PhD in AI for power grid balancing using recommendation-enhanced DR

PhD in Artificial Intelligence to support Sustainable Development Goals 6 (clean water) and 7 (clean energy) as part of the Innovation Lab for Utilities on Sustainable Technology and Renewable Energy (ILUSTRE) project, funded in a public private partnership by NWO/NLAIC and private partners.

JADS is seeking an enthusiastic colleague for the position of PhD in AI for power grid balancing using recommendation-enhanced DR, as part of the ILUSTRE project that focusses on use-cases in the Caribbean region.

Job Description
As part of the ILUSTRE project, you will develop recommendation technologies to tailor advice on energy usage decisions in the smart grid. Demand-Response methods motivates energy consumers in some way (e.g. pricing-based) to adjust their energy usage to the available energy resources and demand. Smart grid technology allows DR to be more data-driven and a multitude of AI technologies have already been applied to DR but the consumer side of has not been developed much. However, modeling and supporting the energy decisions of users is crucial, as a smart grid will only be successful if the users of the systems behave predictable and in the most energy efficient way. For example, charging your electric car when the solar PV generated in the neighborhood is highest will put the smallest load on the grid and will be cheapest, but can only be achieved if it fits in the users’ calendar and daily habits.

In this project you will extend current AI energy consumption forecasting and DR methods with tailored and explainable recommendations that will provide both household and industry consumers with tailored advice how to adjust for Demand Response. As many stakeholders are involved, and dynamic changes in energy usage will affect other consumers in the network, a multi-stakeholder perspective on recommendations should be employed. You will work together with other PhD students in the lab that will work on forecasting and on identifying the stakeholders. In the project you will review existing methods for AI in DR, work on recommender model and approaches, test several of these models in prototypes and in a pilot project within the ILUSTRE project.

ILUSTRE project
This position is linked to ILUSTRE, a new Innovation Center for Artificial Intelligence (ICAI) to be established in Curaçao. ILUSTRE will be a living lab in the Caribbean with the objective to develop, implement and test AI innovations that will accelerate the use of clean energy and advanced solutions in water treatment and wastewater recycling/purification. The innovation lab is one of the new ICAI labs that are part of the ROBUST program on Trustworthy AI-based Systems for Sustainable Growth which is financed under the NWO LTP funding scheme. ILUSTRE offers opportunities for PhD candidates who wish to support to the acceleration of the energy transition and who have an affinity with the Dutch Caribbean islands.

Job description

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Information and application

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