Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Sleman Saliba

Vita

Since March 2025: Professor for Applied Mathematics and Informatics, Hochschule Karlsruhe / University of Applied Science

Jul 2018 - Feb 2025: Global Product Manager Energy Management and Optimization, ABB AG, Process Automation Energy Industries, Mannheim

Jul 2015 - Jul 2018: Business Development Manager Energy Management, ABB AG, Power Generation, Mannheim

Jul 2013 - Jun 2015: Senior Expert Plant Optimization, ABB AG, Power Generation, Mannheim

Jul 2008 – Jun 2013: Scientist, ABB Corporate Research Center, Ladenburg

2008 PhD in Mathematics from University of Kaiserslautern, DE
(„Online Optimization of Large-Scale Vehicle Routing Problems“)

2004 Graduated in Applied Mathematics at TU Graz, AT, and University of Sheffield, UK

Teaching

Mathematics and Informatics

• Mathematics in Economy II
• Operations Research
• Computer Science I
• (Introduction to Artificial Intelligence)
• (Model & Data Based AI)

Research

Management and Optimization of komplex Energysystems of Virtual Power Plants and Industrial Sites 

Digital Product Management

Sustainability and Circular Economy 

Vehicle Routing Problems / Network Problems / Graph Theorie

Publications

Latest Publication and invited Talks

1. FT Climate Counsil, Roundtable: how AI tools can help industry to decarbonize. Panelist and keynote introduction, Dec 2024 (Link)
2. S. Saliba, J. Strohbeck, Modelle zur integrativen Standortlösung mit H2 in Kraftwerken – Vom Kraftwerk zum Energiestandort, 56. Kraftwerkstechnisches Kolloquium, Dresden, 2024
3. Sustainability Leaders Virtual Summit, Moderator Panel Discussion “Empowering Tomorrow - Advancements in Sustainable Operations & Technology” (Link), 10 Apr 2024
4. World Economic Forum, Industrial Clusters Initiative, Bilbao, ES - How Energy Management and Optimization will support our climate goals - 10 Mar 2024
5. IMC Florida, Marco Island, US - Increase energy efficiency and reach sustainability goals with sector coupling and hybrid power plants (IMC International Maintenance Conference), 05 Dec 2023
6. ChemUK 2023, Birmingham, UK - Minimizing steam generation cost while optimizing power revenues and cost, 10 May 2023
7. Verteilt, dekarbonisiert und digital - Energiemanagement als Schlüssel für die Energiewirtschaft der Zukunft, Destination Zukunft Sektorenkopplung, Jun 2023 (Link)
8. TedTalk Connected Energy Solutions - Increase energy efficiency and reach sustainability goals with sector coupling and hybrid power plants, Connected Energy Solutions April 2023 (Link)
9. Energy savings at your fingertips, Georg Gutermuth, Felix Lenders, Bernhard Primas, Sleman Saliba  (Link) - ABB Review 2022|01 pages 36-41

Most important Publications

1. S. Saliba. ABB Energy Pod Energy Management – Optimizing every unit of energy #ABBEnergyPod Podcast, Episode 19 | 3 Oct 2022
2. J. Kreusel, S. Saliba. Digitalisierung am Rande der Netze – Voraussetzungen für eine erfolgreiche Dezentralisierung der elektrischen Energieversorgung. In Realisierung Utility 4.0, Hrsg Oliver D. Doleski. Springer Verlag, Oktober 2019.
   J. Kreusel, S. Saliba. Book Chapter „Digitalization at the Grid Edge – Requirements for a successful decentralization of the energy sector” in „Utility 4.0 – Digitalization in the Energy Sector“, Ed. Oliver D. Doleski. Springer, October 2019.
3. S. Saliba, R. Bauer, L. Merkert. Applications of Virtual Power Pools - Demand Response at Industrial SitesPowerGen 2017, ID T2S7P2 – Best Paper Award
4. S. Saliba, S. Hölemann. About design and control of large-scale virtual power plants, VGB PowerTech 10|2016
5. A. Berthold, Dr. S. Saliba, Dr. R. Franke. Energiewirtschaftliche Optimierung von Industriestandorten - Analyse und Echtzeitoptimierung. 11. VDI Fachtagung Optimierung in der Energiewirtschaft, November 2015
6. Dr. Rüdiger Franke, Dr. Sleman Saliba, Dr. Alexander Frick. Virtual Power Plants for Smart Markets, PowerGen Europe 2014, ID JITS2P2
7. Gassner E, Hatzl J, Krumke S O, Saliba S (2010). clever or smart: Strategies for the online target date assignment problem. Discrete Applied Mathematics, Volume 158, Issue 1, 6 January 2010, Pages 71-79
8. Krumke S O, Saliba S, Vredefeld T, Westphal S. (2008) Approximation algorithms for a vehicle routing problem. Mathematical Methods of Operations Research. Volume 68, Issue 2, October 2008, Pages 333-359
9. Saliba S (2006). Heuristics for the lexicographic max-ordering vehicle routing problem. Central European Journal of Operations Research. Volume 14, Issue 3, September 2006, Pages 313-336

Interests

My fields of interests range from the management and optimization of energy systems, enabling a sustainable, economically viable circular economy, and digital product management to more theoretical considerations in graph theory and mathematical optimization, such as vehicle routing problems or online problems.

Optimization of Energy Systems and the Circular Economy

Typical question in this area are: 

• The potential of circular processes using hydrogen and ammonia as examples - Challenges and potential of the circular economy in the process industry using hydrogen and ammonia as examples.
• The use of (green) hydrogen is intended to help reduce CO2 emissions in these industries. The high costs of producing green hydrogen still stand in the way of this plan. It is also planned to use hydrogen as an energy carrier in a circular process: When there is a high feed-in of renewable energy, electrolyzers produce green hydrogen, which can be reconverted to electricity in times of energy shortages.
• Description of circular processes in the process industry and identification of the challenges, roadblocks, and what would be necessary to initiate the circular economy. Typically, these industries are energy-intensive and generate so-called hard-to-abate CO2.
• Importance in the German Federal Government's H2 Strategy

Digital Product Management

Topics in the field of digital product management are also interesting. Due to my many years of experience as a global product manager for energy management and optimization software and the transformation of the offering from pure engineering/service offerings to digital services and software licensing business, I can also supervise work in the area of ​​product management.