TU/e is seeking an enthusiastic candidate for a PhD project that aims to develop pathways for the integration of offshore wind energy in the energy system.

Position: PhD student

Irène Curie Fellowship: No

Department(s): Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences

FTE: 1.0

Date off: 22/09/2024

Reference number: V39.7672

Job description

The energy transition is driven by the development of new renewable energy generation like offshore wind farms. Integrating large amounts of new renewable energy into the existing energy system is challenging and requires significant changes on the demand side, including the development of electrolyzers, demand-side management, e-boilers, and storage. This PhD project combines insights on technological learning with energy systems modeling to study this coordination problem in the context of the Oranjewind wind farm, a new development. You will work in a larger team of PhD students at different universities and closely collaborate with stakeholders.

Background

This PhD position is part of a large cooperative research program between four Dutch universities (RUG, TUD, Tue, and UU), RWE, and TNO. The program investigates the development of the large-scale offshore wind farm – Oranje Wind – in the North Sea, about 53 kilometers off the Dutch coast. Oranje Wind will be built in the coming years and aims to deliver more than 760 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind capacity, contributing to the Dutch ambitious build-out targets for offshore wind. The offshore wind farm is designed to deliver solutions for the optimal integration of offshore wind farms into the Dutch energy system, with the ultimate goal of perfectly matching the demand for energy to the flexible generation profile of offshore wind farms, contributing to grid stability. To unlock full system integration, the concept for the wind farm combines offshore wind with electrolyzer capacity for green hydrogen production and other flexible demand solutions like e-boilers and battery storage. Additionally, floating solar panels will allow more efficient use of ocean space. The six PhD positions in the program aim to develop a broad knowledge base on wind energy in the Netherlands and internationally, supporting the growth of wind energy through innovations and a deeper understanding of the system-related issues.

The system integration requires an interdisciplinary approach and cooperation with the other five PhD projects. The PhD candidate is expected to work closely with experts from the applied research institute TNO, with a 50% presence at the TNO offices to ensure intense cooperation. While at TNO, 100% of the time is dedicated to the research program. The PhD program is part of a larger dissemination and communication program, providing ample opportunities to collaborate with stakeholders from academia, research institutes, and industry.

Activities

The large-scale development and deployment of offshore wind electricity production have been very successful in terms of technology development, reducing costs, and developing a strong offshore wind sector and innovation system, especially among the countries around the North Sea Region. Technological learning of offshore wind technology has been impressive, and many factors have contributed to this and will continue to do so in the future. However, the upscaling of the North Sea Energy system toward 2050 may encompass 300-400 GWe capacity, and there are many challenges in balancing that future system and bringing the produced energy onshore in the most efficient way. A portfolio of emerging technologies that can contribute to balancing, PtoX (hydrogen and other energy carriers) options, and storage options is being developed to achieve this. New offshore wind parks, like Oranjewind, aim to test, develop, and optimize such technologies. This PhD project will analyze the future technological learning potential of those technologies to understand their potential future deployment and role in the energy system, as well as what is needed over time to achieve the required and desired performance level.

The research will combine bottom-up engineering methods and energy systems modeling with innovation science-based concepts around technological learning. The insights into individual technologies and systems will be directly relevant to the companies and industry involved, advancing the state-of-the-art in system-level learning. This PhD project will have key linkages with the other PhD projects, e.g., regarding scenario analysis and system modeling, acceleration implementation, etc.

About us

Eindhoven University of Technology is an internationally top-ranking university in the Netherlands that combines scientific curiosity with a hands-on attitude. Our spirit of collaboration translates into an open culture and a top-five position in collaborating with advanced industries. Fundamental knowledge enables us to design solutions for the highly complex problems of today and tomorrow.

Eindhoven and its metropolitan area are the major hub of the technology sector in the Netherlands, collectively known as the Brainport region. Many global leaders in technology, like ASML or Philips, are based in the fastest-growing region in the Netherlands. The School of Industrial Engineering and its faculty enjoy strong links with the local high-tech industry on all levels.

RWE is one of the largest and most prominent players in the European energy market. We are the number two global offshore player. We develop, engineer, construct, and operate electrical power-producing installations in almost 30 countries. With our passion for technology, we are a partner in the energy transition, achieving this by actively and realistically developing sustainable and innovative solutions. Our objective is to be climate-neutral by 2040 with net zero emissions across scope 1, 2, and 3.

TNO is an independent research organization. We connect people and knowledge to create innovations that boost the sustainable competitive strength of industry and the well-being of society. For this purpose, TNO is established by law as a legal public entity. The TNO law allocates certain tasks and responsibilities to TNO while also providing the parameters for execution. The reasoning behind it is to safeguard TNO’s independent position to conduct the research needed to create reliable solutions for the challenges society faces. Parts of TNO will be involved in mentoring the PhD projects, like the North Sea energy systems in Utrecht, Wind, solar energy & system integration in Petten, Energy Transition Studies in Amsterdam (large modeling suite, policy, implementation, innovation expertise), and Heat Transfer and Fluid dynamics in Delft (energy infrastructure). An interdisciplinary team at different facilities can be mobilized, providing direct R&D capacity, capabilities, and supervision capacity for collaboration with academic partners.

Job requirements

• A master’s degree (or an equivalent university degree) with excellent grades in Energy Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• A research-oriented attitude.
• Ability to be self-propelling and drive your own research.
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team and interested in collaborating with industrial partners.
• Fluent in spoken and written English (C1 level).

Conditions of employment

A meaningful job in a dynamic and ambitious university, in an interdisciplinary setting and within an international network. You will work on a beautiful, green campus within walking distance of the central train station. In addition, we offer you:

• Full-time employment for four years, with an intermediate evaluation (go/no-go) after nine months. You will spend 10% of your employment on teaching tasks.
• Salary and benefits (such as a pension scheme, paid pregnancy and maternity leave, partially paid parental leave) in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, scale P (min. €2,872 max. €3,670).
• A year-end bonus of 8.3% and annual vacation pay of 8%.
• High-quality training programs and other support to grow into a self-aware, autonomous scientific researcher. At TU/e, we challenge you to take charge of your own learning process.
• An excellent technical infrastructure, on-campus children's day care, and sports facilities.
• An allowance for commuting, working from home, and internet costs.
• A Staff Immigration Team and a tax compensation scheme (the 30% facility) for international candidates.

Information and application

More information

Do you recognize yourself in this profile and would you like to know more? Please contact Dr. Christina Papadimitriou at c.papadimitriou@tue.nl or Prof.dr. Floor Alkemade at f.alkemade@tue.nl.

Visit our website for more information about the application process or the conditions of employment. You can also contact HRServices.IEIS@tue.nl.

Are you inspired and would like to know more about working at TU/e? Please visit our career page.

Application

We invite you to submit a complete application by using the apply button. The application should include:

• A cover letter describing your motivation and qualifications for the position.
• A brief research statement (max. 1.5 pages) explaining your envisioned research direction related to the position, including a brief review of relevant literature, the contributions you would like to make, and the research methods you would like to use.
• A curriculum vitae (including the contact details of two academics from a relevant field who may be contacted as references).
• An academic paper (e.g., master thesis or article) showcasing your academic writing.
• A complete list of courses taken within your educational programs and grades obtained.

We aim for a quick selection procedure. The starting date can be discussed but is preferably between 1 October and the end of 2024. We look forward to receiving your application and will screen it as soon as possible. The vacancy will remain open until the position is filled.