Galina Alova
About
Galina is based at the Sustainable Finance Programme of the Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, currently completing her DPhil degree. Her research focuses on the transition of the global electricity sector towards renewable energy and away from fossil-fuel-based power generation. In her work, she applies machine-learning-based techniques.
Previously at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Galina led work on the extractive sector's decarbonisation as well as on green development finance and natural capital management.
Galina’s experience also includes the role of an economic advisor to the Minister and Permanent Secretary of Industrialisation and Trade in Namibia. She started her career as an economist in the UK and Scottish Governments.
Galina holds an MPhil in spatial economics and urban planning from the University of Cambridge and MA in economics from the University of Glasgow.
Expertise
- Energy
- Climate change
- Policy
- ESG
- Decarbonisation
- Sustainability
- Sustainable finance
- Stranded assets
Selected publications
- Alova, G. A global analysis of the progress and failure of electric utilities to adapt their portfolios of power-generation assets to the energy transition. Nat Energy 5, 920–927 (2020)
- Alova, G., Trotter, P.A. & Money, A. A machine-learning approach to predicting Africa’s electricity mix based on planned power plants and their chances of success. Nat Energy 6, 158–166 (2021)
- Alova, G. (2018), "Integrating renewables in mining: Review of business models and policy implications", OECD Development Policy Papers, No. 14, OECD Publishing, Paris
- Alova, G., J. Orihuela and K. Karousakis (2018), "Mainstreaming biodiversity and development in Peru: Insights and lessons learned", OECD Development Co-operation Working Papers, No. 45, OECD Publishing, Paris
Media experience
Galina has extensive experience of working with major media, with her research over the last year alone covered by over 100 news outlets, radio programmes and podcasts, including amongst others The Guardian, BBC News, BBC World Service, Bloomberg, The New York Times, Forbes and Reuters.
Recent media work
- Climate change: Africa's green energy transition 'unlikely' this decade
- Will Africa really leapfrog to renewables?
- How much will Africa capitalize on cheap renewable energy as its power grid grows?
- Africa's leap to clean energy seen needing policy change, investment
- Only one in 10 utility firms prioritise renewable electricity – global study
- Climate change: Power companies 'hindering' move to green energy
- Utilities Are Slowing Down the Clean Energy Transition
- Global Power Sector Embracing Renewables but Ditching Fossil Fuels Too Slowly
Languages
English, Russian, Estonian