João Araújo (CTM) and Pedro Barbeiro (CPES)

João Araújo (CTM)

“The coordinators of the CTM would like to nominate the researcher João Araújo, for the initiative, proactivity and leadership skills demonstrated during the modernisation process of the technologies laboratory located on the -1 floor of INESC TEC’s main building. More specifically, João proved his ability to organise the set of specifications, as well as to engage and coordinate different actors, with particular expertise and know-how, who were involved in the design of this highly technological action”.

– CTM coordinators

Given the current context, what challenges did you face while carrying out your tasks?

Despite not influencing my overall activities, teleworking made some of the tasks a little more difficult, namely the scaling process (considering all our current and future needs), since it was necessary to visit the facilities, in order to have a broader and more realistic outlook. After the project was proposed, analysed and approved, the preparation phase necessary to start the works began, which also required our presence in the facilities, as this process is essential. The main challenge concerning my collaboration in this process – which is still going on – was actually dealing with my roles as a researcher and as a PhD student.

How did you overcome these challenges?

When I was working from home, and needed specific data from the laboratory, I had the support of my colleague Manuel Silva (SGI), who was always on the premises, due to his activities. As expected in a process like this one, we had to face many challenges. However, and thanks to all members of the working group (created specifically to carry out the modernisation of the laboratory), which includes, besides myself, Luís Pessoa and Filipe Ribeiro (CTM), Gil Coutinho (SRC) and Jorge Couto (SGI), it became possible to overcome them, and the modernisation project is currently validated and approved by the Board of Directors. Regarding the need to combine several different tasks, good time management was crucial to perform them successfully, while maintaining focus, and stride, as well as physical, mental and social well-being.

Which aspects of your job do you enjoy the most?

Working at INESC TEC, which is one of the biggest science & technology research entities in this country, is very rewarding by itself. The fact that I am an active part of the remodelling of the technologies laboratory is something I’m very proud of. I am totally convinced that the new laboratory will contribute to improve the quality of the researchers’ work, as well as the refinement of the research activities carried out, further contributing to the excellence of the Centre for Telecommunications and Multimedia (CTM) and INESC TEC as an institution.

How do you comment on this nomination?

I am very happy to see that my work, dedication and effort were acknowledged. I am grateful to the coordinators of CTM and Luís Pessoa, for the way they trusted me during the process of modernisation of the laboratory, which I am very proud of. I will continue, as I have so far, to work hard, in order to meet all the goals. I’ d like to point out my colleague Henrique Rocha, for his unparalleled contribution, namely in the preparation phase of the laboratory, before the start of the remodelling works.

Pedro Barbeiro (CPES)

“Pedro Barbeiro had an excellent performance in January, namely within the scope of the project ‘Assessment of the Conversion to Synchronous Compensator at the Pego Thermal Power Plant’, developed in partnership with Endesa. The activities required significant effort, dedication and thoroughness, in order to ensure the successful conclusion of the project within the expected time period”.

– CPES coordinators

Given the current context, what challenges did you face while carrying out your tasks?

This project stemmed from Endesa’s interest in identifying and evaluating the technical benefits associated with the potential conversion of the Pego thermoelectric plant – and other similar facilities existing in Spain – to synchronous compensators, focusing on the Iberian and the Portuguese power systems.

The decommissioning of coal and nuclear power plants, expected to take place in the Iberian Peninsula and in central Europe by 2030/35, will bring a series of new challenges to the operation of the Iberian power system. The system will be characterised by a smaller component of synchronous generation, due to its substitution by renewable energy sources, connected to the network through electronic converters. In this sense, there will be a decrease in the synchronous inertia present in the system, leading to several constraints from the point of view of dynamic security. Hence, it is crucial to assess the security of the future Iberian power system in terms of transient/frequency stability. In the particular case of coal-fuelled power plants, there may be an interest in adapting them for exploration in synchronous compensator mode; this way, they can contribute to improve the stability of the system. Moreover, their decommissioning could be avoided, as well as the loss of many jobs, which could happen in the case of the Pego plant.

The project presented several challenges. Due to its dimension and complexity, the biggest challenge was, without any doubt, the correct modelling of the entire power system (and the subsequent tuning/validation of all dynamic parameters). In several respects, the modelling was carried out practically “from scratch”, partly because of gaps in the data provided, but also because the model of the Portuguese and Spanish systems were provided separately (which required a complex “integration” of the two systems). Additionally, the lack of data for the 2035 time horizon also required some “creativity” in projecting the power system for that date. These aspects made the study even more difficult and time consuming than initially planned. Just an example, the model used comprised a complete Iberian transmission network, part of the French and Moroccan systems, as well as an equivalent model representing the rest of central Europe. In this sense, there was a vast amount of modelled components, including thousands of nodes, lines and transformers, and several hundred loads and generation units associated with different technologies, together with other less relevant components. By adding all these aspects to the short time period of the project (given the significantly large dimension, particularly when considering the available human resources), to the fact that other projects were also taking place, and to the COVID-19 pandemic/mandatory teleworking, you’ll get an explosive “cocktail” leading to great challenges.

How did you overcome these challenges?

With a lot of dedication, and many hours of hard work. I would like to point out the role played by Professor Carlos Moreira and Professor João Peças Lopes (project coordinator), both with several important feedback about the development of the activities, namely at the most crical times. Ricardo Ferreira and Micael Simões (CPES) also provided crucial support: the first, in the initial phase of the project, with tasks related to network modelling issues, and the latter during the final phase, while preparing the report. All of them were decisive and vital to the success of the project.

Which aspects of your job do you enjoy the most? In your opinion, what is the main differentiating aspect of the project?

In general, I very much appreciate being at the forefront of knowledge and technology transfer, which allows me to be involved in projects that could play a key role in solving different societal issues (present and future), namely those related to the energy sector. The diversity of the projects in which I participate is also an important element, since multiplicity makes things less tiresome and more challenging. Obviously, this can also cause problems, since many times we must perform activities we don’t enjoy/master, although I like to perceive them as positive and educational professional challenges. For example, in this particular project, I worked on a scientific field I feel quite comfortable, and I enjoyed the challenges associated with the modelling complexity I’ve mentioned; I also appreciated the need to automate several processes that were key to the project, particularly those associated with dynamic simulation. The possibility of learning from different people, the majority of them scientific experts, is another element I value.

Regarding the project, the main differentiating factors – bearing in mind the importance that this technical study may have in the decision to decommission the Pego plant or not – are associated with some of the things I’ve mentioned above. Namely, the innovative nature of the data used and the scenarios analysed, since the studies focused on a broad set of future scenarios, simulating very critical operating conditions (with a lot of integration of renewable energy sources, like PV and wind), all of them included in a very representative network model. These aspects are different from the usual studies (based on simplified equivalent models), thus granting credibility to the results achieved. Another innovative aspect was the analysis of an “islanding” situation concerning the Iberian system (since it is isolated from central Europe), following an unlikely extreme event, followed by a sensitivity analysis about the impact of the existence of several synchronous compensators operating in the Iberian Peninsula, something that has not yet been studied.

How do you comment on this nomination?

It’s always gratifying to know that people acknowledge our work and effort, namely our superiors. In this sense, and on behalf of all members of the project’s team and myself, I’d like to thank the coordinators of the Centre for Power and Energy Systems for this acknowledgement – which, in my opinion, is truly fair.