PhD scholarship - Electric Vehicles Powered Hybrid Power Plants

Updated: about 2 years ago
Deadline: The position may have been removed or expired!

The Department of Electrical Engineering (DTU Elektro) invites applications for a 3-year PhD position in the research area of grid integration of electric vehicles within the Centre for Electric Power and Energy (CEE). The scholarship is funded by DTU as part of its alliance program with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).  

You will join the Distributed Energy Resources (DER) group , which has received increased recognition internationally for its contribution to both methodological and application-related aspects of modern power system engineering. The group is currently involved in several research projects covering grid integration of distributed flexible demand, generation and energy storage, with focus on e-mobility, solar PV, wind power, demand response and energy conversion including the aspects of user behavior.

The PhD project will be supervised by DTU Associate Professor Mattia Marinelli and co-supervised by NTNU Professor Magnus Korpås. The PhD student is expected to spend a period at NTNU and collaborate with PhDs at both Institutions.

PhD key elements
The PhD project main objective is to define suitable charging strategies to pool an aggregation of electric vehicles and provide the necessary flexibility to a hybrid power plant consisting of renewables sources. Selected power plants from Denmark and Norway will be considered as test cases and based on realistic driving patterns from the two countries, the potential for flexibility provision will be defined and validated.

The following elements may be considered:

  • Define the concept of hybrid power plant powered with geographically distributed electric vehicles and identify challenges and advantages within future power systems.
  • Assess the role of electric vehicles in adding flexibility in hybrid power plants, as well as their benefits and drawbacks.
  • Develop forecasting techniques for the flexibility provided by aggregations of electric vehicles considering user behavior.
  • Design charging control strategies for the aggregation of vehicles in parking lots to enhance the controllability of the hybrid power plant.
  • Validate selected control strategies in properly designed test cases.

Connected research projects
The present alliance scholarship will be connected to the ongoing research projects ACDC and Insulae. ADCD is a Danish funded project, which is developing an electric vehicle autonomous smart charge controller to ensure the fulfillment of specific grid services (www.acdc-bornholm.eu ). Insulae is a H2020 funded project, which aims at proving technologies for increasing renewables and energy independency in 3 demo-islands, including the island of Bornholm (http://insulae-h2020.eu/ ).  

Qualifications
You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.

The applicants should fulfil the following requirements:

  • Excellent grades in your master program.
  • Knowledge of power systems operation and electric vehicles grid integration.
  • Familiar with distributed energy resources grid integration.
  • Knowledge of simulation software such as Matlab-Simulink or dedicated power system simulation tools such as Powerfactory.
  • Ability to present results in technical reports and prepare scientific papers for publication in international journals.
  • Proficient use of the English language.
  • Dedicated person with desire to learn is an essential quality.

Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education . 

We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years.

The place of work will be at the Department of Electrical Engineering, DTU Risø Campus, Roskilde, Denmark. Lyngby campus will be visited on a weekly basis depending on meeting/teaching commitments.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here .  

Further information

Further information may be obtained by Associate Professor Mattia Marinelli, [email protected] or DER group leader Associate Professor Chresten Træholt, [email protected] .

You can read more about DTU Electrical Engineering at www.elektro.dtu.dk  and about CEE at www.cee.elektro.dtu.dk .

If you are applying from abroad, you may find useful information on working in Denmark and at DTU at DTU – Moving to Denmark .

Application 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later thanMonday 14 February 2022 (local time). A
pplications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link "Apply online", fill out the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

  • A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma including official description of grading scale
  • A 1-page research statement, including figures and references if deemed necessary (max 500 words). Research achievements (if any), methodological approaches and research objectives relevant to the framework of the PhD study are recommended elements to be included.

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Electrical Engineering educates students within electrical engineering technologies. We offer studies at BEng, BSc, MSc and PhD levels, and participate in joint international programmes. We conduct state-of-the-art research within antenna and microwave technology, robot technology, power and physical electronics, acoustic environment, electro-acoustics, electric power and energy. Our department has more than 200 members of staff.

Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear vision to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That vision lives on today. DTU has 12,900 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.



Similar Positions