Postdoc on legal aspects of an interoperable offshore electricity grid (0.8 FTE)

Societal Challenge
This project is Part of Horizon Europe-funded project InterOPERA. Europe wants to build around 450 GW of offshore wind by 2050. In the future, the cables to connect offshore wind farms will not only transmit electricity directly to shore. They will also serve as interconnectors between countries and transmit electricity between different wind farms. Large, cross-border high voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity systems are needed for this. These systems must be interoperable and mutually compatible. The €69 million project “InterOPERA” will define the future interoperability standards of the multi-terminal high voltage direct current (HVDC) grids in offshore electricity. The project unites more than 20 European partners to cover both the technical and economic challenges as well as the legal and regulatory challenges. The University of Groningen’s main contribution in the project lies with the legal and regulatory framework.

Within the project, a major task is the development of a multi-vendor cooperation framework. This cooperation framework should have a legal basis, which is to be developed in the project, supported by us. The cooperation framework has links to energy law, competition law (cooperation between competitors) as well as intellectual property law (to protect the technology and software developed by the different actors).

The Position
Your role in the project is to contribute to the development of the cooperation framework with your specific legal expertise and independent analysis. You are expected to take an active and independent role in the work of the project and contribute to the relevant project meetings. Moreover, you are expected to contribute to the dissemination and valorisation of this research, by (co)authoring publications on the outcomes, active contribution in conferences and stakeholder dissemination events, as well as by activities that increase the societal impact of the research done in this project.

This is a 0,8 FTE position with a duration of 3,5 years.

Organisation
The University of Groningen is a research university with a global outlook, deeply rooted in Groningen, City of Talent. Quality has had top priority for four hundred years, and with success: the University is currently in or around the top 100 on several influential ranking lists.

The Faculty of Law (https://www.rug.nl/rechten/) is building on a longstanding tradition of four centuries of quality legal research. It is an ambitious top-ranking faculty of law with both high-quality education and research, with a strong international orientation, firmly rooted in the North of The Netherlands. The faculty creates and shares knowledge through outstanding education and research, benefitting society. With more than 4000 students and 500 staff the faculty is heavily involved in educating students, both Dutch and international. The faculty is a modern, broad and international institution, educating students to become forward-looking, articulate and independent lawyers.

The Groningen Centre of Energy Law and Sustainability (GCELS) brings together expertise from all branches of law within the Faculty of Law of the University of Groningen to develop cutting-edge research and educational programmes relevant for the energy transition. Its research covers the entire energy chain as well the transitions necessary to move towards a more sustainable society. This includes all legislation and regulation applying to the production, transport, storage and supply of energy, the promotion of renewable energy sources and energy efficiency, the need to secure energy supply, as well as climate action and environmental protection.

We expect the candidate to have:

- completed or be close to completing a PhD
- ability to analyse and apply the relevant international, European and national regulatory framework of energy law, competition law and/or IP law
- availability to travel internationally to project meetings as well as events
- ability to understand and communicate in the language(s) relevant to the proposed postdoctoral research project
- eagerness to publish international articles
- enthusiasm to work in an interdisciplinary research team
- demonstrable competences as conceptual capacity, presenting, monitoring, planning and organizing
- good social and communication skills
- excellent command of English and academic writing skills.

We offer you, following the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:

- a salary, depending on qualifications and work experience, with a minimum of € 2,962 (salary scale 10.5) up to a maximum of € 3,405 (scale 11.2) gross per month for a 0,8 fte position
- the successful candidate will first be offered a temporary position of one year with the option of renewal for another 2,5 years. Prolongation of the contract is contingent on satisfactory performance during the first year
- excellent secondary terms of employment
- a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income and an 8.3% year-end bonus
- 262 holiday hours per calendar year for a 0.8 FTE employment
- participation in a pension scheme for employees
- envisaged starting date: 1 June 2023.