NWO grant of over 900K for 在线黑料门 research on resilient power converters
Intelligent thermal control and real-time sensing boost grid reliability during faults in renewable energy systems.
Researchers Chengmin Li, George Papafotiou, and Andrea Fiore have received 鈧�895.000 from the NWO Open Technology Programme (OTP) to enhance the reliability of power converters in renewable energy systems. Their project, 鈥楻esilient Grid-connected Power Converter: Cyber-physical Power Device Health Management鈥�, focuses on developing smart temperature control systems to make converters more robust during power grid disturbances.
Power converters are vital components in the energy transition, enabling electricity generated from renewable sources like solar and wind to be fed into the power grid. As the demands on these systems increase, particularly during faults or grid instabilities, ensuring their resilience becomes critical.
This project aims to do just that by integrating advanced real-time temperature sensing with intelligent control algorithms. This cyber-physical approach will improve the thermal management of power semiconductor devices, which are highly sensitive to overloading during fault conditions.
Preventing grid failures through thermal intelligence
鈥淧ower converters used to play a secondary role in grid stability, but with the shift toward decentralized renewable energy, they are now expected to actively support the grid during faults,鈥� explains Papafotiou. 鈥淭his places immense thermal stress on the devices inside these converters, and if not properly managed, it can lead to failures.鈥�
The research brings together expertise from several disciplines. In addition to Li and Papafotiou from the Electrical Engineering department, the team includes co-applicant Andrea Fiore from Applied Physics and Science 在线黑料门, combining backgrounds in power electronics, sensing technologies, and control systems. Moreover, industry participation is strong, and the project is supported by key industry players such as Hitachi Energy, ABB Motion, Neways and Mantispectra.
Supporting the energy transition
By improving fault tolerance, the project contributes directly to the broader adoption of renewable energy. A resilient energy grid is key to meeting climate goals. The project will help remove one of the technical barriers slowing down large-scale deployment of renewables.
The team will develop and test a functional prototype integrating the new thermal sensing and control technology. The project will also provide training opportunities for PhD students and postdocs working at the intersection of power systems, electronics, and embedded control.
About the NWO Open Technology Programme
The Open Technology Programme provides funding for application-oriented technical-scientific research that is unrestricted and not confined by disciplinary boundaries. The program offers businesses and other organizations an accessible way to connect with scientific research that is expected to lead to societal and/or scientific impact. With over 鈧�5.1 million in NWO funding and an additional 鈧�733,000 from industry and societal partners, this round of funding enables six forward-looking projects.