ICAI Lab 'AI for Energy Grids' kicks off new series of TU Delft AI for Energy & Sustainability Think Tanks

News - 27 January 2023

The ICAI Lab 'AI for Energy Grids' is one of 17 new ICAI labs recently launched as part of the NWO LTP ROBUST programme. The lab will research the application of AI to distribution networks. It will combine Alliander's considerable industrial capabilities with the academic strength of TU Delft, Twente University, Radboud University and the HAN University of Applied Sciences. The lab represents an excellent fit with TU Delft's ambitions to accelerate the energy transition.

At present, the Netherlands’ electricity grid is reaching the limits of its distribution capacity. A strong and smart electricity grid is essential for the energy transition, so it is essential to improve the grid’s transport capacity. The AI for Energy Grids Lab focuses on expanding that transport capacity in two ways – by improving grid operations, and by conducting research into infrastructure expansion. This will involve analysing grid data, and developing new AI methods and tools that learn from this data.

Jochen Cremer, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of EEMCS, is the lab manager responsible for the lab’s scientific direction. Cremer is also co-director of the TU Delft AI Energy Lab, part of the TU Delft AI Initiative. Next to Jochen Cremer, there are several other TU Delft academics affiliated to the AI for Energy Grids Lab, including Peter Palensky, Roel Dobbe, Simon Tindemans, and Han La Poutre.

The energy system, and in particular the distribution grid, is becoming increasingly dynamic, complex and stochastic. However, the methods used to plan and manage the grid rely on passive structures and simple worst-case assumptions. This lowers the performance of the current grid, and therefore becomes a barrier to the energy transition. It is now time to catch up and transform grid companies’ methods. AI will make an important contribution to such a future energy system.

Jochen Cremer, Assistant Professor and lab manager ICAI lab AI for Energy grids

AI for Energy and Sustainability (E&S) Think Tanks

Together with his partners at Alliander, Radboud University, Twente University and HAN University, Jochen Cremer invited guest speakers for the new series of TU Delft AI for Energy & Sustainability Think Tanks. In the series, the lab will discuss what it is aiming to achieve and what challenges lie ahead. The AI for Energy and Sustainability (E&S) Think Tank is a series of online events hosted by the Delft AI Energy Lab en het PowerWeb Institute.Every third Monday 13:00-14:00 CET, we zoom in on research with either a promising Artificial Intelligence (AI) method or their promising use for energy and sustainability. During the events, you can participate, learn, make connections, inspire and be inspired for new research for AI for E&S. One of the goals of this Think Tank series is to develop a research map of AI research for E&S. We invite MSc thesis students, PhDs, postdocs, and staff to join the discussions. Please register here.

PhD vacancy

There is one open PhD position at the new AI for Energy Grids Lab, based at TU Delft, about congestion management and flexibility in electricity grids. More information can be found here.

More information

Over ICAI en LTP NOW ROBUST

ROBUST, an initiative from the Innovation Centre for Artificial Intelligence (ICAI), is a collaboration of 51 partners from industry, government, and the knowledge sector, including TU Delft. ROBUST's total budget is over 87 million euros, and with the new impetus from NWO, 17 labs and 170 PhD students will be added in 10 years. See also: TU Delft in ROBUST with 3 new ICAI labs and AI clinics for SMEs thanks to NWO funding of 25 million euro

About AI, data and digitalisation at TU Delft

At Delft University of Technology, we believe that AI technology is vital to create a more sustainable, safer and healthier future. We research, design and engineer AI technology and study its application in society. AI technology plays a key role in each of our eight faculties and is an integral part of the education of our students. Through AI education, research and innovation we create impact for a better society. Visit our website to find out what is happening in AI research, education and innovation in AI, Data & Digitalisation: www.tudelft.nl/ai