Website Technical University of Denmark
Job description
As part of the European Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action PhD network “Airborne Wind Energy Industrialization Training Network” (AWETRAIN), we are looking for a candidate for a three-year PhD project. Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) is a new technology based on tethered vehicles that generate electricity at a higher altitude than conventional wind turbines. This allows these devices to be installed in different locations, generate electricity at different times and provide cheaper electricity to Europe. The project will look at the potential economic impact this technology could have on Europe’s power and energy systems in the future.
Do you want to contribute to the green transition? Do you want to work in a multidisciplinary and international collaborative team? Do you aspire to a future in academia or renewable energy? If so, you will have the opportunity to join the Systems Engineering and Optimization department in the Department of Wind Energy and Energy Systems. In addition, you will join a team of 12 PhDs and their supervisors in the AWETRAIN program of the MSCA PhD network. Three of these positions will be based in Roskilde. For more information about AWETRAIN, click here. Your primary mentor will be Senior Scientist Michael Kenneth McWilliam, and you will be joining the DTU Wind and Energy Systems PhD Academy.
Responsibilities and qualifications In your PhD project, you will be responsible for investigating the future potential of AWE in the European power grid. Overall, the investigation will consider a variety of power and energy system scenarios, as well as a range of different future AWE concepts. The Balmorel open source energy system model will be applied to determine how AWE competes in these different scenarios, where and how much of these systems will be installed, and the implications for system costs and expected benefits from AWE technology.
The centerpiece of the project is the development of an AWE systems engineering tool for generating generation time series, costs, and other information appropriate for Balmorel. The tool should enable the project to examine how different AWE innovative technologies will affect generation, capital costs and O&M costs. In addition, the model should use up-to-date data and modeling of highly AWE-related European wind resources.
In addition, the project will consider a range of power and energy system scenarios and applications. There are a number of ways in which future energy systems can evolve. This includes different energy supply and demand scenarios, as well as new technologies such as Power to X and energy storage. In addition, the special characteristics of AWE open up new areas of application. This includes ancillary services, relocation and other applications.
The overall goal is to try and understand the conditions and options under which AWE can make a viable contribution to the European energy system. The PhD project will work with other partners to first understand the technical potential, economic conditions and social context. At the same time, the program will highlight different challenges and opportunities. It is hoped that you will collaborate with stakeholders and help guide their work.
The research will be carried out within the AWETRAIN project, where you will collaborate in a larger team of 12 PhD students, their supervisors and their institutions. The program strongly encourages teamwork and collaboration, so we expect you to support each other.
We anticipate that you will be seconded to Kitekraft in Munich, Germany, subject to confirmation. During the secondment, you will learn about the operations of a startup, provide business information for their projects, and have the opportunity to learn about different business cases and technology solutions. The secondee will have the opportunity to validate systems engineering tools.
In addition to this, your tasks may include teaching and supervising MSc students, as well as participating in departmental outreach and dissemination activities commensurate with the level of PhD research.
You must have a two-year master’s degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree at an academic level equivalent to a two-year master’s degree. We are looking for candidates with a Master’s degree who have demonstrated qualifications in systems engineering, economic analysis and energy systems modeling through specialized courses and/or relevant work.
The following qualifications will be an advantage for the assessment:
Strong background and interest in working with sustainable energy research
Quantitative skills and experience in data mining and handling large data sets
Programming, modeling and numerical optimization skills
Understanding of the European electricity market
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Open-minded team player, able to work in multidisciplinary and multinational teams
Other soft skills such as attention to detail, creativity, organizational skills, patience and perseverance
Candidates who do not meet all the criteria are still encouraged to apply as we do not expect candidates to meet all the criteria. In addition, we still encourage you to apply if you believe you have similar transferable skills. In addition, if there are other strengths that you feel you bring to the team, we are happy to consider those as well.
The working language of the program is English, so it is essential that you have appropriate written and spoken English skills. We do not require you to be fluent in the Scandinavian languages, but expect you to be open to learning Danish during the course of your work.
