Ilja Pawel - Energy Storage Advisory and Business Development

Q: Where is Ilja based?

Ilja is based in Vienna, Austria and can operate in on-site , hybrid , and remote work models.

Q: What languages does Ilja speak?

Ilja speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), Spanish (Intermediate) .

Q: How many years of experience does Ilja have?

Ilja has at least 23 years of experience. During this time, Ilja has worked in at least 7 different roles and for 7 different companies . The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 3 months . Note that Ilja may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

Q: What is Ilja's latest experience?

Ilja's most recent position is Owner at Dr. Ilja Pawel Consulting .

Q: What companies has Ilja worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Ilja has worked for Dr. Ilja Pawel Consulting .

Q: Which industries is Ilja most experienced in?

Ilja is most experienced in industries like Energy , Professional Services , and Manufacturing . Ilja also has some experience in Education , Automotive , and Information Technology (IT) .

Q: Which business areas is Ilja most experienced in?

Ilja is most experienced in business areas like Research and Development (R&D) , Product Development , Investments, and M&A & Venture Capital . Ilja also has some experience in Strategy and Planning , Project Management , and Accounting .

Q: Which industries has Ilja worked in recently?

Ilja has recently worked in industries like Energy and Professional Services .

Q: Which business areas has Ilja worked in recently?

Ilja has recently worked in business areas like Investments, M&A & Venture Capital , Research and Development (R&D) , and Strategy and Planning .

Recommended expert

Vienna, Austria

Experience

Sep 2016 - Present

9 years 6 months

Vienna, Austria

Remote

Owner

Dr. Ilja Pawel Consulting

Technical due diligence
Energy storage business development
Investment advisory
Interim management

Aug 2011 - Jul 2016

5 years

Wiener Neudorf, Austria

On-site

Head of Projects

GILDEMEISTER Energy Storage GmbH

Worldwide customer project management and execution
Automating quotation generation
Defining product features
Managing orders
Executing flow battery projects (SmartRegion Pellworm 200kW/1600kWh; Gildemeister DMG Mori sites Bielefeld 200kW/400kWh, Winterthur 200kW/400kWh, Uljanowsk 130kWh, Tokio 130kWh; C&I sites in India, USA, Australia, South Africa 10-30kW per site)

Aug 2009 - Jul 2011

2 years

Vienna, Austria

On-site

Project Manager

HEI Solar Light GmbH

Product development
E-mobility charging infrastructure
Application for support

Jul 2008 - Mar 2009

9 months

Vienna, Austria

Hybrid

Consultant

EFS Unternehmensberatung GmbH

Implemented product data management for a German OEM

Jun 2005 - May 2008

3 years

Villach, Austria

On-site

PhD Candidate

Infineon Technologies AG

Device and process simulation of power MOSFET

Apr 2003 - May 2005

2 years 2 months

Ilmenau, Germany

On-site

Research Assistant

Technical University Ilmenau

Device simulation
Teaching undergraduate courses
Co-founder and shareholder of a start-up developing test and analysis equipment and processes, led the accounting department

Apr 2001 - Sep 2001

6 months

Melbourne, United States

On-site

Intern

Terion Inc.

Signal data processing and automation

Industries Experience

See where this freelancer has spent most of their professional time. Longer bars indicate deeper hands-on experience, while shorter ones reflect targeted or project-based work.

Experienced in Energy (16.5 years), Professional Services (9.5 years), Manufacturing (5 years), Education (2 years), Automotive (0.5 years), and Information Technology (0.5 years).

Energy

Professional Services

Manufacturing

Education

Automotive

Information Technology

Business Areas Experience

The graph below provides a cumulative view of the freelancer's experience across multiple business areas, calculated from completed and active engagements. It highlights the areas where the freelancer has most frequently contributed to planning, execution, and delivery of business outcomes.

Experienced in Research and Development (15 years), Investments and M&A (9.5 years), Strategy (9.5 years), Product Development (9.5 years), Project Management (7 years), and Accounting (2 years).

