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Presentation

Power and Energy Systems

The centre is a world reference in large-scale integration of Distributed Energy Resources. Our expertise led us to take on key roles in important EU projects and also led to contracts for development and consultancy with manufacturing equipment companies and with power generation, transmission and distribution companies, regulators, government agencies and investors in Europe, South America, the United States of America and Africa.

At CPES, we address the following main research areas: Decision Making, Optimisation and Computational Intelligence, Forecasting, Static and Dynamic analysis of Energy Grids, Reliability, Power Electronics.

Part of our activity is developed in the Laboratory of Smart Grids and Electric Vehicles that supports the validation of major developments in a real environment.

Over the last years, we have made several developments in the electrical network planning and operation, namely the inclusion of distributed energy resources forecasting and network  optimisation tools embedded in different voltage layers, exploiting the MicroGrid hierarchical concept. Relevant steps were given on the inclusion of computational intelligence in control algorithms that were demonstrated under real conditions in several pilots.   

Latest News
Power and Energy Systems

An energy laboratory based in Portugal - powered by INESC TEC

From Porto to Viana, with a stop in Aguçadoura: this is the route towards the future of renewable energy. Over two days, the EnerTEF consortium – with INESC TEC as a member - had the opportunity to discuss the project’s achievements and visit one of the Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs) based in Portugal - a site where it will be possible to test, validate, and certify Artificial Intelligence solutions applied to the energy sector.

07th November 2025

Power and Energy Systems

INESC TEC travels to UT Austin to share knowledge on green hydrogen

A world powered by hydrogen? The road ahead has some challenges, but also major opportunities – especially those emerging from the collaboration between Europe and the United States. INESC TEC took part in Hydrogen Day 2025 at the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), an event that brought together industry, academia and international experts to help build a more sustainable energy future.

21st October 2025

Power and Energy Systems

INESC TEC researcher nominated as member of the Consello da Cultura Galega

How can we bring science and culture closer together? The answer may now be reached more quickly - with the appointment of INESC TEC researcher Susana Bayo as a member of the Consello da Cultura Galega, the advisory body of the Autonomous Community of Galicia responsible for promoting knowledge and advising the regional government on cultural matters.

07th October 2025

Power and Energy Systems

How to manage an energy community with 10 tools

Managing an energy community could become even more efficient thanks to a set of digital tools that INESC TEC is developing within the European EMPEDOFLEX project. There are at least 10 interoperable applications in development, which will be validated in four real-world cases, designed to help municipalities, grid operators, and energy community managers reduce costs, integrate more renewable energy sources, and increase network resilience.

29th September 2025

Power and Energy Systems

Can science made in Portugal influence the EU’s energy future?

Recently, INESC TEC researchers collaborated with the Smart Grid Interoperability Laboratory of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) - the EC’s science and knowledge service that supports public policy development - to train the technical staff in semantic interoperability, a key technology for the digitalisation of Europe’s energy sector.

29th September 2025

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Featured Projects

PredicoSupportV2

Collaborative Forecasting Platform for ELIA – New UI functionalities

2025-2026

SOLAR_MOVE

SOLAR Photovoltaic to MOVE for Systems Integration

2025-2029

PVSmile

Digitalizing the Lifecycle of Community-Integrated PV Systems for Smart Grid-Ready and Inclusive Energy Communities

2025-2028

BLACK_START_EAU

Study for Black Start Units and preparation of Blackout Restoration Plan

2025-2026

FPotBond

Estudo de compensação de fator de potência para a fábrica de Estarreja da Bondalti

2025-2026

RIFF

Research Infrastructures for the Future of Ukraine: Roadmap for Sustained Growth and Recovery

2025-2028

GridNode_Bridge

Design, development and testing of Dynamic System Rating under BRIDGE Project

2025-2026

FCR_HIDRICA

Acompanhamento técnico para a prestação de serviço de reserva de Contenção de frequência de uma Central Hídrica

2025-2025

TariffRAM

Definição de tarifas a aplicar aos parques eólicos da RAM

2025-2026

BlackoutAddendum

Understanding the Iberian Blackout Exploiting Data from Electric Companies Associated to AELEC - Addendum

2025-2025

Perfis_Perdas_2026

Determinação de Perfis de Perdas e de Fatores de Ajustamento para Perdas para 2026

2025-2025

Hibrid_Douro

Avaliação do cumprimento do código de rede do projeto de hibridização do parque eólico do Alto Douro

2025-2025

Hibrid_Raia

Avaliação do cumprimento do código de rede do projeto de hibridização do parque eólico de Raia

2025-2025

CampusREN2025

Formação Avançada para a REN CAMPUS REN2025

2025-2025

BolsasFCT_Gestao

Funding FCT PhD Grants - Management

2025-9999

REATIVA_MINHO

Estudo de otimização de potência reativa do Parque Eólico do Alto Minho I

2024-2025

EnerTEF

Common European-scale Energy Artificial Intelligence Federated Testing and Experimentation Facility

2024-2027

Data4LEM

Synthetic and Explainable Data Generation for the Simulation and Analysis of Future Local Electricity Markets

2024-2025

MORADIST

PS-MORA Arquitetura distribuída

2021-2025

Meteo_NMP_Forecast

2015-2016

SiMicrogrids

2015-2015

Team
001

Laboratories

Laboratory of Smart Grids and Electric Vehicles

Publications

CPES Publications

View all Publications

2026

Industrial Application of High-Temperature Heat and Electricity Storage for Process Efficiency and Power-to-Heat-to-Power Grid Integration

Authors
Coelho A.; Silva R.; Soares F.J.; Gouveia C.; Mendes A.; Silva J.V.; Freitas J.P.;

Publication
Lecture Notes in Energy

Abstract
This chapter explores the potential of thermal energy storage (TES) systems towards the decarbonization of industry and energy networks, considering its coordinated management with electrochemical energy storage and renewable energy sources (RES). It covers various TES technologies, including sensible heat storage (SHS), latent heat storage (LHS), and thermochemical energy storage (TCS), each offering unique benefits and facing specific challenges. The integration of TES into industrial parks is highlighted, showing how these systems can optimize energy manage-ment and reduce reliance on external sources. A district heating use case also demonstrates the economic and environmental advantages of a multi-energy management strategy over single-energy approaches. Overall, TES technologies are presented as a promising pathway to greater energy effi-ciency and sustainability in industrial processes.

