Postdoc on Integrated Design of the Next Generation of Electrolyzer Plants

Are you eager to design the next generation of electrolyzer plants and further develop your quantitative and analytical skills in an international setting? At TU Delft, you’ll contribute to groundbreaking research that lowers the cost of green hydrogen production through innovative optimization models for dynamic plant design. Join a world-class team and make a real impact on the future of sustainable energy.

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. Our focus is on the electrolyzer plant as a whole, i.e., the electrolyzer stacks and their relative configuration, the compressor, local hydrogen and heat storage, etc. 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 different electrolyzer stacks, when to store hydrogen locally, 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, the size of local hydrogen storage). 

To address this question, you will develop state-of-the-art optimization models to capture:

• The technical limitations and costs of the electrolyzer plant, the stacks and the downstream process, as well as the associated costs,
• The interaction with electricity and ancillary services markets and
• The impact of the prevailing regulatory requirements, such as the Delegated Act on RFNBO's.

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 many 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 institutes 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 Dr.ir. Kenneth Bruninx and Dr.ir. Mar Pérez-Fortes. You will join a lively community of internationally renowned interdisciplinary energy researchers in the department Engineering Systems and Services at TU Delft. Our faculty (TPM) 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).
• Prior research experience in energy system/market modelling and/or electrolysis-based plant modelling, techno-economic assessment and heat management.
• Very good written and spoken communication skills in English (Dutch is not required).
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• A result-oriented attitude.
   

The following will make you stand out:

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

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.
 

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management.

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.

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.

Additional information

For more information about this vacancy or the application procedure, please contact Kenneth Bruninx (k.bruninx@tudelft.nl). No applications by email.

Application procedure

Are you interested in this vacancy? Please apply before 15 January 2025 via the application button. We will contact shortlisted candidates for a two-stage interview process which will start early September, and we expect a decision shortly thereafter. The starting date will be flexible, but an early start is preferred. If a suitable candidate is identified before the deadline, the position may be filled, so we encourage you to apply early.

Documents that must be included in the application:

• Motivation statement, including a paragraph outlining your main research interests within the areas outlined in the job advertisement (max. one A4 page).
• CV, including a brief description of your three most impactful achievements to date (these achievements can be anything relevant to your academic or professional life).
• Contact details for two references (contact details only - please do not submit reference letters).

Please do not attach any other documents to your application than those requested above. These documents will not be considered in the application procedure.    

Please note:

• A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.
• You can apply online. We will not process applications sent by email and/or post.
• Please do not contact us for unsolicited services.