Research and Development

Investments and M&A

Strategy

Product Development

Project Management

Accounting

Summary

Independent expert for energy storage. I support project developers and investors with transparent, economically sound investment decisions. My core areas: techno-economic assessments, risk and bankability analyses, and structured decision-making. When needed, I also take on operational responsibility as an interim manager. Keynote speaker on investment risks, market maturity, and the role of energy storage in resilient energy systems.

I am Ilja Pawel, an independent energy storage expert, and I help project developers and investors make well-founded and economically viable investment decisions. My work combines technical depth, financial clarity, and international project experience to reduce risks, sharpen business cases, and implement energy storage projects that are both financeable and operationally robust.

Companies work with me when they need answers to key questions:

Which storage technology fits technically and economically for the application?
What risks are hidden behind manufacturer data and system specifications?
How can degradation, OPEX, and performance be realistically modelled?
What makes a project financeable from the perspective of investors and insurers?
How can costly wrong decisions in early project phases be avoided?
How is a transparent investment decision structured?

I guide my clients through the decision-making process:

Techno-economic assessments (LCOS, scenario analyses)
Technology evaluation and maturity analyses
Safety, risk, and insurance assessments
Independent project reviews and due diligence support

I take on responsibilities beyond pure consulting. When operational leadership or implementation is needed, I step in as an interim manager to ensure that decisions not only look good on paper but are effectively executed. I stabilize projects, fill gaps, and support teams through complex implementation phases.

As a keynote speaker, I speak on investment risks, technology maturity levels, and the strategic role of energy storage. My talks bring clarity, challenge assumptions, and support informed decisions in an increasingly complex market environment.

Languages

German

Native

English

Advanced

Spanish

Intermediate

Education

Oct 2003 - Jun 2010

TU Ilmenau

Ph.D. in Engineering · Electrical Engineering · Ilmenau, Germany

Oct 1997 - Jun 2002

TU Ilmenau

Diploma in Industrial Engineering and Management · Industrial Engineering and Management (Electrical Engineering) · Ilmenau, Germany

Profile

Created

February 2026

Need a freelancer? Find your match in seconds.

Try FRATCH GPT

Frequently asked questions

Do you have questions? Here you can find further information.

Where is Ilja based?

Ilja is based in Vienna, Austria and can operate in on-site, hybrid, and remote work models.

What languages does Ilja speak?

Ilja speaks the following languages: German (Native), English (Advanced), Spanish (Intermediate).

How many years of experience does Ilja have?

Ilja has at least 23 years of experience. During this time, Ilja has worked in at least 7 different roles and for 7 different companies. The average length of individual experience is 3 years and 3 months. Note that Ilja may not have shared all experience and actually has more experience.

What roles would Ilja be best suited for?

Based on recent experience, Ilja would be well-suited for roles such as: Owner, Head of Projects, Project Manager.

What is Ilja's latest experience?

Ilja's most recent position is Owner at Dr. Ilja Pawel Consulting.

What companies has Ilja worked for in recent years?

In recent years, Ilja has worked for Dr. Ilja Pawel Consulting.

Which industries is Ilja most experienced in?

Ilja is most experienced in industries like Energy, Professional Services, and Manufacturing. Ilja also has some experience in Education, Automotive, and Information Technology (IT).

Which business areas is Ilja most experienced in?

Ilja is most experienced in business areas like Research and Development (R&D), Product Development, Investments, and M&A & Venture Capital. Ilja also has some experience in Strategy and Planning, Project Management, and Accounting.

Which industries has Ilja worked in recently?

Ilja has recently worked in industries like Energy and Professional Services.

Which business areas has Ilja worked in recently?

Ilja has recently worked in business areas like Investments, M&A & Venture Capital, Research and Development (R&D), and Strategy and Planning.

What is Ilja's education?

Ilja holds a Doctorate in Electrical Engineering from TU Ilmenau and a Master in Industrial Engineering and Management (Electrical Engineering) from TU Ilmenau.

What is the availability of Ilja?

Ilja is immediately available full-time for suitable projects.

What is the rate of Ilja?

Ilja's rate depends on the specific project requirements. Please use the Meet button on the profile to schedule a meeting and discuss the details.