Electric Power Systems and Smart Grids

The Electric Power Systems and Smart Grids (EPSSG) group at the Institute of Energy Systems and Fluid Engineering (IEFE) at ZHAW, School of Engineering is equipped with a state-of-the-art laboratory with professional hardware and software for technical, and engineering education, as well as scientific development. In this laboratory, it is possible to interconnect and communicate among different elements to investigate and mimic real challenges faced in the real electrical network. In this form, it is possible to investigate problems across different levels of the grid such as integration of renewable energy sources, power quality issues, electro mobility, energy management and energy storage systems, just to mention some. 

The group is led by Prof. Dr. Petr Korba and consists of a core team integrated by the researchers: Dr. Rafael Segundo, Dr. Miguel Ramirez, Dr. Artjoms Obusevs and Dr. Alfredo Velázquez. 

Our team follows different research directions that span across following core areas of electrical power systems:

Person in charge: Dr. Rafael Segundo

The objective of this research direction is to investigate and analyse power system phenomena that occur at the highest voltage level of the grid (transmission system). Some of these problems include classical stability phenomena such as rotor angle, voltage and frequency stability but also to include new challenges related to integration of renewable energy sources such as low inertia. Moreover, control algorithms to mitigate these problems are also investigated. In the figure below, the classical academic four-machines two-area systems was developed in hardware and equipped with a monitoring system. This setup allows to change the rotational inertia in any of the four machines and in this form, enable the analysis of electromechanical oscillations as in the real grid.

Person in charge: Dr. Miguel Ramirez

The digitalization of electrical power systems has introduced sophisticated sensors namely smart meters in distribution systems and phasor measurement units (PMUs) in transmission systems. These sophisticated sensors are providing electric utilities with more data than ever before. However, without processing these data, utilities cannot profit from these large volumes of measurements. In this research direction, signal processing approaches based on data driven methods, machine learning and artificial intelligence are investigated. The figure below displays frequency excursions measured with PMUs during the Iberian blackout in April 2025. With this type of measurements, the EPSSG group can develop solutions to prevent such type of events by sending alarms to the operators of the system in advance before the problem is spread. 

Person in charge: Dr. Artjoms Obusevs

In this research direction different analysis to solve challenges in the low voltage grid (distribution system) are investigated. The team works jointly with different distribution system operators (DSOs) such as Stadtwerk Winterthur, Elektrizitätswerke Zürich (EKZ) and Elektrizitätswerk der Stadt Zürich (ewz), as well as with companies to tailor the proposed solutions. One example of the projects developed in this area is the project GAMMA, that aims to develop cost-effective, innovative and modular grid monitoring approaches to increase the observability of the low-voltage grid using low-cost voltage and current sensors.

Person in charge: Dr. Alfredo Velázquez

The massive integration of renewable energy sources such as solar PV and Wind, the use of battery energy storage systems (BESS), is consequently increasing the integration of Power Electronics Converters (PECs) in electrical grids. These components are helping the electrical grids to become more sustainable systems, but at the same time are introducing new challenges such as degradation of the grid stability and power quality. This research direction aims to develop, validate, and implement innovative methods to mitigate these challenges, ensuring reliable and stable grid operations. Some research directions include the analysis and control for PEC when operating as grid forming and grid following structures, respectively. The figure displayed below depicts a laboratory setup of a power hardware in the loop (P-HIL) experiment of a BESS connected to a distribution system available in the EPSSG laboratory.