Three questions for: Moroccan guest researcher Rihab Ayzzi

8th October, 2025 | Guest researcher Rihab Ayzzi from Morocco stays for three months at Reiner Lemoine Institute. Rihab is a renewable energy engineer with a focus on hydrogen systems and energy transition strategies. She works with the Research Unit Off-Grid Systems at RLI testing the Off-Grid Planner tool.

We asked Rihab three questions about her time at RLI.

What is your first impression of the RLI? 
My first impression of RLI is that it embodies a rare balance between scientific rigor and openness to collaboration. The environment encourages curiosity and critical thinking, while at the same time fostering an atmosphere where innovative ideas can emerge and be tested in practice. What struck me most is the institute’s strong commitment to the energy transition, not only as a research field but as a mission that connects people from diverse backgrounds.

What are you working on during your stay at the RLI? 
My project is essentially a validation study. I am benchmarking a new Off-Grid Planner tool by running the same case study for the Thai island of Koh Jik, through both it and the industry-standard software, HOMER. The core objective is to determine whether the new tool produces technically sound and economically credible results.
Ultimately, I am stress-testing this Off-Grid Planner. I’m working to determine its strengths, identify its weaknesses, and define the conditions under which it can be trusted. This validation is crucial, both for the developers to improve their product and for future users to avoid making costly decisions based on potentially inaccurate simulations.

What are your goals for your time at RLI? 
My main goal is to contribute meaningfully to RLI’s ongoing projects while sharpening my analytical and methodological skills. I hope to leave behind results that can support the institute’s long-term work, whether through new insights, models, or collaborations. On a personal level, I also aim to explore the next step in my research career by engaging with RLI researchers, exchanging ideas, and identifying opportunities that align with my goal.

We thank Rihab for her support and wish her continued success with her work at RLI!