PRR Project

Summary

Job DescriptionThe researcher will lead and participate in innovative research and development projects in industrial electronics specializing in power converters integrated into electric power systems in the topics of synthetic inertia, hybrid AC/CD grids, electric mobility integration, hybrid battery storage systems, and the production of green hydrogen. The responsibilities of the collaborator will involve the design, construction, and experimental validation of electronic power converter prototypes (hardware and control algorithms) related to the topic previously enumerated, implementation of electrical installations required to develop a laboratory-scale hybrid AC/DC distribution grid test-bed, the development of innovative algorithms for grid-forming inverters, synthetic inertia for grid-forming and grid-following inverters, control and operation of hybrid AC/DC grids incorporating distributed generation and EV charging. The collaborator is also expected to collaborate with academic and industrial partners. At last, the collaborator is also expected to perform training and supervision activities for undergraduate students in the power electronics/power systems field. Scientific ProfileThe collaborator must have a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering (Power Electronics / Power and Energy Systems) or a closely related field, with a strong focus on designing and developing electronic power converters, including advanced architectures and control algorithms for power converters. A publication record in top-tier journals and conferences in the field is also required. The collaborator must demonstrate expertise in practical and theoretical aspects of designing and developing electronic power converters and electrotechnical works. The collaborator should also demonstrate a solid knowledge basis related to computational simulation of electrical distribution grids and power converters, grid integration of electric vehicles and distributed renewable energy, and ancillary services in power systems related to frequency stability and inertia provision. At last, experience with grant writing for research and development projects, project management, and the ability to secure research funding constitutes a preferential aspect. RationaleImportant changes are looming in energy systems because of the progressive integration of distributed energy resources such as renewable energy sources (RES), transport electrification, and the expected proliferation of distributed energy storage and green hydrogen production. Among the expected impacts on current electric power systems are the need to at least partially redesign and reinforce transmission and distribution electric grids, the need to tackle the degrease of the power system’s overall inertia due to the increasing share of power-converter based RES such as wind and PV, and the need for effective load management approaches to accommodate the expected load posed by transport electrification and hydrogen production. It is in this context that hybrid AC/DC distribution grids and advanced synthetic inertia emulation may constitute key enabling technological elements. Hybrid AC/DC distribution grids may offer a more efficient, cost-effective, and flexible solution for reinforcing, expanding, and even reformulating existing distribution grids to accommodate an increasing share of resources that are DC by nature (such as EV charging, battery energy storage technologies, hydrogen electrolysers, and PV generation) in locations where currently existing distribution grids have not enough capacity or are even totally absent. Synthetic inertia may provide a crucial response for the decreasing share of rotating synchronous generators in power systems, further fostering the integration of power-converter-based distributed energy resources.Hiring a collaborator with a strong scientific profile in these subjects will enable our institution to remain at the forefront in these domains. This new addition to our staff would enhance our research capabilities in the stressed domains and our training capabilities for academic and industry partners, with the last goal of fostering innovation, technological advancement, and societal and economic impact. Thus, the proposed position is of utmost importance for the institution´s reputation as a leader in power and energy systems education and research, contributing significantly to the development of cutting-edge solutions for the future paradigms of electric power systems.