Your Job:
The concept of Local Energy Communities (LECs) — where people, businesses, and local infrastructure share and manage energy collectively — is reshaping how energy is produced and consumed. Recognized by the EU as a cornerstone of the Clean Energy Transition, LECs empower local actors to participate actively in energy markets, support renewables, and enhance system flexibility.
In this PhD project, you will help design, simulate, and optimize these next-generation communities — making clean, local, and intelligent energy systems a practical reality.
Your key responsibilities include:
1. Developing and applying simulation and optimization models to analyze energy flows, operational strategies and design decisions in a multi-energy system (power, gas, heat)
2. Investigating different community configurations (residential, commercial, mixed-use) and their interactions with distribution grids
3. Assessing how renewable integration, storage technologies, and demand flexibility affect system performance
4. Evaluating economic and environmental indicators such as cost, emissions, self-sufficiency, and flexibility under various policy scenarios
5. Analyzing interactions to regional grids (heat) within local energy communities and interfaces to higher-level grids (electricity) for stable operation and effective market participation
6. Supporting case studies with municipal and regional partners to bridge research and real-world application
7. Disseminate your findings through scientific publications, conferences, and collaborations
8. Supervise Bachelor’s and Master’s students
Your Profile:
9. Excellent Master’s degree in electrical or mechanical engineering
10. Strong mathematical skills
11. Experience in modelling energy systems
12. Very good knowledge and experience in programming ( Python, Matlab, C, C++)
13. Fluent in written and spoken English
14. Strong analytical and independent working style
15. Excellent teamwork and communication skills
You are independent, motivated, and passionate about shaping the energy transition—if this describes you, we encourage you to apply!
Our Offer:
Join a diverse and supportive research group at one of Europe’s leading research centers, where you will work on cutting-edge energy system models developing solutions for Europe energy system decarbonization. You will have access world-class infrastructure (including the Jülich Supercomputing Centre), and develop skills to advance your future career in academia or industry.
We offer ideal conditions for you to complete your doctoral degree:
16. Pursue a PhD at RWTH Aachen University under the supervision of Prof. Benigni
17. Access cutting-edge infrastructure, including the Jülich Supercomputing Centre
18. Participate in projects, meetings, and international conferences
19. 30 days of annual leave and flexible working arrangements, including partial remote work
20. Strong support and mentoring for building a career in academia or industry
21. Professional develo