PhD position in grid connection of renewable energy systems, with a focus on power electronics.

Published: 2023-04-04

Uppsala University is a comprehensive research-intensive university with a strong international standing. Our ultimate goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a long-term difference in society. Our most important assets are all the individuals whose curiosity and dedication make Uppsala University one of Sweden’s most exciting workplaces. Uppsala University has over 54,000 students, more than 7,500 employees and a turnover of around SEK 8 billion.

Electrification and digitalisation are among the largest areas for the future in the conversion to sustainable societies. The Department of Electrical Engineering conducts successful research and education in the areas - renewable energy sources, electric vehicles, industrial IoT, 5G communication and wireless sensor networks as well as smart electronic sensors and medical systems. The Department of Electrical Engineering is an international workplace with around 130 employees that all contribute to important technical energy and health challenges at the Ångström Laboratory.

The position is at the division of electricity, at the Department of Electrical Engineering. We look forward to your application for your future work with us for the future of grid connection of renewable energy systems, with a focus on power electronics.

Read more about our benefits and what it is like to work at Uppsala University

We have an exciting work environment designed by the doctoral student and the research team together. The doctoral student will be supervised by at least two supervisors. The Department of Electrical Engineering also gives a salary supplement for doctoral students at Uppsala University.

Project description
The integration of renewable energy in the electrical grid is increasing. One key difference for the grid connection of traditional electric power production such as nuclear power and hydropower, that dominate the Swedish grid, and renewable energy, is that the generator can be synchronously connected to the grid. For intermittent energy sources, such as ocean, wind and solar energy, the connection has to be made using as intermediate step with power converters. By grid connecting using power converters, the inertia from the generator is not transmitted to the grid, leading to an electrical grid more sensitive to differences in produced and consumed power, causing frequency fluctuations.

The progress in power semiconductor technology has allowed for constructing power converters that can be used for both high power conversion and control of generators. Si is the most common material, but SiC and GaN are emerging allowing for higher efficiencies of conversion.

The division has a dedicated lab for power electronics research, as well as several experimental stations with in-house made power converters. This project aims to design, develop and test power converters for connecting several generators for marine current power to the grid. The project has access to simulation software, the experimental lab, and the experimental site with a marine current power turbine in Söderfors, Sweden.

Some suggested topics, depending on the interest of the candidate:

• Multilevel converters
• Grid connection topologies
• Filter techniques
• Control of generators
• Converters using SiC or GaN

Duties

• Lab work including building and preparing power electronics equipment.
• Write scientific papers and publish in relevant scientific journals.
• Present the research orally at relevant international conferences.
• Teaching (for example tutorials and labs) and other departmental duties of no more than 20%.

Requirements

• The applicant must hold a master degree in, engineering physics, energy systems, electrical engineering, or a similar field.
• Knowledge of modelling tools such as Matlab/Simulink/LT Spice.
• Very good oral and written proficiency in English.
• We will put an emphasise in your personal qualities such as that you show independence, that you are goal- and result oriented, have good cooperation skills and are good at oral communication. 

Additional qualifications

• Lab experience with measurement and control of power systems with power electronics
• Experience with LabVIEW and cRIO
• Simulations of power systems in Simulink or similar
• Work in power systems or power electronics
• Very good oral and written proficiency in Swedish 

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines .

About the employment
The employment is atemporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100%.Starting date as agreed. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Johan Forslund, johan.forslund@angstrom.uu.se, +46 70 79 26 532.

Please submit your application by 1 May 2023, UFV-PA 2023/780.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? Find out more about what it´s like to work and live in Sweden.  

Please do not send offers of recruitment or advertising services.

Submit your application through Uppsala University's recruitment system.

Placement: Department of Electrical Engineering

Type of employment: Full time , Temporary position

Pay: Fixed salary

Number of positions: 1

Working hours: 100 %

Town: Uppsala

County: Uppsala län

Country: Sweden

Union representative: ST/TCO tco@fackorg.uu.se
Seko Universitetsklubben seko@uadm.uu.se
Saco-rådet saco@uadm.uu.se

Number of reference: UFV-PA 2023/780

Last application date: 2023-05-01