The energy transition is putting increasing pressure on our electricity grid. How can we ensure that solar energy, electric vehicles and local energy cooperatives remain reliable and fair? Five PhD graduates from the University of Twente developed innovative solutions for smart charging, energy storage and cybersecurity. Their work strengthens the energy grid of the future: from office charging stations to the protection of entire power networks. All five obtained their PhDs within a month of each other.
Each study focuses on a different scale, ranging from individual electric cars to the national grid. The PhD researchers tested their ideas in collaboration with companies and universities. “That makes the results directly applicable,” says supervisor Gerwin Hoogsteen. “Together, they ensure that the energy transition works for everyone.”
Smart charging of electric vehicles
With the growing number of electric vehicles worldwide, the risk of grid overload is increasing. “It often starts in the parking lot of a large office,” says Leoni Winschermann. “If everyone plugs in at the same time, the local power grid can easily become overloaded.”
Winschermann developed algorithms that distribute the charging process fairly and efficiently. This ensures that everyone gets enough power to drive home, without straining the grid. “What I like,” she adds, “is that mathematics not only makes the grid more stable, but also creates a fairer experience for users. And the same models can be applied to completely different challenges.”
Energy cooperatives and local energy communities
Challenges are also emerging at the neighbourhood level. More households are using electricity for heating and transport while generating their own power through solar panels. That requires cooperation.
Bahman Ahmadi explored how residents can form energy cooperatives. He developed systems that fairly distribute locally generated electricity while reducing both costs and emissions. “In communities such as the Earth Houses in Olst, you can see how people gain more control over their energy use and become more aware of their consumption,” he explains.
Colleague Edmund Schaefer looked at how a neighbourhood can make smart use of solar power with a shared battery. He designed tools to determine the optimal size and operation of such systems. “Energy cooperatives need to become truly future-proof,” he says. “With the right technology, they can seize the opportunities offered by the new energy law and prepare for the phase-out of the net metering scheme.”
Together with Saxion University of Applied Sciences and European partners, Ahmadi and Schaefer built practical solutions that make energy communities stronger and fairer.
Solar panels and overvoltage
Not only neighbourhoods, but also existing electricity grids are reaching their limits. The growing success of solar energy in particular can cause problems. When more power is generated than consumed locally, the voltage in the grid can rise too high.
Aswin Vadavathi developed methods to better maintain voltage levels by distributing the load more fairly.
“Households at the end of the street are usually the ones affected,” he says. “Their solar panels have to shut down more often, even though the problem is caused by the entire neighbourhood.” His approach, called Proportional Voltage Fairness (PVF), fairly distributes responsibility among all users, preventing unnecessary loss of sustainable energy. “For me, the solution had to not only work technically, but also be understandable and fair,” says Vadavathi.
Cybersecurity for smart energy grids
The smarter our energy systems become, the more vulnerable they are to cyberattacks. Smart meters, local energy systems and digital control networks create new entry points for hackers.
Verena Menzel developed a system that can detect cyberattacks at an early stage by combining insights from computer science and electrical engineering.
“Many security systems focus solely on IT or solely on the power grid,” she explains. “I wanted to bridge those two worlds, so we can detect attacks that would otherwise go unnoticed.”
She tested her intrusion detection system using both simulations and real data. It proved to be reliable and scalable. “It’s rewarding to know that my work can contribute to something very tangible: keeping the lights on in an increasingly digital and connected world,” says Menzel.
Building the future together
What connects these five PhD projects is their focus on fairness, reliability and practical impact. From the office parking lot to the national power grid, their solutions reinforce each other.
The researchers collaborated with companies, municipalities and international universities, ensuring that their work has immediate societal relevance.
“The great thing is that each study adds a piece to the puzzle,” say supervisors Johann Hurink and Gerwin Hoogsteen. “Together, these pieces form a picture of what our future energy system can look like: smart, safe and fair. Ready for a world where sustainable energy is the norm.”
