Isabel Blanco

Dr. Isabel Blanco a senior leader with 25 years of experience in energy and sustainable infrastructure, with a particular focus on impact investing, climate and energy policies. At present, she combines a full-time job as the Head of Impact at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) with a position as Independent Non-Executive Director at Nordex SE -global wind turbine manufacturer. Isabel joined the Grantham Institute as a Visiting Fellow in 2020. 

Background

Isabel Blanco holds a PhD in economics and for over 25 years has developed a rich career around energy and sustainable infrastructure, encompassing senior roles in public and private institutions: Government, renewable energy industry, multilateral development banks, consultancy and academia. Common denominator is a passion to find environmental and climate-friendly business solutions that support economic growth. 

Isabel is an expert on international development finance, energy and climate policies. She has a deep knowledge of the technologies, regulation and business models of energy and infrastructure sectors, with a particular focus on renewable energies. Isabel has extensively participated in strategic planning, regulatory analysis, impact assessment, design and implementation of climate and energy policies including international negotiations such as the COP. 

In her current role at EBRD, she developed the Bank’s economic assessment methodology to incorporate environmental externalities, designed a climate/environmental impact system to assess investments, developed EBRD’s Just Transition approach and designed policy products such as WTO-compliant policies to support renewable energy. Isabel oversees the impact assessment of all EBRD’s infrastructure, energy and mining projects and participates in the investment committees, thus with an excellent understanding of the business environment globally. 

Isabel has authored a number of articles published in international scientific magazines and is a seasoned public speaker in major conferences and post grad courses. She was part-time lecturer of macroeconomics for 14 years at Alcala University (Madrid, Spain).

Research interests

• Economic assessment incorporating environmental externalities
• Energy policy
• Renewable energy policies and support schemes
• Just Transition
• Paris Alignment of investment projects and low carbon pathways