2025

Fuzzy Logic Estimation of Coincidence Factors for EV Fleet Charging Infrastructure Planning in Residential Buildings

Authors
Carvalhosa, S; Ferreira, JR; Araújo, RE;

Publication
ENERGIES

Abstract
As electric vehicle (EV) adoption accelerates, residential buildings-particularly multi-dwelling structures-face increasing challenges to electrical infrastructure, notably due to conservative sizing practices of electrical feeders based on maximum simultaneous demand. Current sizing methods assume all EVs charge simultaneously at maximum capacity, resulting in unnecessarily oversized and costly electrical installations. This study proposes an optimized methodology to estimate accurate coincidence factors, leveraging simulations of EV user charging behaviors in multi-dwelling residential environments. Charging scenarios considering different fleet sizes (1 to 70 EVs) were simulated under two distinct premises of charging: minimization of current allocation to achieve the desired battery state-of-charge and maximization of instantaneous power delivery. Results demonstrate significant deviations from conventional assumptions, with estimated coincidence factors decreasing non-linearly as fleet size increases. Specifically, applying the derived coincidence factors can reduce feeder section requirements by up to 86%, substantially lowering material costs. A fuzzy logic inference model is further developed to refine these estimates based on fleet characteristics and optimization preferences, providing a practical tool for infrastructure planners. The results were compared against other studies and real-life data. Finally, the proposed methodology thus contributes to more efficient, cost-effective design strategies for EV charging infrastructures in residential buildings.

2025

Location of grid forming converters when dealing with multi-class stability problems

Authors
Fernandes, F; Lopes, JP; Moreira, C;

Publication
IET GENERATION TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION

Abstract
This work proposes an innovative methodology for the optimal placement of grid-forming converters (GFM) in converter-dominated grids while accounting for multiple stability classes. A heuristic-based methodology is proposed to solve an optimisation problem whose objective function encompasses up to 4 stability indices obtained through the simulation of a shortlist of disturbances. The proposed methodology was employed in a modified version of the 39-bus test system, using DigSILENT Power Factory as the simulation engine. First, the GFM placement problem is solved individually for the different stability classes to highlight the underlying physical phenomena that explain the optimality of the solutions and evidence the need for a multi-class approach. Second, a multi-class approach that combines the different stability indices through linear scalarisation (weights), using the normalised distance of each index to its limit as a way to define its importance, is adopted. For all the proposed fitness function formulations, the method successfully converged to a balanced solution among the various stability classes, thereby enhancing overall system stability.

2025

Frequency support from PEM hydrogen electrolysers using Power-Hardware-in-the-Loop validation

Authors
Elhawash, AM; Araújo, RE; Lopes, JAP;

Publication
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HYDROGEN ENERGY

Abstract
Maintaining frequency stability is one of the biggest challenges facing future power systems, due to the increasing penetration levels of inverter-based renewable resources. This investigation experimentally validates the frequency provision capabilities of a real Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) hydrogen electrolyser (HE) using a power hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) setup. The PHIL consists of a custom 3-level interleaved buck converter and a hardware platform for real-time control of the converter and conducting grid simulation, associated with the modelling of the future Iberian Peninsula (IP) and Continental Europe (CE) systems. The investigation had the aim of validating earlier simulation work and testing new responses from the electrolyser when providing different frequency services at different provision volumes. The experimental results corroborate earlier simulation results and capture extra electrolyser dynamics as the double-layer capacitance effect, which was absent in the simulations. Frequency Containment Reserve (FCR) and Fast Frequency Response (FFR) were provided successfully from the HE at different provision percentages, enhancing the nadir and the rate of change of frequency (RoCoF) in the power system when facing a large disturbance compared to conventional support only. The results verify that HE can surely contribute to frequency services, paving the way for future grid support studies beyond simulations.

2025

Evolving Symbolic Model for Dynamic Security Assessment in Power Systems

Authors
Fernandes, FS; Bessa, RJ; Lopes, JP;

Publication
JOURNAL OF MODERN POWER SYSTEMS AND CLEAN ENERGY

Abstract
In a high-risk sector, such as power system, transparency and interpretability are key principles for effectively deploying artificial intelligence (AI) in control rooms. Therefore, this paper proposes a novel methodology, the evolving symbolic model (ESM), which is dedicated to generating highly interpretable data-driven models for dynamic security assessment (DSA), namely in system security classification (SC) and the definition of preventive control actions. The ESM uses simulated annealing for a data-driven evolution of a symbolic model template, enabling different cooperative learning schemes between humans and AI. The Madeira Island power system is used to validate the application of the ESM for DSA. The results show that the ESM has a classification accuracy comparable to pruned decision trees (DTs) while boasting higher global inter-pretability. Moreover, the ESM outperforms an operator-defined expert system and an artificial neural network in defining preventive control actions.

Facts & Figures

60Papers in indexed journals

2020

24Senior Researchers

2016

78Researchers

2016

Contacts