PhD candidates will be selected through a competitive application process. Online applications will be screened against a set of criteria and the list of candidates will be evaluated by a specially formed committee.
The supervisory team for the PhD program consists of the main supervisor, Michael Kenneth McWilliam, supported by Matti Juhani Koivisto and Linda Kamp from TUDelft. The supervisory team wants to see you succeed, so you can meet with the supervisory team on a regular basis and receive additional support when needed.The DTU Wind Energy Institute also has a mentorship program where PhD students are paired with a senior staff member to provide additional support.
You will work in the Systems Engineering and Optimization department. This team is dedicated to working towards the energy transition from a systems perspective. The department’s work focuses on applications in wind farm design, hybrid power plants, and the impact of innovations on wind energy systems. In addition, the department employs methodologies that include systems engineering, optimization methods, multidisciplinary design optimization, uncertainty quantification, data science, machine learning, and other approaches. In the department, you will work in a diverse team of scientists at different levels.
Approval and Enrollment Doctoral degree fellowships are subject to academic approval and candidates will be admitted to one of DTU’s general degree programs. For information on our admission requirements and a general plan for a doctoral study program, see DTU’s Doctoral Education Rules.
Please note the mobility requirements for recruiters under the European MSCA program: as a general rule, recruiters may not reside or engage in their main activity (work, study, etc.) in the country of the recruiting organization for more than 12 months in the 36 months prior to the date of recruitment. For more information, please click here.
The assessment was conducted by Michael Kenneth McWilliam (Senior Researcher), Matti Juhani Koivisto (Senior Researcher), Linda Kamp from TUDelft, Tuhfe Göçmen (Senior Researcher) and Linda Kamp (Senior Researcher). öçmen (Senior Researcher) and a committee consisting of Section Chief Pierre-Elouan Mikael Réthoré evaluated the applicants.
The services we offerTechnical University is a leading technical university recognized worldwide for its excellence in research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer you a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We pursue academic excellence in an environment of respect for colleagues, academic freedom and responsibility.
Remuneration and terms of appointment Appointments will be based on a collective agreement with the Danish Federation of Professional Associations. Stipends will be agreed with the relevant trade unions. The term of appointment will be 3 years.
You can find out more about career paths at DTU here.
For more informationFor more information, including project descriptions, please contact Michael Kenneth McWilliam, Senior Scientist, Wind and Energy Systems, DTU, on +45 93 51 15 66, [email protected].
For more information about DTU Wind and Energy Systems, visit https://wind.dtu.dk/.
If you are applying from abroad, you can find useful information about working in Denmark and DTU in DTU – Moving to Denmark. In addition, you can attend our free monthly seminar “PhD Relocation to Denmark and Launching ‘Zoom’ Seminar” to learn about all the practical aspects of relocating to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.
Application procedure You must submit a complete online application by March 18, 2025 (23:59 Danish time).
To be considered, the application must be submitted as a PDF file containing all materials. To apply, please open the “Apply Now” link, fill out the online application form and attach all materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include
Letter of motivation to apply (cover letter)
Curriculum vitae (CV)
Transcripts and BSc/MSc certificates (in English), including an official description of the grading criteria
A short PhD project proposal (max. 2 pages, plus references) describing the possible research objectives, theoretical framework and intended methodology.
Interviews will be conducted within 2-3 weeks of the application deadline, with employment scheduled to begin in mid-2025.
You may apply prior to receiving your Master’s degree, but you cannot begin work until you receive your Master’s degree.
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
We encourage all interested candidates to apply regardless of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background. Because DTU conducts critical technology research that is subject to special security and export control regulations, an open source background check may be conducted on qualified candidates for this position.
ABOUT THE AWETRAIN TRAINING AND RESEARCH PROGRAM AWETRAIN is an ambitious 12 PhD training network with industrial commercialization of airborne wind energy at its core. The network is coordinated by DTU and supported by TUDelft, HM, POLIMI, Kitemill, Kite Power, Kitekraft and Airborne Wind Europe.
