EZT Forensics Inc., USA
Yarú Méndez Hernández is an internationally recognized expert in electrical engineering with specialization in power systems, electromagnetic transients, grounding systems, and the interaction of lightning with energy infrastructure. At EZT Forensics, his work focuses on technically complex analyses involving renewable energy systems, grid-connected assets, high-voltage phenomena, and failure mechanisms related to electromagnetic and transient events.
He has held senior engineering, research, and leadership positions in globally operating technology companies, including LM Wind Power (a GE Vernova company), Raycap GmbH (Germany), and GE Global Research in Munich. His industrial experience covers lightning protection systems, high-voltage engineering, condition monitoring systems, ice mitigation systems, and the grid interaction of wind and solar energy systems.
In parallel to his industry career, Prof. Méndez has been active in academia since 2015 as a lecturer in electrical engineering at Universidad Simón Bolívar and Universidad Metropolitana in Caracas, Venezuela, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in power systems, renewable energy (solar and wind), grounding systems, and high-voltage engineering.
He earned his degree in Electrical Engineering (Power Systems) from Universidad Simón Bolívar, a Doctorate (Dr.-Ing.) from the University of Kassel, Germany, and an MBA from the University of Applied Sciences Munich. Prof. Méndez is the main or co-inventor of more than 20 international patents and has authored over 60 peer-reviewed scientific publications as well as a book chapter in the field of lightning interaction with power systems.
Selected Scientific Publications
- Y. Méndez et al., “Wind Turbine’s Electromagnetic Transient Response During Impulse and Winter Lightning”, International Symposium on Lightning and Wind Turbines (ISLW), Akita, Japan, 2025.
- H. Candela, Y. Méndez et al., “Comparison of Transient Response of Glass and Carbon Fiber Blades During Lightning”, XVII SIPDA International Symposium on Lightning Protection, Thessaloniki, Greece, 2025.
- Y. Méndez et al., “An Approach in Rotor Blade Fast Transient Model Comparison During Lightning”, 37th International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP), Dresden, Germany, 2024.
- Y. Méndez et al., “Transient Response of a Rotor Blade Multi-Receptor Lightning Protection System During Initial Lightning Attachment Testing”, CIGRÉ ICLPS-SIPDA Conference, Suzhou, China, 2023.
- Y. Méndez et al., “Experimental Validation of the Bergeron Transmission Line Model Applied to Rotor Blades During Lightning”, 36th International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP), Johannesburg, South Africa, 2022.
- F. Preis, Y. Méndez, “Model-Based Risk Assessment of Wind Turbine Blade Failure Caused by Dielectric Breakdown During Lightning”, 35th International Conference on Lightning Protection (ICLP-SIPDA), Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2021.
- Y. Méndez, Book Chapter: “Renewable Energy Systems – Photovoltaic Systems”, in Lightning Interaction with Power Systems, IET, London, United Kingdom, 2020.
Selected Patents
- WO/2025/036906 – Lightning Protection of a Segmented Wind Turbine Blade (Lead Inventor).
- WO/2024/068670 / MX2025003710 – Method of Determining a Temperature of a Heating Element of a Wind Turbine Blade (Co-Inventor).
- EP4598266 – Heating Circuit for a Heating System of a Wind Turbine and Methods of Operating Same (Co-Inventor).
- US20120141277 – Integrated Lightning Receptor System and Trailing Edge Noise Reducer for a Wind Turbine Rotor Blade (Co-Inventor).
- US8327710 – System for Estimating the Condition of a Non-Conductive Hollow Structure Exposed to a Lightning Strike (Co-Inventor).
- US8395279 – Shadow Detection Apparatus Using Fiber Optics for Solar-Based Power Generation Plants (Lead Inventor).
