Delft University of Technology is hiring a doctoral candidate on the subject of “Modelling and operational analysis of electrical flexibility mechanisms in the built environment”.

The Ph.D. position is part of the GO-e project, which will investigate scalable electrical flexibility services for consumers, business, and distribution system operators. The rapid electrification of energy demand in the built environment necessitates electrical grid expansions. Grid congestion management is a key operational tool to smoothen the planning of such expansions. This requires intelligent, scalable, and socially acceptable flexibility solutions beared by the complete energy supply chain. The GO-e consortium includes a wide variety of partners, including TNO, distribution system operators, energy companies, aggregators, ICT specialists, and societal stakeholders.

As a Ph.D. candidate, you will investigate the (mathematical) modelling of flexibility profiles and test/validate the efficacy and scalability of these mechanisms in both in-house developed (Python) and commercial simulation environments. The scientific challenges relate to 1) the interference of flexibility mechanisms in a systemic setting, 2) validation of flexibility mechanisms is a proof-of-concept setting, 3) cascading and market effects of gaming with (aggregated) flexibility, and 4) the inclusion of operational flexibility mechanisms into planning tools of DSOs.

This is a four-year doctoral appointment. You will be jointly supervised by Prof. Peter Palensky (chair IEPG) and Prof. Pavol Bauer (chair DCE&S). You will be a member of the section Intelligent Electrical Power Grids in the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science. Moreover, this Ph.D. project will be closely linked to the PowerWeb Institute, a multidisciplinary university-wide collaboration themed around intelligent and integrated energy systems. 

In this position you will have plenty opportunities to collaborate with Dutch industrial and societal partners, but also with academics from other disciplines, as required (mathematics, social sciences, systems engineering).  Within the team, we strive to develop engineering methods that are mathematically rigorous and have near-term application potential in the power engineering domain. We are strong supporters of open science (publishing, source code, data). You will also be expected to assist in teaching activities (student supervision, labs) related to your subject area.

About the department:

The research in the Department of Electrical Sustainable Energy is inspired by the technical, scientific and societal challenges originating from the transition towards a more sustainable society and focuses on three areas:

• DC Systems, Energy Conversion and Storage (DCE&S)
• Photovoltaic Materials and Devices (PVMD)
• Intelligent Electrical Power Grids (IEPG)

The Electrical Sustainable Energy Department provides expertise in each of these areas throughout the entire energy system chain. The department owns a large ESP laboratory assembling High Voltage testing, DC Grids testing environment and large RTDS that is actively used for real time simulation of future electrical power systems, AC and DC protection and wide area monitoring and protection.

The Intelligent Electrical Power Grid (IEPG) group, headed by Professor Peter Palensky, works on the future of our power system. The goal is to generate, transmit and use electrical energy in a highly reliable, efficient, stable, clean, affordable, and safe way. IEPG integrates new power technologies and smart controls, which interact with other systems and allow for more distributed and variable generation.

Essentials:

• Completed M.Sc. degree in Electrical Power Engineering, Sustainable Energy Technology, or similar.
• you have experience with the operation of power systems, preferably at distribution level
• You have extensively applied the Python programming language throughout your B.Sc. and M.Sc. and demonstrated this also beyond your curriculum.
• you are enthusiastic about making the power system more flexible
• you have a strong background in market aspects of electricity networks
• you are keen to work with industrial partners, pro-active, and organisation sensitive
• Excellent command of English (written + oral). Dutch is a pre.

Desirables: 

• basic knowledge on reinforcement learning or similar (data-driven) techniques
• you enjoy the application of game theory
• profound knowledge on design and simulation of socio-technical systems
• profound knowledge on modelling and simulation of demand-side management

Fixed-term contract: 4 jaar.

TU Delft offers PhD-candidates a 4-year contract, with an official go/no go progress assessment after one year. Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from € 2395 per month in the first year to € 3061 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance and sport memberships, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged. For international applicants we offer the Coming to Delft Service and Partner Career Advice to assist you with your relocation.

Delft University of Technology

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context. At TU Delft we embrace diversity and aim to be as inclusive as possible (see our Code of Conduct). Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale.

Challenge. Change. Impact! 

Faculty Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) brings together three disciplines - electrical engineering, mathematics and computer science. Combined, they reinforce each other and are the driving force behind the technology we use in our daily lives. Technology such as the electricity grid, which our faculty is helping to make future-proof. We are also working on a world in which humans and computers reinforce each other. We are mapping out disease processes using single cell data, and using mathematics to simulate gigantic ash plumes after a volcanic eruption. There is plenty of room here for ground-breaking research. We educate innovative engineers and have excellent labs and facilities that underline our strong international position. In total, more than 1,100 employees and 4,000 students work and study in this innovative environment.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science.