M/F PhD title Optimizing control to maximize the integration of renewable solar energy (PV and thermal) towards flexible injection and islanding modes
New
- FTC PhD student / Offer for thesis
- 36 months
- BAC+5
This offer is available in English version
This offer is open to people with a document recognizing their status as a disabled worker.
Offer at a glance
The Unit
Laboratoire d'analyse et d'architecture des systèmes
Contract Type
FTC PhD student / Offer for thesis
Working hHours
Full Time
Workplace
31031 TOULOUSE
Contract Duration
36 months
Date of Hire
19/10/2026
Remuneration
2300 € gross monthly
Apply Application Deadline : 17 August 2026 23:59
Job Description
Thesis Subject
The energy transition is leading to a massive penetration of distributed renewable energy into low- and medium-voltage electricity grids. Among these resources, photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal energy occupy a central place due to their modularity, high availability, and increasing integration into buildings, smart neighborhoods, and microgrids. However, the large-scale integration of distributed solar generation brings several technical challenges: rapid power fluctuations, grid congestion, local overvoltages, power quality issues, and increased dependence on weather conditions. At the same time, future grids will need to be able to operate in different modes: grid-connected, limited injection, islanded, and resilient in the event of grid failures.
In this context, hybrid microgrids combining PV, solar thermal, storage, and smart converters represent a promising solution for improving the flexibility and resilience of future energy networks.
The PEPR FutuRE project explicitly identifies these challenges in its work related to advanced control of multi-energy systems, distributed flexibilities, cyber-physical architectures, and interoperable experimental demonstrators.
The central question of this thesis is: how can we optimize control strategies for hybrid PV/T solar systems to maximize the integration of renewable energy sources while ensuring flexible, stable, and resilient operating modes in grid injection and islanded mode? The main objectives of this thesis are:
Develop hybrid PV/T dynamic models.
Design advanced multi-mode control strategies.
Study grid-forming architectures for hybrid microgrids.
Optimize grid-connected/islanded transitions.
Integrate thermal and electrical flexibility mechanisms.
Perform real-time experimental validation. Indicative bibliographic references
Guerrero J.M. et al., “Hierarchical Control of Droop-Controlled AC and DC Microgrids”, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 2011.
Lasseter R., “Microgrids”, IEEE Power Engineering Society Winter Meeting, 2002.
Bidram A., Davoudi A., “Hierarchical Structure of Microgrids Control System”, IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, 2012.
Pogaku N. et al., “Modeling, Analysis and Testing of Autonomous Operation of an Inverter-Based Microgrid”, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, 2007.
Hatziargyriou N., Microgrids: Architectures and Control, Wiley, 2014.
Blaabjerg F. et al., “Power Electronics for Renewable Energy Systems”, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 2012.
Rezk H. et al., “Hybrid PV/T Systems: A Review”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 2019.
Your Work Environment
This thesis is situated within the context of the National PEPR Networks of the Future project. Although the work will primarily be based at LAAS-CNRS, the doctoral candidate will be expected to work within this project and plan for presentations, exchanges, and collaborative work with other laboratories, particularly doctoral and postdoctoral researchers.
Although the project is academic in nature, the work aims for industrialization.
Constraints and risks
The work is based on multi-physics simulations. Knowledge of tools such as Matlab/Plecs/Simulink is essential. Familiarity with DSPACE, Python programming, and the implementation of control laws on STM32 microprocessors will be considered an asset.
All work will first be validated on small-scale prototypes for cost and safety reasons before being deployed on full-scale platforms. Electrical certification will be required for this. Additional certifications for handling batteries will also be necessary.
Compensation and benefits
Compensation
2300 € gross monthly
Annual leave and RTT
44 jours
Remote Working practice and compensation
Pratique et indemnisation du TT
Transport
Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€
About the offer
| Offer reference | UPR8001-CORALO-016 |
|---|---|
| CN Section(s) / Research Area | Micro and nanotechnologies, micro and nanosystems, photonics, electronics, electromagnetism, electrical energy |
About the CNRS
The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.
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