Do you want to develop key knowledge for an efficient energy transition through AI in the local electricity system, while acquiring academic perspectives?
InformationThis position is dual fold and has both a teaching and a research related aspect.
Power networks are critical for the integration of renewables and the electrification of energy consumption. Through digitalisation, power networks become Smart Grids that can monitor energy flows and adjust energy supply and demand accordingly, allowing demand flexibility services, distributed Energy Resources (DER), efficient operation, relevant savings in network investments, and the participation of consumers. Europe requires large investments in Smart Grids, particularly in educating the future workforce as well as providing lifelong learning services to the current employees (re-skilling and up-skilling). This is stated in the European Action Plan for Digitalising the Energy Sector (October 2022), the European Action Plan for Grids, the Net-Zero Industry Act, and recently the Clean Industrial Act.
When it comes to the teaching related activities:This PostDoc project is funded through the project SG SKILL that has kicked off 1st of December 2025. The SG-SKILL project is focused on the training needs for Smart Grids, covering their full value chain (planning, design, supply, implementation, commissioning, operation and maintenance, commercialisation) and the adaptation of existing conventional networks in all voltage levels. Training needs will address the diversity of job profiles required by the sector and all the corresponding educational levels, from VET to high-level education and research. The project will also consider the new roles of consumers enabled by digital tools, allowing citizens and energy communities to profit from local renewable sources.
The main objectives of the project are:
- Matching demand and supply of skills in the Smart Grids sector
- Develop a systematic, replicable and scalable methodology to achieve and continuously update those skills
- Provide a sustainable action plan (strategy or Blueprint) to keep applying the methodology beyond the scope of the project. SG-SKILL is aligned with the Large-Scale Partnership on Digitalisation of the Energy System, launched in 2023 under the Pact for Skills, and built on the results of the Erasmus+ project EDDIE.
When it comes to the research part: This PostDoc project explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can be leveraged to optimize energy portfolios for local energy communities, balancing
profitability,
risk exposure, and
behavioural acceptance in dynamic electricity markets. As renewable generation and prosumer participation grow, communities face increasing complexity in managing distributed assets, market participation, and social acceptance.
The main research objectives of this project are to:
- Develop AI-based models for multi-objective portfolio optimization or multi-layer optimization, integrating technical, financial, and behavioural dimensions.
- Quantify and manage risk and uncertainty in market participation, including price volatility and renewables variability.
- Investigate how behavioural factors—such as fairness, trust, and willingness to adopt AI-based decisions—influence community participation.
- Evaluate the impact of AI-driven decision support on community-level outcomes under different market design scenarios.
The research will combine
machine learning,
stochastic optimization, and
agent-based modelling with
behavioural experiments. Case studies from emerging energy communities or pilot projects will be used to validate the developed framework. The project is expected to deliver an integrated AI-based decision framework that enables energy communities to navigate the trade-offs between economic efficiency, risk resilience, and social acceptance—supporting a just and sustainable energy transition.
The position is supervised by Dr. ir Christina Papadimitriou, Dr. Nikolaos Paterakis, and Prof. Dr. Valentin Robu.