breslaujos str. 3), from 20 to 22 May 2025.
CYSENI is a free-of-charge scientific event aimed at young researchers and professionals from Europe and worldwide working in the fields of energy and environmental sciences. Participation in CYSENI will provide a well-established platform for undergraduate, MSc and PhD students, postdocs, entrant engineers, and other young scientists to present their latest research, develop presentation skills, build valuable contacts, and forge durable scientific relationships.
This year’s CYSENI conference proudly continues its tradition as we celebrate its 21st edition! CYSENI covers a broad spectrum of topics, fostering multidisciplinary discussions and offering excellent opportunities for the exchange of innovative ideas and potential collaborations.
CONFERENCE TOPICS AND IMPORTANT DATES: www.cyseni.com/topics-and-deadlines/
INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS: https://cyseni.com/instructions-for-authors/
IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES
📍 07 February 2025 – registration and abstracts submission deadline
📍 07 March 2025 – author notification on abstract acceptance
📍 09 May 2025 – announcement of the Conference program
📍 20–22 May 2025 – Conference event
The 2024 competition for the most advanced master’s students, doctoral students, and young researchers at the Lithuanian Energy Institute is announced.
The most advanced for 2024
Master’s students – individuals working at LEI and studying in a master’s program, or individuals working at LEI who have not graduated from their master’s program more than two years ago.
Doctoral students – individuals studying in a doctoral program at LEI. Doctoral candidates who were on academic leave or temporarily interrupted their studies during the reporting period are not eligible to participate in the competition.
Young researchers – individuals employed in primary positions at LEI who have graduated with a doctoral degree no more than 5 years ago (this period does not include parental leave).
The competition evaluates participants’ scientific activities conducted from September 1, 2023, to August 31, 2024.
Deadline to submit applications – December 12, 2024, noon, to the study administrator Jolanta Kazakevičienė in room AK-202 or via email at jolanta.kazakeviciene@lei.lt or study@lei.lt.
Awards will be given to the competition winners in the form of financial incentive.
We invite you to participate!
On November 26, 2024, the experts meeting of the project “Ice-jam flood risk management in Latvian and Lithuanian regions with respect to climate change” (ICEREG) took place at Bauska Castle. The meeting focused on the impact of climate change on ice-jam floods, presented the results of climate and hydrological modeling, and discussed the development of the conceptual model, data analysis methods, and flood risk mapping. Experts also reviewed future tasks to ensure the achievement of the project objectives.
The Project is funded by the European Union’s Interreg VI-A Latvia–Lithuania Programme 2021–2027
More information: https://www.lei.lt/en/projektas/icereg/
Scientists from the Center for Hydrogen Energy Technologies of the Lithuanian Energy Institute, Dr. Šarūnas Varnagiris, Dr. Marius Urbonavičius, and Dr. Darius Milčius, are participating in Europe’s leading event dedicated to the development of hydrogen energy — the European Hydrogen Week, taking place on November 18–22.
At the joint Lithuanian, Latvian, and Estonian stand, the LEI research activities related to hydrogen energy were presented. The stand attracted representatives of institutions from around the world interested in hydrogen technologies. During the event, new connections were established, potentially contributing to the implementation of future projects.
On November 7, 2024, the Lithuanian Energy Institute hosted guests from Türkiye as part of the collaborative development project “Collaborative Türkiye-Lithuania Missions as a Learning and Networking Tool to Address Climate Change Challenges” (TLM-3C). Project aim – to strengthen the capacities of local authorities in Türkiye and develop cooperation between local authorities, science and business in TR-LT through missions on climate change.
Representatives from LEI, along with Serdar Karaduman (KENT-LAB, project lead partner), Vahap Sevim (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality), Yeşim Esen (Çiğli Municipality), and Assistant Professor Ufuk Özkan (İzmir KÇ University), discussed aspects of energy efficiency and visited LEI laboratories.
