PhD position Hierarchical Supervisory Control of Energy Systems

Welcome to the sustainable world of BEST!

BEST Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH is the competence center in Austria that conducts precompetitive industryrelated research in the field of bioenergy and biobased economy.

At BEST we work as a team to actively shape the transition to a sustainable and climate friendly bioeconomy.

Your talent and your passion for research and science are explicitly needed with us. Collaborate with us on interesting and promising tasks and develop your scientific creativity. Join us on our approach to a more environmentally and climate friendly future!

Team player Enthusiastic Openminded Then you are exactly right at BEST.

Dont wait any longer and apply now!

Tasks

We are looking for a a scientific employee for the Hierarchical Supervisory Control of Energy Systems (PhD position).

The energy transition requires an improved and intelligent coordination of energy sources storage and conversion in order to handle the fluctuations of renewable sources.

The Area Automation and Control at BEST Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies GmbH therefore focuses on the optimal operation of sustainable biorefinery and renewable energy systems and is currently looking for a scientific employee in Graz.

Your tasks

Optimal control of energy systems requires the solution of optimization problems that adequately describe the underlying energy system as well as all operational constraints. However the resulting optimization problems can become intractable if e.g. handling seasonal storage requires longterm planning and its consideration in shortterm decisions or many energy systems need to be coordinated to obtain a global optimum such as in the case of district heating networks or city quarters with multiple buildings where each building in itself is a complex energy system.

The focus of the thesis will be to develop and implement different hierarchical control approaches as well as testing these in simulations and realworld implementations.

Requirements

Your interests

• Completed diploma or masters degree in a technical field of study (e.g. electrical mechanical information & computer or chemical and process engineering or similar)
• Experience in control engineering and optimization
• Programming experience with MATLAB Python or (ideally) Julia
• Structured way of working flexibility team spirit
• Study admission for an Austrian university EU visa residence permit

Benefits

Your benefits

• Working in the field of future green technologies
• Excellent working atmosphere and pleasant working environment
• Flexible working hours and home office option
• Personal development opportunities (e.g. dissertation as well as a wide range of internal training programs in project management sales etc.)
• Location of employment: Graz
• Shared employment at BEST and Graz University of Technology
• Salary according to the collective agreement for nonuniversity research as well as the Graz University of Technology salary scheme

In the spirit of diversity BEST would especially welcome applications from women.

Please upload your application documents in the form of a letter of motivation curriculum vitae including relevant references.