PhD scholarship in Electric Vehicles Clustering Methods for Distribution Grid Services and Planning

The Department of Electrical Engineering (DTU Elektro) invites applications for a 3-year PhD position associated with the ACDC research project in the area of grid integration of electric vehicles within the Centre for Electric Power and Energy (CEE).

You will join the Distributed Energy Resources (DER) group, which has received increased recognition internationally for its contribution to both methodological and application-related aspects of modern power system engineering. The DER group is currently involved in a number of research projects covering the integration of energy storage, e-mobility, solar, wind power, demand response, and energy conversion solutions with focus on local coordination, aggregation, energy services, grid aspects, and user behavior. 

PhD key elements
The PhD theme includes common elements present in the two funding research projects ACDC and FUSE. The following research areas are of interest: 

• Aggregation of electric vehicles chargers for the provision of ancillary services to distribution grids, with different degrees of uncertainty. This includes uncertainty of plugin time, energy requirements, departure time and autonomous operation of chargers.
• Research on contemporary charging equipment and its support of grid integration. This includes exploring requirements on connectivity, standardization, cybersecurity and controllability for chargers adhering to present and future grid needs and requirements. 
• Local clusters of charging equipment (e.g. parking lots) which may be subject to a shared capacity limit and with possible coordination with local renewable production to increase local energy autonomy.

Funding research projects

• ACDC (Autonomously Controlled Distributed Chargers). The ACDC project is supported by the Danish agency for development of new technologies (EUDP) and involves, besides DTU Elektro, four companies. The objective of ACDC is to develop an EV autonomous smart charge controller to ensure the fulfillment of specific grid services. The technology will be developed and demonstrated in the project by using vehicles in Risø campus and in Bornholm. Along with the development of the hardware, power systems stability studies will be performed to analyze the effect of aggregated charging on large scale. Website: www.acdc-bornholm.eu
• FUSE (Frederiksberg Urban Smart Electromobility). The FUSE project is supported by the Danish agency for development of new technologies (EUDP) and involves, besides DTU Elektro, nine partners. The objective of the FUSE project is to accelerate the investment in urban charging infrastructure by developing and demonstrating efficient rollout strategy and smart charging solutions. The project will carry out demonstrations at Frederiksberg which has an ambitious e-mobility strategy.

Qualifications
Candidates should have a two-year master degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master degree. The applicants should fulfil the following requirements: 

• High grades in your master program.
• Knowledge of power systems operation and electric vehicles grid integration issues.
• Familiar with distributed energy resources (DERs) grid integration issues.
• Knowledge of simulation software such as Matlab-Simulink and programming language as python and C.
• Hands-on experience with power electronics, embedded programming and telemetry, is appreciated.
• Ability to present results in technical reports, and prepare scientific papers for publication in international journals.
• Proficient use of the English language.
• Dedicated person with desire to learn is an essential quality.

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 the DTU PhD Guide. 

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. 

The place of work will be at the Department of Electrical Engineering, DTU Risø Campus, Roskilde, Denmark. Lyngby campus will be visited on a weekly basis depending on meeting/teaching commitments. 

You can read more about career paths at DTU here. 

Further information 
Further information may be obtained from ACDC project leader Associate Professor Mattia Marinelli, matm@elektro.dtu.dk or FUSE project leader Senior Researcher Peter Bach Andersen, pba@elektro.dtu.dk. 

You can read more about DTU Electrical Engineering at www.elektro.dtu.dk  and about CEE at www.cee.elektro.dtu.dk. 

Application 
Please submit your online application no later than 30 November 2020 (local 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 out the online application form, 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
• Excel sheet with translation of grades to the Danish grading system (see guidelines)
• 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.

Candidates may apply prior to ob­tai­ning their master's degree but cannot begin before having received it. Applications and enclosures received after the deadline will not be considered. 

All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, race, disability, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply.

DTU Electrical Engineering educates students within electrical engineering technologies. We offer studies at BEng, BSc, MSc and PhD levels, and participate in joint international programmes. We conduct state-of-the-art research within antenna and microwave technology, robot technology, power and physical electronics, acoustic environment, electro-acoustics, electric power and energy. Our department has more than 200 members of staff. 

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 vision to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That vision lives on today. DTU has 12,000 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. Our main campus is in Kgs. Lyngby north of Copenhagen and we have campuses in Roskilde and Ballerup and in Sisimiut in Greenland.