Postdoc on Integrated Design of the Next Generation of Electrolyzer Plants

Job description

Hydrogen is expected to play a key role in reaching climate neutrality for hard-to-abate sectors. Today, producing hydrogen via water electrolysis is prohibitively expensive, due to high investment costs, low efficiencies and a high operational cost related to the electricity input. At the same time, the regulatory framework requires future electrolyzer projects to operate in tandem with nearby renewable electricity production, requiring dynamic operation of the electrolyzer plant.

In this research project, we aim to bring down the cost of green hydrogen produced via water electrolysis by developing improved operational and design decision support methods, geared towards (prospective) electrolyzer plant owners. These novel approaches allow for better operational decisions (e.g., which position to take in the electricity market,, how fast to ramp up/down the asset, or better thermal management of the asset) as well as design choices (e.g., how many electrolyzer stacks should make up the plant, and how are they connected).

To address this question, you will develop state-of-the-art optimization models to capture (i) the technical limitations of the electrolyzer plant, the stacks and the downstream process, as well as the associated costs, (ii) the interaction with electricity and ancillary services markets and (iii) the impact of the prevailing regulatory requiremements, such as the Delegated Act on RFNBO's.

Note that this postdoctoral position is one of the two positions funded by the WinHy project at TU Delft (financed by NWO). This position focusses on the design of the electrolyzer plant, whereas the other position focusses on interaction of the electrolyzer assets with the overall energy system and markets.

In WinHy, the consortium partners Repsol (a technology integrator and developer of electrolyzer plants), Sunfire (a leading OEM and electrolyzer manufacturer) and research insititutes DLR and TU Delft are seeking to address shortcomings of the current alkaline water electrolysis technology by developing advanced stack designs and plant integration concepts. This unique consortium spans technology development and lab-scale experiments to energy system and economic integration.

Your daily supervisors will be Kenneth Bruninx and Mar Perez-Fortes. You will join a lively community of internationally renowned interdisciplinary energy researchers in the Department of Engineering Systems and Services at TU Delft. Our faculty hosts a diverse group of people from different countries and disciplines, and we welcome candidates that contribute to and enjoy this diversity.

Requirements

• PhD degree in science, engineering or economics (must have been awarded by the agreed-upon starting date).
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• A result-oriented attitude.
• Very good written and spoken communication skills in English (Dutch is not required).
• Prior research experience in energy system/market modelling or other energy-related research.
• and/or prior research experience in electrolysis-based plants modelling, techno-economic assessment and heat management.

Bonus points if you have:

• Programming experience in Julia, Python or a similar language.
• Process modelling in Aspen Plus, gPROMS or similar.

Conditions of employment

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities. The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

From 1 September next, a salary increase of 3.7% applies due to a Collective Agreement amendment, followed by an additional 1% increase on 1 January 2025. In addition, most employees employed on 1 September 2024 will receive a one-off payment of €300 gross based on full-time employment.

For international applicants, TU Delft has the Coming to Delft Service. This service provides information for new international employees to help you prepare the relocation and to settle in the Netherlands. The Coming to Delft Service offers a Dual Career Programme for partners and they organise events to expand your (social) network.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty Technology, Policy and Management

The Faculty of TPM provides an important contribution to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. TPM does this with its excellent education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy. We combine insights from both engineering and social sciences as well as the humanities. TPM develops robust models and designs, is internationally oriented and has an extensive network of knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.