PhD Courses in Denmark

Welcome to Energy Storage Systems: Techno-Economic Aspects, Control Mechanisms, and Grid Integration (2025)

Description: This intensive four-day course offers a comprehensive and advanced exploration of energy storage systems, emphasizing their critical role in modern power grids. As power systems increasingly integrate renewable energy sources and demand for reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy grows, energy storage systems are becoming indispensable. This course is meticulously designed to provide participants with a thorough understanding of the key components and technologies that drive energy storage systems, focusing on their integration into power grids.

Day 1: Overview of Energy Storage Technologies and Battery Modeling

The course begins with a comprehensive overview of energy storage technologies, delving into their various characteristics, such as energy density, efficiency, and lifecycle, and examining their crucial roles within power systems. Participants will explore how different storage technologies contribute to enhancing grid stability, accommodating renewable energy integration, and supporting critical services such as frequency control and voltage regulation. The day continues with an in-depth exploration of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), including battery pack modeling. This session will cover the structural and functional dynamics of battery packs, focusing on challenges like cell balancing and performance optimization. The day concludes with a hands-on lab session where participants will use MATLAB and Python tools to simulate battery pack models and test balancing algorithms.

Day 2: Market Dynamics, Regulations, and Grid Applications of Energy Storage

The second day of the course is dedicated to exploring both the economic and technical aspects of energy storage systems within the context of power grids. The morning session delves into the market dynamics of energy storage, including cost structures, pricing mechanisms, and the economic value of services provided by storage systems. Participants will also explore the regulatory environment, including policies, standards, and guidelines that impact the deployment and operation of energy storage technologies. The afternoon session discusses the critical role of energy storage in power grids, with a focus on how these systems contribute to frequency control and voltage support, ensuring grid stability and reliability. This is followed by a detailed exploration of the design factors and modeling techniques that influence the performance of energy storage systems. A practical session using MATLAB/Simulink will allow participants to apply these concepts in simulated environments.

Day 3: Control Methods and Power Electronics in Energy Storage Systems

Day three is dedicated to the advanced study of control methods and power electronics in energy storage systems. The morning begins with a thorough examination of control methods, particularly those used for frequency regulation and maintaining grid stability. Following this, participants will delve into power electronic converters, exploring their design principles and the critical role they play in integrating energy storage systems with the grid. The afternoon session will focus on control strategies for power electronic converters, including real-world applications and dynamic responses to grid conditions. The day concludes with a practical session where participants will apply control techniques using MATLAB/Simulink.

Day 4: Real-Time Simulation and Project Integration

The final day introduces participants to real-time simulation and testing of energy storage systems. The morning session will cover OPAL-RT, a state-of-the-art real-time simulator used for power systems and energy storage simulations, and the PHIL platform, which integrates physical hardware with real-time simulation for testing and validation. In the afternoon, participants will be introduced to the final project, which involves integrating concepts learned throughout the course. 

Key words: Energy Storage Systems, Battery Modeling, Power Electronics, Grid Integration, Frequency Control, Real-Time Simulation

Prerequisites: Fundamental understanding in power systems, power electronics, and familiar with control theory. Experience in using Matlab/Simulink

Learning objectives: 

• Gain comprehensive knowledge of various energy storage technologies and their roles in power systems.
• Develop advanced skills in battery modeling, including pack structure, balancing circuits, and performance optimization.
• Master control strategies for energy storage systems, with a particular focus on frequency regulation and stability.
• Understand the design and control of power electronic converters essential for integrating energy storage systems with the grid.
• Explore the economic, regulatory, and policy frameworks that impact energy storage deployment.
• Integrate and apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios using hands-on experience with MATLAB, Python, and OPAL-RT tools.

Teaching methods: Lectures, Small assignments, Excercise, Group work, Presentations

Form of evaluation: Participants will be assessed through a series of exercises and a final report submission.

Criteria for assessment: Exercises: Relevance and Accuracy: The ability to correctly apply course concepts in the completion of exercises. Problem-Solving: Demonstration of effective problem-solving skills and the ability to address the practical challenges posed in the exercises. Final Report Submission:  Depth of Analysis: The final report should showcase a comprehensive understanding of the course material, with in-depth analysis and application of key concepts. Clarity and Organization: The report should be well-structured, clearly written, and logically organized, with a coherent argument and thorough explanation of the chosen topic. Application of Knowledge: The report should effectively apply theoretical knowledge to a practical scenario or case study, demonstrating the participant's ability to integrate and synthesize the course content.

Remarks: 

• Teaching: 28.5 hours
• Practice (Labs/Projects): 8 hours
• Preparation: 12 hours
• Final Project/Report: 8 hours
• Examination (Quiz and Report): 4.5 hours
• Total: 61 hours (equivalent to 3 ECTS)

Key literature: TBA

Organizer: Asst. Prof. Arman Oshnoei (aros@energy.aau.dk) and Prof. Remus Teodorescu (ret@energy.aau.dk) 

Lecturers:

Dr. Arman Oshnoei, Aalborg University 

Prof. Remus Teodorescu, Aalborg University 

External lecturers: Assoc. Prof. Amin Mahmoudi, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.

ECTS: 3.0

Time: 10 - 13 June 2025

Place: Aalborg University, AAU Energy (Room: TBA)

Zip code: 9220

City: Aalborg

Maximal number of participants: 30

Deadline: 20 May 2025