PhD scholarship in Aggregation and control of multi-brand slow chargers for grid services delivery - DTU Wind

Do you want to be involved in the green energy transition? Do you wish to contribute to the development of E-mobility integration and are you looking for a career in R&D or academia? Then we have a great opportunity!

We are looking for a highly motivated and skilled candidate with a master’s degree in STEM disciplines to join us as a PhD scholar.

For you to join us as a PhD scholar. We offer a multidisciplinary, international, and friendly atmosphere, encouraging creativity, diversity, empathy, and teamwork. You will have a great opportunity to build strong networks with internationally known researchers at DTU and other universities as well as industrial partners.

You will be affiliated with the Section on E-mobility and Prosumer Integration in the Division of Power and Energy Systems. Collaboration with neighboring sections is encouraged. The Section on E-mobility and Prosumer Integration undertakes internationally leading research and teaching in the field of EV technologies, charging infrastructure and flexibility, advanced power electronics, battery energy systems and hybrid AC-DC systems. The research in this section is multidisciplinary and the team is currently formed by 34 researchers from 15 different countries.

Responsibilities and qualifications
The PhD project is part of the European research project AHEAD: AI-informed Holistic Electric Vehicles Integration Approaches for Distribution Grids.

The AHEAD project involves 21 partners from 11 countries and will create a simulation environment capable of predicting the most convenient location to place the electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and optimise both the usage of the power grid resources, and the charging stations located in urban and rural areas. This simulation environment will exploit the unique features of currently available AI models and include two layers: the spatial mapping one (placing the chargers where the people need them to be), and the power grid one (placing the chargers where the grid can support them). Innovative smart charging algorithms will be designed and tested in the model, to minimize the impact of EV charging pools on the network, and ensure the consumers have economic benefits. Moreover, these smart charging algorithms will be tested in three demonstration sites, dedicated to assessing the technical and economic feasibility of smart charging light and heavy-duty EVs, and boats.

This PhD project’s objective is to propose and demonstrate methods that allow the efficient integration of multi-brand slow chargers in charging clusters. The aggregation and control are performed in synergy with the wind and solar production located at DTU’s Risø campus and monitored by the System Integration Lab (SYSLAB). You will work closely with smart charging manufacturers, charging point operators, and the Danish transmission system operator (Energinet).

Your primary tasks will be:

• Plan and manage your PhD project in collaboration with supervisors.
• Define controlling algorithms for different clusters of chargers (knowledge about OCPP and Raspberry PI controllers are advantageous).
• Test controlling functionality in a state-of-the art real-time experimental facility.
• Assess the impact of EV charging on the energy system when delivering grid services.
• Estimate the economic profitability of delivering the grid services with the chargers.

A detailed project plan will be developed with the supervisors within the first two months after enrolment.

You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) in STEMS, with a preference in engineering, statistics, physics, mathematics, informatics or similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a master’s degree. 

You should preferably have:

• Excellent grades in your master program
• Dedication and the desire to learn
• Good programming skills (e.g., MATLAB and/or Python) 
• Ability to work effectively with data and applied statistics
• Ability to present results in technical reports and prepare scientific papers
• Ability to work in a project team and take responsibility for own research goals
• Fluent in communicating and reporting in English
• Previous experience on Raspberry PI programming is advantageous 
• Knowledge of centralised/decentralised/distributed controls is advantageous

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.

You can read more about career paths at DTU here.

Further information 
Further information about the academic content may be obtained from Head of Section for E-Mobility and Prosumer Integration, Associate Professor Mattia Marinelli (matm@dtu.dk), and from Research Fellow Kristian Sevdari (krisse@dtu.dk) and Research Fellow Mattia Secchi (matsec@dtu.dk).

You can read more about DTU Wind and Energy Systems AT www.vindenergi.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. Furthermore, you have the option of joining our monthly free seminar “PhD relocation to Denmark and startup “Zoom” seminar” for all questions regarding the practical matters of moving to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU. 

Application procedure 
Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 20 December 2024 (23:59 Danish time). Kindly note that the selected candidate is expected to begin at the latest in April 2025.

Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link “Apply now”, fill in the online application form, and attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• Curriculum vitae 
• A letter motivating the application (cover letter)
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English) including official description of grading scale
• A 1-page overview (in bullet points) of relevant experience (if any), and a 1-page project proposal that aligns with the job opening. Include your project's objectives, methodology, expected outcomes, and sources of information.

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, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.

The Department of Wind and Energy Systems is one of the world’s largest centers of wind energy and energy systems research and knowledge, with a staff of more than 400 people from 37 countries working in research, innovation, research-based consulting and education. DTU Wind and Energy Systems has approximately 90 PhD students. The department’s cross-disciplinary research is organized through strategic research programmes that collaborate with Danish and international universities, research institutions and organizations, as well as the wind industry.

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 mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 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.