Maja Łukasik, who graduated from the Faculty of Electrical, Electronic, Computer, and Control Engineering, was honored for her master’s thesis titled "Analysis of the Performance and Profitability of Photovoltaic Farms in Poland." Her research, supervised by Assoc. Prof. Katarzyna Znajdek, perfectly aligned with the competition's theme, which rewards outstanding female academic works focused on energy transition.
The award ceremony was attended by the supervisor of the award-winning graduate, as well as the Vice-Rector for Science, Prof. Łukasz Albrecht.
The main objective of Maja Łukasik's master's thesis was to determine the profitability of photovoltaic installations in different regions of Poland, taking into account technical, economic, and environmental aspects. She also developed a complete project for a photovoltaic farm, evaluating the possibilities for its real-world implementation.
The competition jury, composed of experts from the Dalkia Group and technical universities, appreciated the comprehensive approach to the topic and the professional execution. Arkadiusz Ryfa, PhD from Silesian University of Technology stated in his justification:
"Ms. Łukasik's work is exactly what one wants to evaluate. When you read this thesis, it truly contains everything—from legal aspects, all construction-related issues, to economic analysis. Reading such a thesis shows that the author treated the topic very seriously and analyzed it from all possible perspectives. Such work is pure pleasure for the supervisor. I wish all my colleagues and myself such theses in the future."
Maja was the only finalist representing Lodz University of Technology. Her academic supervisor, Assoc. Prof. Katarzyna Znajdek, admitted:
"As her supervisor, I can confidently say that working with Maja was very satisfying from the beginning. She is a student who stands out with her independence, strong technical awareness, and exceptional precision in her work. The topic of her award-winning thesis emerged from her own initiative, being a result of her interests and commitment to Poland's energy transition."
Committed to Building the Future of Energy
M.Sc. Eng. Maja Łukasik completed her undergraduate studies in mechatronics and her master's studies in electrical engineering. She currently runs her own business in the energy sector, focusing on designing power installations, primarily photovoltaic systems.
During the panel "Women in Energy – How They Are Changing the Face of the Industry," Maja openly shared her experiences and motivations: I have always been interested in technological innovations and enjoyed mathematics, so choosing technical studies was natural for me rather than a new challenge. The number of men at the university also didn’t intimidate me because I was always considered somewhat of a tomboy. I wasn’t afraid to express my opinion or point out mistakes to men, so I had no issues in this regard. During my undergraduate studies, I became interested in renewable energy sources. The next step was learning how to design power systems. I wanted to actively participate in building this new energy sector, and that’s what happened. Currently, I am professionally fulfilled—I am a designer of transformer stations and medium-voltage connections.
Her supervisor, Prof. Znajdek, added:
I am glad that I could accompany Maja during the final gala and support her during the realization of her thesis. Her success is not only a source of pride for our university but also an inspiration for other young women to engage in technical disciplines."
The Polish edition was inspired by the French award Women's Energy in Transition, initiated by Sylvie Jéhanno, CEO of Dalkia Group. In this way, Dalkia increases the visibility of women and their significant role in the energy sector while breaking negative stereotypes.