PhD in System integration of offshore wind parks on the local/regional level

This PhD position is part of a larger integrated research program with 6 PhD projects in cooperation between four universities in the Netherlands (RUG, TUD, TU/e and UU), RWE and TNO. This PhD program is investigating different aspects that are related to the development of the large-scale offshore wind farm - Oranje Wind - in the North Sea, about 53 kilometres off the Dutch coast. This development will take place in the coming years and aims at delivering more than 760 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind capacity (enough to supply the equivalent of almost one million Dutch homes) and will contribute to the Dutch ambitious build-out targets for offshore wind. The Research and Development efforts connected to this offshore windfarm is designed to deliver solutions for the optimal integration of very large scale deployment of offshore wind farm capacity into the energy system towards 2050. To balance electricity supply and demand and keep the grid stable many options are needed. The combination of extended energy infrastructure with electrolyser capacity for green hydrogen production, and other flexible demand solutions like e-boilers and electrified industrial processes, battery storage and many other flexibility and energy storage solutions. Furthermore, floating solar panels will allow a more efficient use of ocean space. Many aspects need to be studied to identify optimal energy system integration and scale-up strategies over time. The six interlinked PhD positions in the program contribute to a broad knowledge base to support those objectives energy by both innovations and deeper knowledge of the system integration issues at hand.

These objectives require an interdisciplinary approach and cooperation and exchange with the other five PhD projects is an important aspect. Furthermore, the PhD candidate will work closely together with experts from the applied research institute TNO and receive joint supervision from both academic and TNO side with full access to research environments.

The PhD program itself is part of a larger dissemination and communication program that provides ample opportunity to work together with other stakeholders from academia, research institutes and industry.

PhD project: System Integration on local and regional level of off-shore wind energy parks

University: Technical University of Eindhoven

The development and realization of off-shore energy wind parks in the North Sea Region is ongoing at an impressive rate. Ultimately, the  North Sea Region may accommodate 300-400 GWe capacity towards 2050. A key challenge is however to match the fluctuating wind electricity production patterns with the demand side. Currently both the (HV) grid capacity as well as flexibility in demand for electricity are bottlenecks in the further development of wind off-shore parks. Part time low electricity prices affect the business cases heavily and matching demand and supply is imperative. These bottlenecks are of course addressed by expanding grid capacity and developing the demand side, but this takes time and large scale investment. Another part of the solution of these bottlenecks lays in the combination of innovative energy storage and conversion technologies within and around the (individual) wind parks. Additional storage with large batteries, energy storage based on water pressure on the sea floor, hydrogen production integrated in wind turbines (and subsequent transport of hydrogen via gas pipelines) and long term storage further away in empty salt caverns (as hydrogen or via Compressed Air Storage) are some of the options. Furthermore, additional power generation with floating PV (or other technologies like wave energy) complement wind electricity production patterns. In combination, these options can smoothen the power supply from the park, thereby using existing grid capacity better, with potentially better business cases.

This PhD project will, starting from existing modelling tools and capabilities, develop a method and simulation system for describing, analyzing and optimizing the techno-economic performance of wind parks making use of a wide diversity of flexibility and storage options in the North Sea region as a whole and of the region(s) where the off-shore generation connects to the on-land energy system. Ancillary services provision (inertia, reserves, voltage regulation) from these assets will be important for the technical stability of the (regional) energy system as well as from an economical perspective. This research has strong interlinkages with other PhD project going into the larger energy system, technology development and developing energy demand in industry. The method and tooling of the research will deliver important insights for the Oranjewind off-shore project (with which intensive collaboration and interaction is foreseen, but also for future upscaling of wind energy generation in general.

The ideal candidate has a background and proven interest in power and energy system modelling techniques, programming techniques (e.g. Python) and big data management techniques. Experience with real-time digital simulation of power systems (based on OPAL-RT or RTDS hardware) is a prerequisite. The candidate holds a relevant master degree in e.g. electrical engineering or energy sciences with a natural science basis. The project is multi-disciplinary in nature and affinity with or interest of working in an interdisciplinary environment is important.

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €2,872 max. €3,670).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.