PhD researcher Optimization and Control of Integrated Energy Systems

The challenge

The EU aims to reduce 55% greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and to become climate-neutral by 2050. This requires the large-scale electrification of its energy system coupled with the integration of renewable energy generation. The transition towards fully renewable energy-based power systems will introduce more challenges and uncertainties such as grid bottlenecks and congestion, which raises the urgent need for new control strategies in order to maintain the ability of the system to provide the consumers with reliable supply of electricity while optimizing the use of the network in order to integrate more renewable energy resources.

This research focuses on developing solutions to facilitate energy transition within the concept of smart grids considering different dynamics and behaviour of system components. During the project, the PhD candidate will perform research on developing a mathematical model of the control strategy addressing the identified challenges considering the model of an integrated energy system and its components. Modeling the factors of uncertainty (e.g., resource prices, demand, and generation) using scenarios, forecasts, or stochastic processes and incorporate uncertainty into the decision-making models by developing stochastic optimization approaches such as stochastic programming and reinforcement learning.