Job description

The research group EELAB / Lemcko is affiliated with Ghent University and located on the UGent campus in Kortrijk. EELAB/Lemcko is specialized in Power Quality, Smart µGrids, Renewable energy, Hosting capacity and Grid Flexibility. You can find more info on www.ugent.be/ea/eemmecs/lemcko/en.

Objective of the research
Photovoltaic Installations (PV), Electric Vehicles (EV), Energy Storage (ES) and Heat Pumps (HP), combined “Stochastic Distribution Grid Exchanges” (SDGE) can result in additional stress on the distribution system due to their fundamentally different behaviour from traditional households and building behaviour. Due to the increased use of Stochastic Distribution Grid Exchanges (SDGE), the available grid capacity becomes more unpredictable. The grid capacity, further noted as “ampacity” is important to the Distribution System Operator (DSO). Users need to be aware to what extent they can exchange power with the grid under different circumstances, and to which extent they can participate in the energy services and markets. By doing so, we take into account: (i) the impact of decentralized generation, (ii) the integration of storage and (iii) integration of intelligent systems for flexible grid use. The objective of the project can be summarized as the development of innovative concept to avoid hosting capacity problems on distribution grids, taking into maximum grid use, with the goal to improve the performance and reliability.

Job description
The large penetration of stochastic distributed grid exchanges in existing distribution grids is bringing up many power quality-related problems which can highly affect large and small consumers. Depending on the level of simultaneous occurrence of PV production and energy demand, grid congestion and power quality issues may occur. Integration of PV in distribution systems also can cause voltage rises and increases voltage unbalance due to the typical high simultaneity. Additionally, the widespread adoption of EVs and HPs would lead to grid congestion and under voltage issues and will require a higher degree of flexibility of the system.
Next to that, the feasibility of integrating local storage must be examined, with the purpose of the mitigation of power quality related issues. With the gathered results,
line loadings and imbalance must be evaluated to provide qualitative feedback for shortcomings and merits of these approaches.
A stochastic unbalanced optimal power flow with the objective of determining the maximal hosting capacity must be developed to determine the hosting capacity in the day-ahead time frame. In order to avoid too restrictive hosting capacities, chance constraints must be defined which provide an acceptable congestion risk level from the perspective of the DSO.


Research Outcomes/Tasks:

• Develop an assessment for different congestion definitions
• Build an optimal power model for dynamic hosting capacity calculation
• Optimization constraints for statistical power flow-based LV grid model
• Defining the mitigation capabilities for improving power quality considering the probabilistic limits set by the relevant standards
• Prediction of tolerable number of electrical units based on dynamic load duration curves for a given feeder model
  
  

Additional Tasks:

• Project reporting and follow up
• Publish the gathered research results in high ranked journals
• Conduct and follow up of Ma thesis students during their projects related to your research.
• Support the Lemcko staff in teaching and lab sessions.

Job profile

• You have one of the following Master degrees:
  
  • Master of Science in Electromechanical, Power Engineering, Electrical Engineering or Applied Physics/Math with affiliation to renewable energy
  • Master in Engineering technology in the domains of Electrical engineering, Electromechanical engineering, Control technics
  • Equivalent Master in Electrotechnics or Electromechanics.
• You are highly motivated, self-critical, you work with rigor and attention to detail, and how to work accurately
• A good knowledge of Matlab, Simulink, Python and Latex is an asset
• You have a strong interest in renewable energy, grid flexibility, power grid distribution and power quality with both scientific and practical skills
• You combine being an active team player with a strong sense of autonomy and responsibility.
• You have good communication and writing skills and have an excellent knowledge of written and spoken English.
• You are willing to absorb notions of the Dutch language
  
  

How to apply

You apply by sending an e-mail to jnj.desmet@ugent.be before the closing date for registration.
The following documents must be included with your application:

• CV
• motivation letter
• a copy of the required diploma (if already in your possession)
• NARIC recognition of your diploma for candidates out of Western Europe
• other documents such as a reference letters, study results, etc.

UGent has equal opportunities and diversity policy and therefore encourages everyone to apply.
Candidates are first screened based on the application. Those who are qualified, will be invited to a selection interview. Candidates with a doctoral degree cannot apply.

What we can offer you?
We offer you a PhD scholarship as a contractual recruitment of 1 year, with another 3 years after positive evaluation. During the first period, you will also apply (when eligible, and in collaboration with your promoters) for additional scholarship funding. Your appointment will start by 01/06/2023 at the earliest. The aim is to obtain a doctoral degree.
You will receive a PhD scholarship according to the general conditions at Ghent University. The tax-free scholarship includes full social security coverage.
You will work in a dynamic, multidisciplinary and international research environment.
All Ghent University staff members enjoy a number of benefits, such as 36 days of paid leave, a wide range of training and education opportunities, bicycle commuting reimbursement, etc. A complete overview of all our fringe benefits can be found on our website.
For more information about this vacancy, please contact Prof. Jan Desmet (janj.desmet@ugent.be)
You will work at our Campus in Kortrijk (Belgium).