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What is POWER SYSTEMS all about?

  • Enabling secure and resilient grids with high penetration of converter-based systems.
  • Advancing control and management of power systems, from component to wide-area scale.
  • Modelling power system components through digitalisation and AI-driven methods.
  • Delivering research outcomes through real-world pilots and industrial demonstrations.

Power systems

The Power Systems department addresses the challenges of future electrical grids, enabling greater integration of renewable energy sources, with particular focus on offshore technologies, energy storage, electric vehicles and power converters. Its activities combine digitalisation, advanced modelling and novel materials, spanning the entire electrical system from generation to consumption. Electrical, electronic, control and cyber-physical engineering are brought together in close collaboration with industry to validate solutions in real operating environments.

Secure, Resilient and Digitally Enabled Future Power Systems

We investigate reliable operation of power systems with high shares of renewable generation, covering transmission, microgrids, energy storage, stability analysis, security of supply and cybersecurity. Our work encompasses digital twin development and cloud-based management systems for real-time monitoring and decision-making at distribution level.

Prototype Development and Laboratory Testing

We design and build prototypes of power electronics, control boards and protection systems for innovative energy applications. We also support manufacturers in validating and pre-certifying their products through advanced power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) testing, bridging laboratory performance and real-world deployment.

Modelling, Simulation and Design

We build digital grid models and advanced control strategies to analyse stability, optimise component selection and design novel power converter architectures. Our modelling combines data-driven approaches with physics-informed neural networks to represent renewable energy systems and storage with high accuracy, supporting simulation and control board design.

Real Implementation and Piloting

We deploy equipment and online platforms in real operational environments, from field installations in active electricity networks to live monitoring systems. Our objective is to validate innovations under genuine operating conditions and advance them towards market readiness.

Our activity at a glance

The department brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers and specialists working across its core research areas. Our work combines fundamental research, technology development and applied validation, engaging with academic institutions, industry partners and public bodies to generate knowledge and solutions with real-world impact.

A department expert team

Donut chart and data table showing the composition of 39 total members by professional category and gender.
Data table illustrating the distribution of 39 team members by professional role and gender.

Our research lines

Conceptual map of the "Power Systems" research lines.

Research lines

  • Cyber-physical systems and smart grids
  • Power electronics and converters
  • Offshore and renewable energy integration
  • Electrical network stability and resilience
  • Energy storage systems
  • Digital twins and cloud management

We develop cyber-physical architectures that connect physical energy infrastructure with digital monitoring, control and communication layers. Our research addresses smart grid design, interoperability, real-time data exchange and cybersecurity, providing the technical foundations for secure, observable and controllable electricity networks capable of handling the complexity of a fully renewable energy system.

Cyber-physical smart grid architecture with illuminated microchips and electronic motherboard components for secure renewable energy network monitoring, real-time data exchange and energy system digitalization.
Advanced energy research laboratory equipment displaying electrical waveforms with voltage and current control for smart grid testing, power electronics analysis and renewable energy system monitoring.

We design, model and prototype advanced power converters and control boards for renewable generation, energy storage, electric vehicle charging and grid integration applications. Our work spans from circuit-level design and simulation through to hardware prototyping and laboratory validation, addressing both the performance and reliability requirements of converters operating in increasingly demanding grid conditions.

Advanced power electronics laboratory with interconnected cables, converters and control systems for renewable energy integration, energy storage, electric vehicle charging and smart grid applications.
Electronic control board with connected cables in an energy research laboratory for power converter development, renewable energy systems testing and smart grid innovation

We develop specialised models, control strategies and grid connection solutions for offshore wind, ocean energy and other large-scale renewable sources. Our research addresses the technical challenges of integrating high volumes of converter-based generation into transmission and distribution networks, supporting the secure and cost-effective expansion of renewable capacity at system scale.

Energy researcher analysing electrical oscillations on a computer in a renewable energy laboratory focused on offshore wind integration, grid stability and large-scale power system innovation.
Scientist working in an advanced energy research laboratory with multiple screens displaying data analysis, smart grid monitoring and renewable energy system performance.

We investigate the stability, security and resilience of electrical networks under conditions of high renewable penetration, covering frequency response, voltage regulation, fault behaviour and the interaction of converter-based generation with network dynamics. Our work informs grid code development and provides operators and planners with validated tools to maintain reliable supply as the energy mix transforms.

Control panel buttons of advanced electrical grid equipment used for power system stability analysis, renewable energy integration and smart grid resilience research.
Scientist working with connected electrical cables and laboratory equipment for renewable energy integration, power grid stability testing and smart energy systems research.

We characterise, model and optimise energy storage technologies, from battery management systems and state estimation algorithms to second-life applications and grid-scale storage integration. Our work covers the full range from component-level testing to system-level operation, helping industry and grid operators improve performance, extend asset lifetime and reduce the cost of storage in the energy system.

Advanced laboratory machinery for energy storage research, battery system testing and grid-scale storage optimisation in renewable energy applications.
High-tech laboratory equipment used for battery management systems, energy storage performance analysis and renewable energy technology development

We characterise, model and optimise energy storage technologies, from battery management systems and state estimation algorithms to second-life applications and grid-scale storage integration. Our work covers the full range from component-level testing to system-level operation, helping industry and grid operators improve performance, extend asset lifetime and reduce the cost of storage in the energy system.

Control buttons on an electronic oscillator used in laboratory testing of energy storage systems, battery management analysis and power electronics research.
Control buttons on laboratory equipment used for energy storage testing, battery performance evaluation and advanced power systems research.

People

A skilled team dedicated to advancing the energy transition.

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Projects

Competitive and industrial projects from lab to real-world scale.

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Publications

Peer-reviewed outputs at the forefront of energy research.

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Tech Transfer

The Power Systems department translates research into practical solutions across power systems, digitalisation, energy storage and power electronics, working with local, national and international partners spanning small and medium-sized enterprises, large corporations and public institutions. Technology transfer activities range from design and laboratory testing through to real pilot implementations, with a significant portion carried out through the IREC Energy SmartLab, where the department supports manufacturers in validating and pre-certifying their products using power hardware-in-the-loop testing. The department collaborates with regional, national and international institutions including UPC, TECNALIA and DTU, and actively participates in alliances such as EERA JP Wind, EERA JP SmartGrid and FutuRed. To date, it has registered more than ten software packages and filed four patent applications, and is actively exploring spin-off creation pathways to bring its innovations closer to market.

Facilities

Energy research laboratory with advanced machinery and computers used for renewable energy analysis, power systems testing and smart grid technology development

Facilities

The department operates the IREC Energy SmartLab, a shared facility for power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) testing with a capacity of up to 200 kVA. The laboratory integrates generation emulators for wind, solar and ocean energy sources; real battery, supercapacitor and flywheel storage systems; electric vehicle charging infrastructure; and a programmable grid emulator capable of reproducing diverse fault conditions and network configurations. Real-time simulators, climate chambers and line emulators complete a testing environment designed to bridge the gap between computational modelling and genuine field deployment. More info: https://weblab.energysmartlab.com/home/

Energy research laboratory with advanced machinery and computers used for renewable energy analysis, power systems testing and smart grid technology development
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News

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