PhD Candidate in Stability and control of large offshore wind power plants

NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim.

At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

About the job

With the European Union setting the ambitious goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, and many other countries embracing similar policies to decarbonize electricity, supporting a more sustainable society, there is a significant need for technological advances and increased competitiveness to drive the growth of offshore renewable energies, and energy storage in the coming years.

Within this context, this PhD project will focus specifically on investigating how to ensure that large amounts of offshore wind energy can be integrated into the electric grid without jeopardizing its stability due to resonance phenomena and harmonic interactions.

The PhD Candidate will be employed at Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the workplace will be in Trondheim, Norway, but the PhD-project is of both academic and industrial relevance, and it will therefore be developed in close cooperation between NTNU in Trondheim and the company Petronas, which is a global Malaysian energy group.

Your immediate leader is the Head of Department.

Duties of the position

The objective of the PhD education is to qualify for scientific research of high international standard. The PhD education has a nominal duration of three years of full-time study and includes required coursework or similar academic training comprising a minimum of 30 credits. The most important component of the PhD education is an independent scientific research project carried out under academic supervision, which results in the PhD thesis. The PhD degree is conferred based on these two elements and the doctoral examination, which consists of a trial lecture and a public defense of the scientific thesis.

In the scientific research project, the PhD candidate will investigate the risks in terms of harmonic resonances/harmonic instability which may arise from the increase in power level and distance from shore of wind turbines (as well as PV farms) with ac collection systems, and how they depend on the operating conditions of the farm.

Among the specific objectives of the PhD project there are:

• To identify a realistic use-case (baseline case) for a large offshore wind park (or possibly PV plant) with ac collection grid.
• To model the identified test case in MATLAB or DIgSILENT to replicate the problem, in such a way that it is possible to parameterize turbine type (Type 3 or Type 4) or PV, network with varying grid strength, short circuit ratio, etc.
• Validate various operating modes of the wind farm (e.g., constant PQ mode, voltage/frequency support mode or grid forming mode) against the baseline test case.
• Capture harmonic resonance and stability issues depending on number of wind turbines (or PV panels) in operation, wind speed (or solar irradiation), cable length, converter topology and control, etc. both theoretically and by simulations.
• Identify critical parameters for resonance/instability.

Required selection criteria

Applicants must hold an M.Sc. degree (or equivalent) within electrical engineering with a specialization or solid competence in dynamic modeling of electric power systems.

• Good knowledge of the basics of power electronics and power systems is needed.
• Your education must correspond to a five-year Norwegian degree program, where 120 credits are obtained at master’s level.
• You must have a strong academic background from your previous studies and an average grade from the master’s degree program, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared with NTNU’s grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic basis. If you have a weaker grade background, you may be assessed if you can document that you are particularly suitable for a PhD education.
• Master’s students can apply, but the master’s degree must be obtained and documented by autumn 2023.
• You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty’s doctoral program.
• Applicants must have good English language skills, written and spoken. Applicants from non-English speaking countries outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland must provide preliminary documentation of English language proficiency in terms of an approved test. The following tests can be used: TOEFL, IELTS and Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE). Minimum scores are:
  • TOEFL: 600 (paper-based test), 92 (Internet-based test)
  • IELTS: 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5 (only Academic IELTS test accepted)
  • CAE/CPE: grade B or A

Further assessment of both written and oral English language skills and the ability to communicate fluently will be conducted in the continued selection process and during any interviews for the shortlisted applicants.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with Regulations on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, Phd candidate, research assistant and specialist candidate and Regulations concerning the degrees of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) and Philosodophiae Doctor (PhD) in artistic research national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant 

Preferred selection criteria

• Experience with offshore renewable energy systems will be an advantage.

Personal characteristics

• Communicates information with clarity and ease, both orally and in writing.
• Self-driven with a strong ability to work both independently, and in cooperation with others when required.
• Shares information and expertise to achieve the desired results.
• Structured, targeted and solution-oriented.

A good working environment is important to us at the Department of Electric Energy. Our working environment is characterized by an informal and friendly tone and good cooperation between employees. We therefore want you to be a person who

• works from campus and participates in joint activities such as lunch, and takes the initiative in academic and social activities in the scholarship group
• participates in professional discussions with colleagues
• has a friendly and positive attitude

Emphasis will be placed on personal and interpersonal qualities.

We offer

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

Salary and conditions

As a PhD candidate (code 1017) you are normally paid from gross NOK 532 200 per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is three years, with the possibility of a fourth year.

The option of 4-year employment would imply 1 year of duties as teaching assistant for the department and may be offered to a candidate with clear motivation and ability for such work, if the department sees the need. This will be clarified during and after any interview.

Appointment to a PhD position requires that you are admitted to the PhD programme in Electric Power Engineering within three months of employment, and that you participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period.

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The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criteria in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

The position is subject to external funding.

It is a prerequisite you can be present at and accessible to the institution at Campus Trondheim on a daily basis.

About the application

The application and supporting documentation to be used as the basis for the assessment must be in English.

Publications and other scientific work must be attached to the application. Please note that your application will be considered based solely on information submitted by the application deadline. You must therefore ensure that your application clearly demonstrates how your skills and experience fulfil the criteria specified above.

The application must include:

• A cover letter where the applicant describes the personal motivation, summarizing scientific work, and how the applicant sees her/his background as suitable
• CV and certificates
• Transcripts and diplomas for bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement or a similar document, which describes in detail the study programme and grading system.
• A copy of the master’s thesis. If you recently have submitted your master’s thesis, you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed master’s degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• A draft research proposal (1 or 2 pages) for the PhD study, where the candidate presents her/his own ideas for the PhD-work and how they can be applied, based on the project description given in this advertisement. This proposal will be neither final nor binding for the project.
• English language proficiency documentation
• Name and contact information of three referees
• If you have publications or other relevant research work, please submit them

Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

If all, or parts, of your education has been taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education, both bachelor’s and master’s education, in addition to other higher education. Description of the documentation required can be found here. If you already have a statement from NOKUT, please attach this as well.

We will take joint work into account. If it is difficult to identify your efforts in the joint work, you must enclose a short description of your participation.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates.

NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment – DORA.

General information

Working at NTNU

NTNU believes that inclusion and diversity is our strength. We want to recruit people with different competencies, educational backgrounds, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to solving our social responsibilities within education and research. We will facilitate for our employees’ needs.

NTNU is working actively to increase the number of women employed in scientific positions and has a number of resources to promote equality.

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The city of Trondheim is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the innovation capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

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As an employee at NTNU, you must at all times adhere to the changes that the development in the subject entails and the organizational changes that are adopted.

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you want to reserve yourself from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the reservation is not accepted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact professor Elisabetta Tedeschi, email elisabetta.tedeschi@ntnu.no. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR consultant Sven Robert Storø, e-mail: sven.r.storo@ntnu.no

If you think this looks interesting and in line with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. Applications submitted elsewhere will not be considered. Upon request, you must be able to obtain certified copies of your documentation.

Application deadline: 22.10.23

NTNU – knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Electric Energy

The Department of Electric Energy is one of the seven departments at the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering. Our department is Norway’s leading in the field, and our vision is to be at the centre of the digital, green shift. We have excellent collaboration with business and industry as well as other universities and research organizations internationally. This gives us outstanding opportunities for interdisciplinary research with high relevance for the society, addressing industrial needs and global challenges.