Energy Dream Lab: DEEC e INESC-ID modernizam a investigação e o ensino com uma nova infraestrutura
On May 29th, the inauguration of the new Técnico / INESC-ID laboratory took place. The ceremony was held as part of the Energy Day celebrations. It was attended by several researchers and featured speeches by Pedro Carvalho (researcher at INESC-ID and coordinator of the Energy scientific area at DEEC), Hugo Morais and Pedro Costa (both professors at DEEC and researchers at INESC-ID), Nuno Horta (president of DEEC), and Pedro Amaral (vice-president for corporate interface, innovation, and entrepreneurship at Técnico). Sérgio Pequito, vice-president for research, development, and external relations at DEEC, and Inês Lynce, president of the board of directors of INESC-ID, were also present.
The Energy Dream Lab, located in the Electricity Pavilion, is a research and testing infrastructure dedicated to the integration of distributed energy resources and new energy end-uses in active electrical systems. This new space enables the modernization of research related to electrical grids (both alternating current and direct current), mobility, energy communities, storage, building energy management, and protection systems.
During the inauguration ceremony, Hugo Morais, professor at DEEC and researcher at INESC-ID, began by thanking all the individuals and entities involved in the development and promotion of the laboratory. This infrastructure supports several national and European projects, such as EV4EU, AHEAD, SHIFT2DC, U2Demo, PVSmile, SOLAR-MOVE, and ATE, and is also part of a national network of laboratories under the ATE Association. Furthermore, it connects with various companies, bridging the gap between research and industry.
Pedro Costa, professor at DEEC and researcher at INESC-ID, added that the laboratory enables simulations in physical systems. He specifically highlighted the monitoring of and interaction with demonstrators currently being developed at the Port of Madeira (AHEAD project) and the Port of the Azores (EV4EU project) within the scope of electric mobility.
Additionally, bidirectional matrix chargers for autonomous vehicles and systems for utilizing DC grids in data centers under real-world conditions are also under development.
From the perspective of innovation and the relationship between research and industry, Pedro Amaral emphasized the importance of this laboratory in showcasing the impact of the innovative solutions developed at Técnico, thereby consolidating the trust of the corporate sector and keeping pace with international trends.
Nuno Horta made a point of reiterating his gratitude to everyone involved in the project, particularly professors Pedro Carvalho, Hugo Morais, and Pedro Costa, underscoring their excellence and commitment throughout the process.
In addition to its contribution to research at Técnico and INESC-ID, this laboratory will also modernize education for over 250 students per year by providing hands-on experience with real-world case studies and demonstrators within their courses.