PhD Position on Resilient Consumer-Centric Electricity Market Design Under Deep Decarbonization

The 2022 energy crisis in Europe painfully illustrated that current electricity markets leave consumers exposed to extreme price risks. Even in a future electricity system free of fossil fuels, prolonged periods without wind and sun may lead to extreme electricity prices, which consumers are unable to hedge in current retail electricity markets. At the same time, capturing the value of consumer flexibility typically requires exposing them to short-term, volatile price signals, further contributing to their risk exposure.
In this PhD, we focus on a key challenge in the design of consumer-centric electricity markets: how do we allow consumers to hedge their long-term price risk, while providing sufficient incentives for operational efficiency and investments through real-time electricity price signals?
To address this question, you will develop state-of-the-art equilibrium models to capture market clearing and price formation processes, market distortions and policy interventions, as well as consumer behavior. The focus will be on consumer attitudes, preferences and potential bounded rationality, as well as institutional arrangements that influence consumers’ decision making. You will advance state-of-the-art market design concepts, such as capacity subscriptions and affordability options, tailored to the needs of small-scale consumers.
This PhD position is one of 15 positions funded under the MSCA Doctoral Network (DN) Consumer Energy Demand Flexibility in Electricity Use (CoDEF). Your daily supervisor and co-promotor will be Kenneth Bruninx, and your promotor will be prof. dr. ir. Laurens De Vries. 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.
We foresee two secondments during this PhD trajectory: one at Copenhagen Business School (DK, Jens Weibezahn & Tooraj Jamash) and and one at EMPA (CH, Binod Koirala). In addition, this DN foresees extensive training in research and transferable skills, centered around annual workshops in Dublin (IE), Dübendorf (CH), Copenhagen (DK) and Bochum (DE).

Requirements:

You must be able to demonstrate:

• Masters degree in science, engineering or economics (must have been awarded by the agreed-upon starting date of the PhD).
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Very good written and spoken communication skills in English (Dutch is not required).
• Eligible applicants must not have lived in the Netherlands for more than 12 of the last 36 months.

Bonus points if you have:

• Programming experience in Julia, Python or a similar language.
• Prior research experience, especially in energy system/market modelling or other energy-related research.

Doing a PhD at TU Delft requires English proficiency at a certain level to ensure that the candidate is able to communicate and interact well, participate in English-taught Doctoral Education courses, and write scientific articles and a final thesis. For more details please check the Graduate Schools Admission Requirements.

Salary Benefits:

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 € 2770 per month in the first year to € 3539 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.
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.

36 - 40 hours per week

Mekelweg 2