Overview
Personal Profile
Guangdong Zhu is the group manager and a senior researcher in the Thermal Energy Systems Group within the Energy Conversion and Storage Systems Center at NLR. The Thermal Energy Systems Group is focused on innovative research and development on concentrating solar power technologies and hybrid thermal energy systems. Zhu joined NLR as a senior researcher in 2010. His work focuses on solar collector characterization, geothermal power plant modeling and analysis, and renewable energy hybridization.
Zhu has an extensive background in power generation systems, heat transfer processes, and fluid mechanics. He is also well versed in stress analysis, efficient computing, numerical modeling, and related experimental validation. He has written dozens of peer-reviewed papers, reports, and presentations in the areas of solar thermal power, geothermal power, multiphase flow, and power generation systems.
Research Interests
Concentrating solar power
Geothermal technologies
Hybrid renewable energy systems
Professional Experience
Associate editor, ASME Journal of Energy Resources Technology (2020–present)
Executive committee member, ASME Advanced Energy Systems Division (2020–present)
Education/Academic Qualification
Bachelor, Thermal Engineering, Northeast China Institute of Electric Power Engineering
PhD, Mechanical Engineering, University of New Mexico
Master, Thermal Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University
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Collaborations and Top Research Areas From the Past 5 Years
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Advancements in Reflected Target Nonintrusive Assessment (ReTNA) for Large Optical Surface Measurement: Article No. 114417
Kesseli, D., Davis, M., Getabecha, H., Muller, M. & Zhu, G., 2026, In: Solar Energy. 309, 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Comprehensive Assessment of Metrology Techniques for Heliostat Efficiency and Performance Evaluation: Article No. 114572
Meyen, S., Zhou, Y., Mitchell, R. & Zhu, G., 2026, In: Solar Energy. 312, 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Progress on Geological Thermal Energy Storage Analysis
McTigue, J., Barney, R., Witter, E., Akindipe, D., Atkinson, T., Colldeweih, R., Sonnenthal, E., Dwivedi, D., Adams, D., Perez, G., Umbro, M., Lederhos, J. & Zhu, G., 2026. 15 p.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
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Project 1: COLLECTS Project and Project 2: M&V for Saputo Cheese Project: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-16-00625
Zhu, G., 2026, 23 p.Research output: NLR › Technical Report
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Roadmap to Advance Heliostat Technologies for High Temperature Solar-Thermal Systems
Schell, S., Emes, M., Kesseli, D., Meyen, S., Muller, M., Ndione, P., Neber, M., Yellapantula, S., Zhu, G., Zolan, A., Armijo, K., Brost, R., Gordon, M., Sment, J., Spieles, A., Cholette, M., Picotti, G. & Yang, B., 2026, 213 p.Research output: NLR › Technical Report
Activities
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American Society of Mechanical Engineers (External organization)
Ginley, D. (Member), Pesaran, A. (Member), Bay, C. (Member), Veers, P. (Fellow), Walker, A. (Fellow), DeVoto, D. (Member), Moreno, G. (Member), Zhu, G. (Member), Hamilton, N. (Member), Martin, M. (Member), Paret, P. (Member), Kekelia, B. (Member), Chaudhary, R. (Member), Biglu, M. (Member), Hirschey, J. (Member), Moreno Resendiz, E. (Member), Gamil, A. (Member) & Kocher, J. (Member)
0001Activity: Membership › Membership of network
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American Solar Energy Society (External organization)
Doris, E. (Member), Porro, G. (Member), Zhu, G. (Member), Blair, N. (Member), Seibert, M. (Member), Margolis, R. (Member) & Kurtz, S. (Member)
0001Activity: Membership › Membership of network
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Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems (External organization)
Zhu, G. (Member)
0001Activity: Membership › Membership of network
Awards and Honors
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NREL President’s Award
Hodge, B.-M. (Recipient), Palmintier, B. (Recipient) & Zhu, G. (Recipient), 2016
Prize: Honorary award