Energy, Environment, and Water Research Center

The Energy, Environment, and Water Research Center (EEWRC) represents a cornerstone of innovation and sustainability at Near East University, addressing some of the most urgent global and regional challenges of our era. Established in 2019 as the university’s first dedicated research center, EEWRC was conceived to advance interdisciplinary research, technological innovation, and evidence-based solutions at the nexus of energy, environment, and water. In the face of mounting environmental pressures, resource scarcity, and the impacts of climate change—particularly in arid and semi-arid regions like Cyprus—EEWRC operates as a vital platform for scientific inquiry, policy development, and practical application.

With a mandate to bridge academia, government institutions, and industry stakeholders, the center’s vision extends far beyond traditional research boundaries. EEWRC not only tackles complex challenges such as sustainable water management, renewable energy integration, and environmental conservation but also aligns its efforts with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its mission is rooted in creating meaningful societal impact through innovative projects, collaborative partnerships, and public engagement.

From addressing global climate dynamics to championing smart cities and fostering sustainable development, the center’s multifaceted initiatives reflect its unwavering commitment to pioneering solutions for a resilient and equitable world. By leveraging cutting-edge science and interdisciplinary expertise, EEWRC is transforming challenges into opportunities, solidifying its position as a leader in research excellence and sustainable innovation.

Research focus

EEWRC research has been focused on analyzing of natural resource systems, modeling of spatial and temporal aspects of sustainable development and water-related issues with the main goal of solving real problems in water management, treatments and reuse, groundwater management, irrigation, and hydrological monitoring.

Such goals can be achieved through fundamental and applied thematic research, which is of primary importance to arid and semi-arid areas such as Cyprus, where non-renewable energy and water resources are limited and demand is growing.

The current situation is exacerbated by global climate change, a phenomenon projected to cause drastic impacts on the environment in the Mediterranean Sea basin including Cyprus. The EEWRC is designed to be and to act as the research arm for the energy and water-related ministries, departments, and authorities. The center has broadened its function to include the environmental, energy and water issues due to their interdisciplinary nature and to cope with energy-environment-water nexus as the core of sustainable development. There is also a need for joint energy-environment-water policies and a better understanding of the susceptibility of energy to water, energy to the environment, environment to water and vice versa.

The research of the center concentrates on the following five areas:

1) Water and Environment

The center’s focus includes research and studies on the management and protection of the water resources, integrated water resources management, hydrological monitoring, groundwater, irrigation management, environmental issues, wastewater treatment, and reuse and environmental impacts. It will also provide services in the area of monitoring, environmental awareness, and environmental engineering design and participate in the development of environmental legislation, conferences, and seminars in the areas of water and the environment.

2) Energy and Environment

The research areas in energy include renewable energy such as solar, wind, and biofuel (biomass and biodiesel), energy storage in batteries and others, the efficiency of end uses such as in building and water uses, and energy economics and policies. The center’s research covers the following areas:

  • Climate change/low-carbon economic development
  • New/renewable energy development
  • Energy efficiency improvement
  • Environmental protection in rural and regional areas
  • Energy and environment advisory

3) Energy and Water

100% renewable economy would give a lasting solution to the challenges raised by climate change, energy security, sustainability, and pollution. The conversion of the present transport system appears to be one of the most difficult aspects of such renewable transition. In such a transition, the conversion of the present transport system appears to be one of the most difficult aspects. At present, global transport is still heavily dependent on fossil fuels (mostly, oil), that is expected to decline within a few decades; furthermore, global transport produces a significant fraction of greenhouse gases, pollution in metropolitan areas, and is also a source of millions of accidents every year. The center’s research covers the following areas:

  • Water transportation technology
  • Electrical transportation technology
  • Hydrocarbon transportation technology
  • Infrastructure for transport
  • Investment and energy cost of transport

4) Climate Change

The EEWRC team possesses expertise in key areas of Earth’s climate, including atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial processes. The centers applies fundamental scientific principles to address pressing questions about climate dynamics, global climate change, and extreme weather and climate events. Its atmosphere research includes studies of large-scale dynamics, convection, radiation, climate feedbacks, and factors controlling precipitation changes and other meteorological impacts.

Its oceanographic research focuses on the ocean’s role in the climate system: including large-scale physical oceanography, coupled climate models and regional ocean circulation, palaeoclimate dynamics, the ocean’s thermohaline circulation, global biogeochemical cycles and climate changes in Earth’s past.

On the land surface, the center focuses on modeling terrestrial processes in climate models, to develop our understanding of the effects of carbon dynamics, hydrology and vegetation processes on climate.

5) Smart City

The research center envisions a smart city as a dynamic urban environment where technology and innovation synergize to confront intricate urban issues. In this perspective, data plays a central role, serving as the cornerstone for informed decision-making and the enhancement of city services. Sustainability takes center stage, with a particular emphasis on reducing carbon emissions, elevating environmental standards, and championing renewable energy sources. Transportation systems undergo a profound transformation, embracing smart mobility solutions that encompass electric and autonomous vehicles, while infrastructure management achieves greater efficiency and resilience through the implementation of smart grids and sensor networks. Digital governance promotes transparency and citizen involvement, and healthcare services undergo a radical transformation thanks to telemedicine and data-driven methodologies. Economic development flourishes within an environment that nurtures innovation, startup enterprises, and technology-driven entrepreneurship. Meanwhile, the city’s cultural heritage and social inclusivity are actively promoted, ensuring that the smart city thrives not only as a technological marvel but also as a socially cohesive, economically robust, and ecologically sustainable community.

