District heating performance
Monitoring and evaluating energy consumption and system efficiency in district heating networks. Python for data processing, performance benchmarking and building energy analysis.
Energy Systems Engineer · Freiburg, Germany
Suman Pathak
Mechanical engineer pursuing an M.Sc. in Sustainable Systems Engineering at the University of Freiburg. My work sits where building energy performance, thermal energy systems and data analysis meet: from monitoring district heating networks to studying how heat pumps behave under variable grid carbon intensities.
- Currently
- Student Assistant, INATECH
- Studying
- M.Sc., University of Freiburg
- ResearchGate
- 64,666 reads
Energy systems & research
Since February 2025 I work as a Student Assistant at INATECH, University of Freiburg, while doing my Master’s research on heat-pump emissions across Germany.
Heat pumps on a variable grid
How heat-pump emissions change as grid CO₂ intensity varies in Germany, including the effect of photovoltaics (PV) and combined heat and power (CHP) across regions.
When does a heat pump beat gas?
The question behind my M.Sc. research, in its simplest form: a heat pump’s emissions are the grid’s carbon intensity divided by its COP. Move both and compare with a condensing gas boiler.
Assumes 201 g CO₂ per kWh of natural gas burned and a boiler efficiency of 95%. Direct emissions only. The research itself uses hourly, regional grid data, including PV and CHP.
127 g
CO₂ per kWh of heat
40% less than a gas boiler (212 g). At this COP, gas only wins on a grid above 635 g/kWh.
Selected projects
Energy systems work in Freiburg, and the mechanical engineering projects that came before it.
Energy systems · INATECH · Ongoing
District heating performance analysis
Monitoring and evaluating thermal performance and energy consumption in district heating systems. Building Python pipelines for data cleaning and benchmarking to assess heat delivery, supply-temperature dynamics and network heat losses.
Read the case studyM.Sc. project · University of Freiburg
Heat-pump emissions under variable grid CO₂
A regional study for Germany of how temporal grid carbon intensity, seasonal PV surplus and combined heat and power shape the operational emissions of heat pumps, and when they actually beat fossil heating.
Read the overviewEarlier engineering projects
From my B.E. in Mechanical Engineering at Kathmandu University: thermal systems, machine design and structural analysis.
- Earthquake-resistant building: thermal retrofitBuilding energyResearchGate
- Low-temperature refrigeration systemThermal systemsResearchGate
- Central air conditioning maintenanceHVACResearchGate
- Rocker-bogie prototypeDesign and buildResearchGate
- Sand sieving machineMachine designResearchGate
- Structural analysis of a crane hookFEAResearchGate
- FEA of a stool-shaped cylindrical barFEAResearchGate
- Mechanical bicycle3D designUpwork
Experience & education
Download CVExperience
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Feb 2025 – present
Student Assistant, Energy Systems
INATECH, University of Freiburg
Monitoring and evaluating energy consumption and system efficiency in district heating systems. Python-based data processing, building energy performance analysis and thermal system benchmarking.
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Jan 2023 – May 2023
HVAC Engineer Intern
Himal Refrigeration and Electrical Industries
Assisted in designing, installing and maintaining HVAC systems. Hands-on experience with central air conditioning, refrigeration systems and field engineering.
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May 2018 – Feb 2025
Co-Founder
ROE Network
Co-founded ROE Network to support educational growth and community engagement in Nepal. Led content development, community building and organisational strategy.
Education
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2024 – present
M.Sc. Sustainable Systems Engineering
University of Freiburg
Energy systems, building performance, thermal engineering and sustainable infrastructure. Current research: heat-pump emissions under variable grid CO₂ intensities.
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2018 – 2023
B.E. Mechanical Engineering
Kathmandu University
Thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, mechanical design, CAD in SolidWorks and structural analysis (FEA).
Technical skills
- Energy systems
- District heating, heat pumps, HVAC, building energy, thermal systems, refrigeration
- Modelling & analysis
- Energy modelling, simulation, data analysis, performance evaluation
- Programming & tools
- Python, pandas, NumPy, Matplotlib
- Engineering design
- SolidWorks, CAD, FEA, mechanical design
Research & writing
Writing is part of how I think: energy policy, buildings and climate, and engineering topics.
The Hydropower Illusion: Nepal’s Energy Sovereignty
Nepal sits atop 83,000 MW of hydropower potential, yet the average Nepali uses less electricity than someone in sub-Saharan Africa. An investigative look at who benefits from Nepal’s rivers.
Read the articleNepal’s Earthquake Preparedness
A decade after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake: resilience, risk monitoring and what still needs to change.
Impact of Climate Change on Building Design
Sustainable materials, passive design and smart systems, with a case study from Nepal.
Passive Cooling Strategies for Urban Areas
Green roofs, reflective surfaces and vegetation against the urban heat island in cities like Kathmandu.
Building Energy Efficiency with CAD
Modelling energy use and HVAC systems before a building is built.
AI Writing: A Blessing or a Curse?
Where AI tools help writers, and where they put skill and integrity at risk.
ResearchGate: 64,666 reads · RIS 88.0
My ResearchGate profilePhotography
Landscapes, cities and moments, mostly on the move between Nepal and Germany.
Get in touch
Whether it is about energy systems, a research collaboration or anything else, I would like to hear from you.
- [email protected]
- Location
- Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
- Elsewhere