The core of the training program is to prepare our PhD students to advance their careers in the world through the energy transition. In order to achieve our ambitious goals, we anticipate rapid changes in the energy system and a major entry of new technologies into the field. As such, the program revolves around developing the skills to work in multidisciplinary teams, the awareness of change in the industry at multiple levels, and the agility to put yourself in the best position to influence that change.
The research program is divided into 3 work packages: WP3 Equipment and Reliability, which focuses on the reliability of individual pieces of equipment, and WP4 Equipment and Scale, which looks at how industrial-scale airborne wind energy equipment could be built in the future. The program will be included in WP5 Society and Economics, which examines the economic and social impacts of AWE.
About DTU Wind Energy DTU Wind Energy and Energy Systems was formerly a division of Reese National Laboratory (until 2012) and has been engaged in basic research, teaching, and commercial activities in all aspects of wind energy since the mid-1970s. Currently, the DTU Wind Energy and Energy Systems Department is the world’s largest public research organization for wind energy and energy systems transition, with approximately 400 employees. The Department consists of four divisions: i) Wind Energy Materials and Components; ii) Wind Turbine Technology; iii) Wind Energy Systems; and iv) Power and Energy Systems. The Department is internationally recognized as being at the forefront of research in wind energy technologies and smart energy systems. We educate and train the next generation of engineers for a sustainable energy future. We collaborate with leading global industry and public institutions to research and develop new technologies and services to power the green transition. In the Systems Engineering and Optimization research group, the team works on applying systems engineering to drive the energy transition. The energy transition is a complex, multidisciplinary problem in which wind energy is a collection of systems within a larger system. The section works to understand and improve these systems to achieve an effective transition to green energy. The Sector focuses on wind farms, markets, novel innovations, and other applications. In addition, the section develops and employs advanced methods such as multidisciplinary optimal design, systems engineering, uncertainty quantification, and machine learning. The department consists of 22 staff members, including three senior researchers, three research fellows, two post-doctoral fellows and seven PhD students.
Human-Centered Technologies DTU develops human-centered technologies. Through our elite international research and study programs, we are helping to create a better world and address the global challenges set out in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with the express mission of using science and engineering to develop and create value for the benefit of society. This mission continues to this day, with 13,500 students and 6,000 employees at DTU. We work in an international atmosphere with an inclusive, evolving and informal work environment. DTU has campuses throughout Denmark and Greenland and collaborates with the best universities around the world.
offer requirements
You must have a two-year Master’s degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree at an academic level equivalent to a two-year Master’s degree. We are looking for candidates with a Master’s degree who have demonstrated qualifications in systems engineering, economic analysis and energy systems modeling through specialized courses and/or relevant work.
The following qualifications will be an advantage for the assessment:
Strong background and interest in working with sustainable energy research
Quantitative skills and experience in data mining and handling large data sets
Programming, modeling and numerical optimization skills
Understanding of the European electricity market
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Open-minded team player, able to work in multidisciplinary and multinational teams
Other soft skills such as attention to detail, creativity, organizational skills, patience and perseverance
offer benefits
We offer servicesTechnical University is a leading technical university recognized globally for excellence in research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We pursue academic excellence in an environment of respect for colleagues, academic freedom and responsibility.
Remuneration and terms of appointment Appointments will be based on a collective agreement with the Danish Federation of Professional Associations. Stipends will be agreed with the relevant trade unions. The term of appointment will be 3 years.
You can find out more about career paths at DTU here.
For more informationFor more information, including project descriptions, please contact Michael Kenneth McWilliam, Senior Scientist, Wind and Energy Systems, DTU, on +45 93 51 15 66, [email protected].
For more information about DTU Wind and Energy Systems, visit https://wind.dtu.dk/.
If you are applying from abroad, you can find useful information about working in Denmark and DTU in DTU – Moving to Denmark. In addition, you can attend our free monthly seminar “PhD Relocation to Denmark and Launching ‘Zoom’ Seminar” to learn about all the practical aspects of relocating to Denmark and working as a PhD at DTU.