PhD project in “Enhancing renewable power plants’ performance through advanced control methods” - DTU Wind

Would you like to become part of the solution toward green energy transition, by helping develop the methods for modeling renewable power plants and future energy systems?
Would you like to become part of the solution toward green energy transition, by helping develop the methods for modeling renewable power plants and future energy systems?

The Renewable Plants in Energy Systems (RES) section at DTU Wind and Energy Systems is inviting candidates to apply for a PhD in “Enhancing renewable power plants’ performance through advanced control methods”. The research in this section is multidisciplinary and you will enjoy the advantages of a creative and inspiring work environment. You will get the opportunity to participate and influence the development of advanced renewable power plants in collaboration with top universities and industry in the field of wind energy research in Europe and beyond.

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. We develop talent by offering national/European and global networking opportunities, unique research infrastructure including a fully controllable MW-scale hybrid power plant at our campus, and a collaborative research environment.

Project background
Future power systems driven by 100% renewable power plants (RPPs) will be extremely complex, uncertain environments with rapidly changing characteristics. The RPPs will be responsible for maintaining security of supply and stability of the power system in absence of conventional generators, coping with simultaneous, e.g. weather, market, and grid uncertainties. RPPs will provide extensive system services, e.g. frequency reserves, reactive power, voltage control, virtual inertia and black start. One concern is that using traditional linear controllers in RPPs in systems with multiple uncertainties might jeopardize both their own and the system small- and large-signal stability. Thus, the stability of future systems is highly dependent on their own operational conditions, RPPs’ control capabilities, and the interactions between the control layers.

In this project, you will develop an advanced control for RPPs providing grid services that is asymptotically stable in the presence of uncertainties. Artificial intelligence and machine learning will play a crucial role in the modeling and control of these RPPs, ensuring optimized performance and efficiency.

You will be part of a joint alliance research project called Advanced control of renewable power plants for resiliency of highly uncertain power systems, where you will interact with researchers and experts from Technical University of Munich (TUM). This requires good communications skills but also allows you to co-operate with leading European research institutes. You are expected to conduct about 6-9 months external research stays at TUM. The strong co-operation between DTU and TUM, while requiring strong collaboration skills, allows you to accomplish the ambitious objectives of the project.

Responsibilities and qualifications
During your PhD studies, you will develop advanced control methods for RPPs to ensure their stable grid services, thereby maintaining the security and stability of these complex environments. You are expected to thoroughly model the dynamics of highly uncertain power systems, identify uncertainties, and address interoperability challenges across various control and operational layers within RPPs and the power system. You will carry out theoretical derivations and analyses but also implement simulations to test the developed control methods.

As part of your PhD studies, you will publish your work in reputed journals and present it at peer-reviewed scientific conferences. A detailed project plan will be developed with the supervisors within the first two months after enrolment.

You will also need to assist in the co-supervision of MSc theses and provide teaching assistance in courses taught at DTU for a limited number of hours.

The successful candidate fulfills the following requirements:

• MSc degree in Control and/or Electrical Engineering, or related fields (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)
• Strong background in both control systems and electrical engineering
• Basic knowledge of renewable power plants and power converters
• Experience with technical tools such as PowerFactory and Matlab Simulink
• Grasp in using artificial intelligence and machine learning in modelling and control applications will be considered an advantage
• Fluency in communication and reporting in English
• Creative, proactive and independent thinking

Prior experience in research in the form of student projects, and capability to work in an interdisciplinary manner are a plus.

The successful candidate must also fulfill the requirements for admission to a PhD program at DTU.

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.

The salary is commensurate with Danish living cost. Denmark offers free health care, good personal safety, a well-functioning and highly digitized state, and good benefits for parents including a well-developed child-care network. The greater Copenhagen are offers all benefits of a capital city combined with a relaxed attitude. A good resource to learn more about the conditions is WorkInDenmark.dk.

Your new place of employment will be along the shores of the Roskilde fjord, at the DTU Risø Campus.

Further information
Further information may be obtained from Associate Professor Anca D. Hansen ([email protected]), Associate Professor Kaushik Das ([email protected]) and Head of Section Gregor Giebel ([email protected]).

You can read more about DTU Wind at https://wind.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
Please submit your online application no later than 13 April 2025 (23:59 Danish time).
Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please open the link “Apply online”, fill in the online application form in English, 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 (in English) 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, 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.

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.

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