Workshop "Options and approaches to enhance grid flexibility" PhD Candidate Award Ceremony
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On 3 March 2026, the EERA Joint Programme on Smart Grids held the workshop “Options and Approaches to Enhance Grid Flexibility” in Milan. The event brought together researchers, industry representatives, and policy experts to discuss how Europe’s electricity systems can become more flexible, resilient, and capable of integrating growing shares of renewable energy.
As the penetration of distributed energy resources continues to increase, grid flexibility is becoming a key enabler for reliable and efficient system operation. During the morning sessions, keynote speakers and project representatives shared perspectives on strategies to enhance flexibility, including regulatory frameworks, market design, and technological solutions that enable distribution system operators to move from passive grid management to more proactive and data-driven operation.
Spotlight on emerging researchers: the PhD Candidate Award Ceremony
A central highlight of the event was the EERA JP Smart Grids PhD Candidate Award Ceremony, dedicated to recognising outstanding doctoral researchers whose work is advancing the field of smart grids. The award celebrates innovative research paths that demonstrate scientific excellence, originality, and strong relevance to the energy transition.
Seven PhD candidates from leading European research institutions were honoured for their contributions across a range of topics, including grid optimisation, flexibility in industrial systems, secure digital infrastructures, and advanced modelling of power systems:
S. Hellmann (DBFZ, Germany) – Model-based monitoring and control of agricultural anaerobic digestion plants
L. Lázaro Elorriaga (Tecnalia, Spain) – Secure Virtualized Architecture for IEC 61850 Substations: Critical Message Authentication Based on IEC 62351-6 and TEEs
G. Bastianel (KU Leuven, Belgium) – Grid Topology Optimization for Electrical Energy Hub Operation
S. Zizzania (University of Naples, Italy) – Unlocking flexibility and efficiency potential to enable grid-interactive and decarbonised industrial systems
A. Vaca (University College Dublin, Ireland) – Stochastic Modelling and Control of Granular Power Systems
A. Berdygozhin (University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom) – Asymmetrical Operation of EHV Transmission Lines
K. Yurtseven (KU Leuven, Belgium) – Risk-based Congestion Management Under Non-Gaussian Uncertainty in Hybrid AC/DC Grids
By celebrating these researchers and their work, the ceremony highlighted the strong commitment of the EERA JP Smart Grids community to fostering the next generation of scientists who will contribute to building Europe’s climate-neutral energy system.
