The Energy Management at UT research collective of the University of Twente have a vacancy for one PhD (fully-funded, 4 years) position in the Electricity Grid Stability Programme Project (ESP). The focus of this project is on optimizing EV charging through coordination of stakeholders within the e-mobility ecosystem to enhance grid stability with fairness among consumers. Together with project partners we not only will conduct simulation studies, but also real-world experiments with our own parking lot.
Electricity Grid Stability Program (ESP)
Description:
Public and semi-public charging of electric vehicles (EVs) involves multiple stakeholders: Charging Point Operators (CPOs) operating the infrastructure, Mobility Service Providers (MSPs) representing EV users, EV users requiring battery energy, energy suppliers, providing this energy, and the electricity grid that transport and deliver it to EV chargers. Conflicting interests still challenge the current approach to manage EV charging, whilst all parties would benefit from a transparent and cooperative system. For instance, CPOs aim to maximize energy sales but local grid congestion often forces them to implement smart charging, which reduces power usage. This also impacts charging efficiencies due to power electronics design, ultimately affecting the energy costs for EV users. On the other hand, energy suppliers are curtailing solar/wind energy to reduce imbalance costs caused by market volatility, which negatively impacts both economic and sustainability goals.
The goal of this project is to better integrate and coordinate all stakeholders in the e-mobility ecosystem to create added value in various forms: lower costs, more effective use of sustainably (locally) generated energy, and reducing grid congestion through EV flexibility. The project will explore common interests, potential agreements for mutual benefits, and develop optimization algorithms for control, optimization, and value stacking of EV charging flexibility. Additionally, the role of power electronics in system integration and charging efficiency will be investigated, along with the effects of smart charging at lower power levels to ensure fair compensation for end-users. The ESP concepts and added value of stakeholder cooperation in EV charging management will be tested and demonstrated in a pilot site located at the university campus.
Involved partners:
- AmperaPark, a green EV charging solution provider,
- Longship, a provider of charging back-end software,
- Deftpower, a Mobility Service Provider),
- and NieuweStroom, an energy provider with dynamic tariffs.
Your profile:
- You have a BSc. and MSc. degree in Electrical or Electronics Engineering, Computer Sciences, Mathematics, or related fields.
- You have theoretical and (applied) knowledge of the modeling, analysis, and control of power/energy systems, and/or electricity markets.
- You have experience in the e-mobility field: e.g., grid integration, modelling, simulation and control (knowledge on power electronics and experience with hands-on experimental setups is a big plus).
- You have experience with mathematical modelling and optimization (linear/convex/mixed integer), stochastic modelling, statistical analysis and data science.
- You have experience with programming languages, e.g., MATLAB/Simulink, Python, C++, etc. Experience with Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) simulations is a plus.
- You have excellent communication skills, are a team player, have enthusiasm, and motivation to work on highly challenging research topics in a multidisciplinary team.
- Excellent command of the English language (spoken and written)
Our offer:
- This is a full-time position for four years, with a qualifier in the first year.
- Your salary and associated conditions are in accordance with the collective labour agreement for Dutch universities (CAO-NU).
- Gross salary between € 2872 - € 3670,- per month depending on experience and qualifications.
- Excellent benefits including a holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, a year-end bonus of 8.3% and a solid pension scheme;
- The flexibility to work (partially) from home;
- Free access to sports facilities on campus;
- A minimum of 232 leave hours in case of full-time employment based on a formal workweek of 38 hours. A full-time employment in practice means 40 hours a week, therefore resulting in 96 extra leave hours on an annual basis.
- Excellent support for research and facilities for professional and personal development.
- We encourage a high degree of responsibility and independence, while collaborating with close colleagues, researchers and other university staff.
- We are also a family-friendly institution that offers parental leave (both paid and unpaid) and career support for partners.
If you are passionate about e-mobility, grid integration, optimization, and/or electricity markets, feel free to contact Dr. Gerwin Hoogsteen (g.hoogsteen@utwente.nl) and Dr. Nataly Bañol Arias (m.n.banolarias@utwente.nl). Please use the subject “PhD position: Electricity Grid Stability Program” and include your motivation letter, up-to-date CV, and name and contact details of two referees in your application. Applications will be open until December 1st 2024.