Marc Torra
Nationality
Australian & Spanish (Catalan)
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration & Management from the University of Barcelona
Master’s degree in International Development from RMIT University
Marc Torra is a part time Ph.D. Student at ANU Crawford School of Public Policy. He combines his studies with his job as a development practitioner specialised in the financial and economic analysis of on-grid and off-grid renewable energy electrification projects in South countries.
PhD programme
Supervisor(s) and panel members
Topic title
Topic description
Marc is designing a conceptual framework, related methodology and generic AI ontology for integrating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) factors into the financial statements of sustainable energy projects. The integration is to be achieved through a Neural Symbolic (NeSy) algorithm that modifies the initial forecasts done on financial outputs and Composite Indicators (CIs) for the measuring of outcomes based on ESG performance. His approach is to express outputs and CIs as time series Triangular Fuzzy Numbers, providing a rich quantitative and visual language to communicate the impact that ESG factors can have on financial performance. This involves reasoning over knowledge graphs to enhance understanding and enable intelligent decision-making, and entity resolution alongside link discovery for interconnecting ESG factors, identifying their variables and the required indicators to measure them. He is also using rough sets to link factors to outcomes, and exploratory modelling to explore the implications of varying assumptions, hypotheses and policies in a situation in which there is insufficient knowledge or unresolvable uncertainties.
Scholarships and fellowships
Marc has been awarded funding from the SciTech4Climate program of the Australian DFAT to integrate his research into the prototype of a web platform he is developing for managing projects, proposals and investment portfolios. The platform aims at mobilising institutional investment towards infrastructure projects in South countries. The prototype is being tested in off-grid electrification projects, which is where Marc holds most of his professional experience. Specifically it is currently being tested in Kiribati, one of the first countries that risks disappearing because of climate change.
Employment history
2021 Bolivia - Feasibility studies of a hybrid solar-diesel mini-grid for Guayaramerin- IADB
2021 Ethiopia - Feasibility studies for greening UNHCR infrastructure in Ethiopia- UNHCR
2020 Rwanda - Elaboration of feasibility studies for 30 mini-grids and a mini-grid rollout plan- AfDB
2020 Haiti - Developing a strategy for the electrification of 52 communities with solar mini-grids - WB, IADB
2020 Haiti - Investment in a 2 to 5 MW grid connected PV system with battery storage - WB, IADB
2019 Honduras - Evaluation of a power grid extension financed with concessional credit - Finnish Gov.
2019 Indonesia - Design of s strategy for an Insonesian RESCO platform - Hivos, MCC
2018/19 Suriname - Design a business model for electrifying maroon communities from the interior - IADB
2017 Colombia - Design a business model for electrifying 108 schools in Nariño province - IADB
2017/18 Sierra Leone - Regulatory Strengthening and Tariff Development - MCC
2017 Rwanda - Designing an evaluation framework for the distribution of a pico-solar - Embrace Solar
2015/16 Belize - Capacity Development in Renewable Energy Policy and Mapping in Belize - EuropeAid
2015 Peru - Energy and Environment Partnership with the Andean Region - Finnish Gov.
2013/14 Guinea Bissau - Financial analysis of Bambadinca Sta Claro solar mini-grid - EuropeAid
2012 CARICOM Energy Efficiency Guidelines for Office Buildings in Tropical Climates - GiZ
2012 Pacific - Design a bottom-up community programme for 15 Pacific Countries - EuropeAid
2012 Jamaica - Design of a Feed-in Tariff for Renewable Energy in Jamaica - WB
2011 Kiribati - Prepare feasibility studies for $2.5 Million investment on PV generation - WB
2005/09 Pacific - Support to the Energy Sector in five ACP Pacific Islands - EuropeAid
2001/05 Kiribati - Support to the Energy Sector in five ACP Pacific Islands - EuropeAid
1998/99 Mexico - Logistics manager at 3 autocomponent manufacturing plants - Ficosa Internacional
1996/97 India - Investment promoter at the Spanish Embassy in New Delhi - ICEX
1995 Colombia - Design a collaboration program between the university and private sector - AECI
1993/94 Spain - Internal auditor at the Barcelona’s metro and bus company
Personal links
Mailing address
Crawford School of Public Policy
ANU College of Asia & the Pacific
J.G. Crawford Building No. 132
Lennox Crossing
The Australian National University
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
Updated: 27 April 2024/Responsible Officer: Crawford Engagement/Page Contact: CAP Web Team