Executive Board

  • Hüseyin Gökçekuş (Chairperson)
    Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Near East University, Nicosia, TRNC
  • James W. LaMoreaux
    PELA GeoEnvironmental, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
  • Alper Baba
    Engineering Faculty, Izmir Institute of Technology, İzmir, Türkiye
  • Derin Orhon
    The Science Academy, Istanbul, Türkiye
  • Youssef Kassem
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, Near East University, Nicosia, TRNC
  • Saleh Ali Sadeg
    Geological Engineering Department, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya
  • Tarzan Legović
    OIKON Ltd. Institute for Applied Ecology, Zagreb Libertas International University, Croatia
  • Oleg S. Glazachev
    M. Sechenov First Moscow Medical University, Moscow, Russia
  • Fadi Al-Turjman
    International Research Center for AI and IoT, Near East University, Nicosia, TRNC
  • Vahid Nourani
    Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Tabriz, Iran
  • Anne W Ng
    College of Engineering, Information Technology and Environment, Charles Darwin University, NT Australia
  • Jinhui Jeanne Huang
    Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, China
  • Sameh Ahmed Kantoush
    Water Resources Research Center – Disaster Prevention Research Institute, Kyoto University, Japan
  • Aşkın Kiraz
    Environmental Education and Management, Ataturk Faculty of Education, Near East University, TRNC
  • Rana Kıdak
    Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Cyprus International University, TRNC

Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals

The research center’s core mission and activities are deeply aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations. Our primary focus lies in conducting diverse, interdisciplinary research and innovation initiatives that actively contribute to the realization of the SDGs by addressing some of the most urgent global challenges. We are unwaveringly dedicated to conducting research that champions social inclusivity, environmental resilience, and economic well-being, harmonizing our endeavors with each of the 17 SDGs.

Central to our research center’s vision is the cultivation of partnerships with both local and global stakeholders, encompassing governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations, corporations, and communities. Through these collaborative alliances, we aim to collectively formulate and put into action solutions that propel the achievement of these universal objectives. Our work is guided by a commitment to eliminate poverty and hunger, ensure the provision of quality education, promote gender equality, facilitate access to clean water and sanitation, bolster sustainable urban and community development, and combat climate change, among other vital pursuits. Our unwavering allegiance to the SDGs propels us to effect real, positive change on a global scale by harnessing the potential of research and innovation to address the intricate, interconnected challenges confronting society today and, in the years, ahead.

Recent Research Outputs

Climate Change

  • Baghanam, A. H., Nourani, V, Norouzi E, Vakili AT, & Gökçekuş H. (2023). Application of Wavelet Transform for Bias Correction and Predictor Screening of Climate Data. Sustainability, 15(21):15209.
  • Kassem, Y., Gökçekuş, H., & Alijl, N. (2023). Gridded Precipitation Datasets and Gauge Precipitation Products for Driving Hydrological Models in the Dead Sea Region, Jordan. Sustainability, 15(15), 11965.
  • Kassem, Y., Gökçekuş, H., & Mosbah, A. A. S. (2023). Prediction of monthly precipitation using various artificial models and comparison with mathematical models. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 1-27.

Water Resources

  • Gökçekuş, H., & Bolouri, F. (2023). Transboundary Waters and Their Status in Today’s Water-Scarce World. Sustainability, 15(5), 4234.
  • Umba, L. N., Amir, I. Y., Gelete, G., Gökçekuş, H., & Uwanuakwa, I. (2023). Artificial hummingbird algorithm-optimized boosted tree for improved rainfall-runoff modelling. Journal of Hydroinformatics, jh2023187.
  • Ababakr, F. A., Ahmed, K. O., Amini, A., Karami Moghadam, M., & Gökçekuş, H. (2023). Spatio-temporal variations of groundwater quality index using geostatistical methods and GIS. Applied Water Science, 13(10), 206.

Renewable Energy

  • Kassem, Y., Gökçekuş, H., & Abdalla, M. H. A. (2023). Wind energy resource assessment based on the use of multiple satellite data for sustainable energy production in Sudan. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1-37.
  • Kassem, Y., Gökçekuş, H., & Aljatlawe, A. (2023). Utilization of Solar Energy for Electric Vehicle Charging and the Energy Consumption of Residential Buildings in Northern Cyprus: A Case Study. Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research, 13(5), 11598-11607.
  • Kassem, Y., Gökçekuş, H., Hamad, O. A. M. & Fayid, F. M. B. (2023). Economic Viability of a 6.5kW Off-grid Solar PV with Various Sun-Tracking Systems in Northern Cyprus: A Case Study. Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research, 13(2), 10608–10621.

Desalination

  • Kassem, Y., Gökçekuş, H., Iravanian, A. & Gökçekuş, R. (2022). Predictive Suitability of Renewable Energy for Desalination Plants: The Case of Güzelyurt Region in Northern Cyprus. Modeling Earth Systems and Environment.
  • Kassem, Y., Gökçekuş, H., Ab Albakoush, I. A., & Abdullah, K. S. B. (2023). Solar-Powered Solutions for the Water and Energy Shortage Problem: The Case Study of Nahr El Bared, Lebanon. Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research, 13(3), 10861-10869.
  • Lagili, H. S. A., Kiraz, A., Kassem, Y., & Gökçekuş, H. (2023). Wind and Solar Energy for Sustainable Energy Production for Family Farms in Coastal Agricultural Regions of Libya Using Measured and Multiple Satellite Datasets. Energies, 16(18), 6725.

To contact the research center or to request further information, please email us at: encesu.2019@neu.edu.tr