Postdoc on Modelling Renewable Energy Communities

In the context of the European project RENvolveIT, the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development is looking for a postdoctoral researcher for a fully funded three-years position. You will work with Dr Luis Ramirez Camargo of the Energy & Resources group and with other project partners at institutions in Austria, Germany and Czech Republic.

Your job
Mitigating climate change requires both citizen involvement and energy democratisation, which are key to the European Green Deal. Community efforts have a strong multiplicative potential which is amplified when a wide range of (non-expert) stakeholders are involved. They foster the installation of more renewable energy capacities, actively reduce the stress on the regional grid and optimise overall resource usage.

In the framework of the project RENvolveIT (Regional Energy Networking – cross-sectional involvement through a modular interactive toolbox), we aim to achieve these positive effects by focusing on energy communities as a leveraging strategy to facilitate regional energy transition. RENvolveIT is a transdisciplinary international project with partners in Austria, Germany, Czech Republic and The Netherlands. In this project, we will develop a user-friendly platform that will aid households, municipalities, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in navigating the complex renewable energy processes, offering networking, project guidance, participation, and energy planning tools. Demonstrator regions across Europe are the focus of the project, aiming to overcome challenges and foster cross-region synergies while prioritising the inclusion of communities.

The tasks for this position are as follows:

• You develop and implement spatiotemporal models for estimating energy demand for heating and cooling of buildings as a tool for high level planning of energy communities. The tool is expected to be mainly programmed in python and made available open source.
• You create an API of the developed tool that allows interoperability with other tools developed in the framework of the project.
• You contribute to the further development of enerplanet - A framework for regional smart energy planning using volunteered geographic information.
• You work in close collaboration with another postdoc in the project and two local energy communities to develop the Dutch case studies in the project.
• You work in close cooperation with RENvolveIT consortium members to implement and test the tools developed in the project in case studies in each one of the project countries.
• You disseminate project results and propose exploitation strategies for the developed tool(s).

While the tasks in RENvolveIT have to be completed as they are proposed, there is flexibility to place focus and emphasis on your own research interests and strengths. We aim to provide you with the conditions and support to advance in your academic and/or professional career.

This research is funded by the Clean Energy transition (CET) partnership. Resources are secured for the participation in multiple international conference and interaction on site with stakeholders in the Netherlands, Austria, Germany and Czech Republic.

The ideal candidate:

• holds a PhD in a topic related to geoinformatics, computer science, energy science, environmental engineering, urban planning or in a relevant science subject area with an affinity for spatial analysis/GIS and programming;
• has proven experience in programming (preferably python);
• has experience with methods and models to calculate energy performance of buildings such as the described in e.g. the ISO 13790:2008 or the ISO 52016-1:2017;
• has developed APIs and is familiar with the development of tools for planning or visualization purposes in the form of e.g. a QGIS plug-ins, webpage or online dashboards;
• has knowledge and interest in the energy transition. Having detailed knowledge and/or experience related to modelling, planning or implementing energy communities is a plus;
• has understanding and/or experience concerning the utilization of renewable energy technologies for energy supply in urban areas;
• has understanding and/or experience in the development or utilisation of optimisation models for energy systems;
• is able to work in an interdisciplinary team spread across Europe;
• has an excellent English proficiency (C1). Language proficiency in Dutch, German and/or Czech is also an asset.

We recognise that candidates might not have all these qualifications. A combination of them (specially the PhD degree and a strong background in computer science, programming or geoinformatics) and the willingness to acquire the others during the first months of the project will suffice to be taken into consideration.

We offer:

• a position for 36 months with the prospect of a permanent employment contract after a positive evaluation;
• a gross monthly salary between €3,345 and €5,278 in the case of full-time employment (salary scale 10 under the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities (CAO NU));
• 8% holiday pay and 8.3% year-end bonus;
• a pension scheme, partially paid parental leave and flexible terms of employment based on the CAO NU.

In addition to the terms of employment laid down in the CAO NU, Utrecht University has a number of schemes and facilities of its own for employees. This includes schemes facilitating professional development, leave schemes and schemes for sports and cultural activities, as well as discounts on software and other IT products. We also offer access to additional employee benefits through our Terms of Employment Options Model. In this way, we encourage our employees to continue to invest in their growth. For more information, please visit Working at Utrecht University.

A better future for everyone. This ambition motivates our scientists in executing their leading research and inspiring teaching. At Utrecht University, the various disciplines collaborate intensively towards major strategic themes. Our focus is on Dynamics of Youth, Institutions for Open Societies, Life Sciences and Pathways to Sustainability. Sharing science, shaping tomorrow.

Utrecht University’s Faculty of Geosciences studies the Earth: from the Earth’s core to its surface, including man’s spatial and material utilisation of the Earth – always with a focus on sustainability and innovation. With 3,400 students (BSc and MSc) and 720 staff, the faculty is a strong and challenging organisation. The Faculty of Geosciences is organised in four Departments: Earth Sciences, Human Geography & Spatial Planning, Physical Geography, and Sustainable Development.

In particular you will be working for the Energy and Resources Section of the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development. The Copernicus Institute is a vibrant international research community that aims to help accelerate the transition to a sustainable society. We do this by developing excellent and relevant knowledge, collaborating with citizens, politicians, policymakers, NGOs and firms to learn from each other and influence decision-making, and by educating the change agents of the future.

As Utrecht University, we want to be a home for everyone. We value staff with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and identities, including cultural, religious or ethnic background, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment in which everyone can flourish and contribute.

To apply, please send your curriculum vitae, including a letter of motivation, one of your papers (e.g. the one that you consider your best or the one that fits better the topic of the project) and the contact data of two people that we could contact for references via the 'apply now' button.

We expect to run interviews during January 2025. We would like to start with the contract as soon as possible (likely in February) but no later than May 2025.

Please note that there are two postdoc positions available for the same project. Kindly refrain from applying to both, as the positions have different requirements. If you are unsure, please apply for the position you feel best suited for based on your qualifications.