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PhD Position in Airborne Wind Energy

Delft
June 2025
Kitepower
Delft University of Technology (TU Delft)
DC7: Airborne Wind Energy Operation for Grid Serving Behaviour (AWETRAIN)
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Gepubliceerd op:
april 8th, 2025

Kitepower, a spin-out of Delft University of Technology, is developing commercial Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) systems to provide renewable electricity. We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our research team within the AWETRAIN doctoral network. In this project, Kitepower focuses on improving the grid serving behavior of AWE systems, crucial for their integration into existing power grids, especially with increasing penetration levels.

Supervisory team:

Research Focus

This PhD position will investigate how AWE systems can contribute to grid stability and load balancing by exploring different operational strategies, aircraft and ground station design. This includes studying the interaction of AWE systems with microgrids, potentially incorporating batteries for enhanced grid support.

Objectives

  • Define metrics for grid serving behavior: Develop quantifiable measures for AWE system performance regarding grid services for microgrids and grid connected applications.
  • Develop operational strategies: Design and evaluate control algorithms and operational strategies for individual AWE devices and multi-unit plants to achieve desired grid serving characteristics. This includes investigating how multiple devices operating out of phase can provide steady power injection to counter fluctuations from sources like pumping systems.
  • Investigate the impact of weather conditions: Analyze how varying weather conditions affect grid serving behavior and develop strategies for robust operation in the presence of these fluctuations.
  • Explore the use of weather monitoring and energy storage: Assess how weather forecasting and battery storage, particularly within microgrid contexts, can enhance AWE grid serving capabilities.

Methodology

This research will involve:

  • Updated simulation model: Refining existing AWE simulation models to accurately capture grid interactions and the dynamics of (micro-) grids with batteries.
  • System identification: Utilizing system identification techniques to improve the accuracy and predictive capabilities of the AWE models.
  • Cost optimization and scaling: Analyzing the cost-effectiveness of different AWE system designs and operational strategies, considering the scaling of components like batteries.

Expected Results

  • A combined AWE design, operation and electrical power production model, updated to include microgrid interactions and battery storage.
  • A range of design and operational strategies to achieve a range of grid serving behaviors.
  • Strategies to achieve robust operation in the presence of changing weather conditions.
low angle photograph of black metal tower satellite during daytime

Apply as PhD Position in Airborne Wind Energy

Fly high, power smart—shape the future of wind energy from the sky!

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join our research team within the AWETRAIN doctoral network. In this project, Kitepower focuses on improving the grid serving behavior of AWE systems, crucial for their integration into existing power grids, especially with increasing penetration levels.

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