Energy

Prof. Hervé Jeanmart is active on several topics related to energy.
With his research team, he is studying the energy transition through energy systems modelling. In particular, his group is developing, in collaboration with EPFL, EnergyScope TD, an energy system modelling tool. Using the EROI (Energy Return On Investment) as a metric, the group studies the worldwide potential of renewable energy; making also the link between energy accessibility and economy. At component level, the research group works in the thermochemical conversion of biomass, mainly small-scale gasification including a strong collaboration with Burkina Faso for the development of a local technology. At a more fundamental level, the group is active in combustion kinetics of oxygenated compounds and synthetic fuels. This includes an experimental approach on low pressure burners, the study of combustion in HCCI engines and the development of kinetic models.

In the context of the ongoing evolution of electrical energy systems (i.e. electricity demand evolution, increase of electricity generation from renewable energy sources, needs for energy storage systems, smart grids etc.), Prof. Emmanuel De Jaeger combines competences in various disciplines such as electromechanical devices, power electronics, electrical power systems planning, analysis, and control. His group focuses on developing technically suited models - also integrating economic aspects - and tackling selected problems.

The major current research topics are :

• the dynamic behaviour and control of micro-grids,
• the exploitation of the electrical loads and distributed energy resources flexibility potential and its impact on the power grids operation (various time scales investigated),
• contributions to the development and study of grid integration of innovative power electronics converters (including their control systems) in order to cope with the actual electrical energy challenges

Focused technical issues related to these themes are also investigated:

• the management of Power Quality (and, more specifically, the detailed study of high frequency conducted disturbances), and
• the dynamic behavior analysis and control of power grids incorporating increasing shares of power electronics converters interfaces.

Prof. Francesco Contino works at micro (micro gas turbines, hydrogen storage, ...) and macro levels (region, country) to understand what the key drivers are to help us succeed the energy transition.

In his research group, Prof. F. Contino focuses on the development and application of Robust Design Optimisation (RDO) to energy systems. In this approach, he provides robust alternatives that are less vulnerable to uncertainties in the energy system’s operating environment.

He has used RDO to create robust designs for various energy systems, including micro gas turbines, solar photovoltaics with battery storage, hydrogen and other e-fuel applications. Finally, he also looks at the concept of antifragility in optimisation under uncertainty, to take advantage of drastic events, such as a sudden increase in the natural gas price, to improve the energy system’s performance.

In the understanding of uncertainties, he focuses on mapping the impact of limited data (i.e., epistemic uncertainty) and natural variability (i.e., aleatory uncertainty) on key parameters, such as the solar irradiance and the natural gas price for the next decades, using advanced mathematical methods such as imprecise probabilities. He aims to provide decision-makers with actionable insights by working on the interpretation of uncertain energy system performances.

He also focuses on developing efficient ways to propagate these uncertainties using surrogate-assisted uncertainty quantification methods, as existing state-of-the-art methods are limited in their applicability to complex, time-consuming energy system models (i.e., the curse of dimensionality).

He also integrates other disciplines in his research by studying the social practices related to energy consumption and the impact of policies on the transition.