Interoperability of the Power Electronics dominated grid by openness

Power electronic (PE) devices are a key enabler for integrating renewable energy into our power system.

However, to achieve interoperability of PE devices, barriers are present in technology but also in intellectual property and regulation.

To overcome these barriers, Inter-oPEn offers a unique doctoral training program for 10 researchers that integrates multi-sectorial knowledge, gathering electrical engineering and legal researchers.

To achieve the common goal of the interoperable PE-dominated power system, openness will be a pivotal factor across the different doctoral projects, tackling fundamental aspects of modern PE-based electrical systems such as control, protection, interoperability, governance, and intellectual property challenges.

In line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the EU Green deal, Inter-oPEn's research program is divided into three complementary parts, (1) Engineering components for swift interoperability, (2) Integration of a resilient and flexible power system, and (3) Enabling interoperability from a legal and regulatory viewpoint.

Inter-oPEn's training program puts a particular emphasis on maneuvering the complex and rapidly growing power system/electronics sector with specific intersectoral trainings on, e.g., change management in critical infrastructure, how to give good recommendations, or simplification approaches for an efficient description of complex contexts to other domains.

Comprised of 8 academic partners and 13 industrial associated partners, Inter-oPEn offers a broad industry and transmission system operator expertise for doctoral trainings, research, and secondments.

Compared to previous EU projects and doctoral training networks on the interoperable PE-dominated grid, Inter-oPEn is innovative by including two fundamental and new aspects: (1) the interplay of technical and legal perspectives is considered, and (2) openness principles are the heart of engineering and legal research, as well as, training.