PhD Position Electrification of Industrial Heat & Flexibility Strategies in Europe

PhD Position Electrification of Industrial Heat & Flexibility Strategies in Europe

We’re seeking a motivated PhD researcher to help drive the electrification of industrial heat. Join leading researchers and industry partners in developing novel flexibility strategies across Europe.

As a PhD researcher in the DEFLAME project, you’ll play a key role in revolutionizing the European process industry by driving the electrification of industrial heat, ultimately making it more resilient and climate-neutral. This ambitious project aims to overcome challenges at multiple levels—from technology and industrial plants to national and European energy systems, as well as economic, policy, and institutional frameworks.

In this PhD position, you will explore key aspects of industrial electrification, including:

• Identifying how electricity systems at national and European levels need to co-develop with industrial electrification.
• Assessing the reliability and affordability of industrial heat electrification for industrial stakeholders at national.
• Evaluating the value and costs of industrial flexibility across different system and temporal scales (e.g., decreased lifetimes, process impacts, production losses).
• Investigating financial risk mitigation strategies for industrial actors transitioning to electrified heat.

Your research will provide critical insights for policymakers, energy system operators, and industrial stakeholders with critical insights on how industrial electrification can enhance sustainability in industry, support renewable energy integration into the power system, and increase competitiveness of European and Dutch industries.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop plausible industry and energy demand scenarios for the European Union.
• Establish a resource adequacy assessment framework to evaluate system adequacy and the role of flexibility under normal and adverse conditions.
• Design advanced generation system adequacy indicators that go beyond energy availability to assess price impact and financial risks for industrial stakeholders.
• Identify optimal generation capacity portfolios with flexible assets to ensure an adequate energy supply, in the Netherlands and Europe, using high-resolution energy system models.
• Analyze how different flexibility time scales influence energy adequacy and financial risks for industrial consumers.
• Develop balanced strategies for hedging price risks through financial instruments versus investments in local flexibility or on-site generation.

This PhD position is part of the DEFLAME project, which aims to overcome challenges in the electrification of industrial heat at multiple levels—from technology and industrial plants to national and European energy systems, as well as economic, policy, and institutional frameworks. We focus on low-temperature heat electrification (up to 400°C) using proven, efficient technologies. Through an interdisciplinary approach, we will identify strategies and institutional arrangements that enable industrial electrification to be both viable and impactful. You’ll collaborate closely with leading industry players, energy system operators, and research institutions, playing a key role in designing and assessing solutions that drive the electrification of the industry. Our partners include: AtlasCopco, Cosun, Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), ISPT, Nobian, Oranje Wind Power II C.V./RWE, Smart Port, Stedin, Tennet, and TNO.

Your Working Environment

You will join a lively community of internationally renowned interdisciplinary energy researchers in the Department of Engineering Systems and Services. Our faculty hosts a diverse group of people from different countries and disciplines, and we welcome candidates that contribute to and enjoy this diversity. We expect that as part of your PhD you will take the lead on interacting and collaborating with other researchers at TU Delft, with research groups at other universities, and with industry and other stakeholders.

Job requirements

You need to have:

• Master's degree in Energy Science, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Energy economics, or a related field.
• Solid programming skills for data analysis and system modelling.
• Strong analytical and systems-thinking abilities for handling large datasets and complex models.
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) in English with the ability to collaborate effectively in an interdisciplinary environment.
• Passion for the energy transition and its multidisciplinary challenges (technology, economics, and policy).

Nice to have:

• Strong foundation in energy systems and energy system modeling.
• Experience working with industry stakeholders or policymakers.
• Dutch is an asset but not required
• Creative, open-minded and proactive researcher.

TU Delft

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.

Conditions of employment

Doctoral candidates will be offered a 4-year period of employment in principle, but in the form of 2 employment contracts. An initial 1.5 year contract with an official go/no go progress assessment within 15 months. Followed by an additional contract for the remaining 2.5 years assuming everything goes well and performance requirements are met.

Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities, increasing from €2901 per month in the first year to €3707 in the fourth year. As a PhD candidate you will be enrolled in the TU Delft Graduate School. The TU Delft Graduate School provides an inspiring research environment with an excellent team of supervisors, academic staff and a mentor. The Doctoral Education Programme is aimed at developing your transferable, discipline-related and research skills.

The TU Delft offers a customisable compensation package, discounts on health insurance, and a monthly work costs contribution. Flexible work schedules can be arranged.

Will you need to relocate to the Netherlands for this job? TU Delft is committed to make your move as smooth as possible! The HR unit, Coming to Delft Service, offers information on their website to help you prepare your relocation. In addition, Coming to Delft Service organises events to help you settle in the Netherlands, and expand your (social) network in Delft. A Dual Career Programme is available, to support your accompanying partner with their job search in the Netherlands.

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy, please contact prof. dr. ir. Machteld van den Broek, m.a.vandenbroek@tudelft.nl.