Smart Electric Systems

About the research group

The Smart Electric Systems (SES) Research Group consists of researchers in electrical engineering, which are doing future oriented research for low-carbon, secure, reliable and resilient integrated energy systems. The SES research group focuses on electrical power engineering with practical applications of modern automation, information and communication technology. Main research areas of the SES group are related to flexible energy resources power electronics, energy storage systems, electric transportation, smart grids, and energy markets.

The research group focuses particularly on the following themes:

Flexible Energy Resources
•    Distributed energy resources (DER)
•    DER hosting capacity
•    Energy storage and conversion solutions
•    Microgrids and local energy communities
•    Flexibility services provision for DSO & TSO
•    Demand response optimization

Power Electronics
•    Power converters and digital control systems
•    Modeling and control of power electronics systems
•    Power-hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) testing
•    Advanced power electronics solutions in microgrids and electric transportation
•    Power electronics for HVDC systems

Smart Grids
•    Simulation of modern distribution systems
•    Digital twins for smart grids
•    Grid codes and grid integration of DER
•    Protection, automation and communication
•    Virtualized / centralized protection
•    Fault detection and location
•    Communication protocols used in Smart Grids
•    Utilization of 5G and beyond communication
•    Utilization of datacentre infrastructure (Edge/Cloud computing)
•    Cybersecurity in Smart Grid applications
•    Time synchronization
•    Applications of artificial intelligence in Smart Grids

Energy Markets
•    New market structures
•    Ancillary service markets
•    Flexibility service markets

Latest updates

Dissertation 01.12.2025

Virtual battery model paves way for electric vehicle simulations

Talvinen maisema Vaasan yliopiston kampukselta. Punatiiliset rakennukset, lumiset tiet ja puut luovat rauhallisen tunnelman. Etualalla pyörätelineitä ja taustalla vanha tehdasrakennus.

News 20.02.2025

University of Vaasa conducts research on utilising buildings as energy sources

News 29.11.2024

Vaasa strongly involved in supporting green transition in the Nordics

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Public lectures and events

10.-14.8.2026

University of Vaasa at Wasa Future Festival, 10–14 August 2026

Vaasa

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Research projects

Project	Duration	Actors
Smart Grid 2.0 – Next generation distribution grid	09/2022 - 09/2024	Smart electric systems, Technology and Innovations
CIRP-5G - Centralized Intelligent and Resilient Protection Schemes for Future Grids Applying 5G	05/2022 - 04/2024	Smart electric systems, Technology and Innovations
Use of Position Data in Industry	12/2021 - 08/2023	Digital Economy, Technology and Innovations, Smart electric systems
Education network for automated and connected transport for sustainable cities (ENACT)	01/2021 - 07/2023	Digital Economy, Executive Education, Smart electric systems, Cyber-Physical Systems
INdoor navigation from CUBesAt TEchnology (INCUBATE)	01/2021 - 08/2024	Digital Economy, International business and marketing, Marketing and Communication, Technology and Innovations, Smart electric systems, Cyber-Physical Systems
LEAP-RE - Long-Term Joint EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership on Renewable Energy	10/2020 - 12/2025	VEBIC, Technology and Innovations, Renewable energy, Smart electric systems, Efficient Powertrain Solutions
Cybersecurity Curricula Recommendations for Smart Grids, CC-RSG	10/2020 - 03/2023	Smart electric systems, Cyber-Physical Systems, Technology and Innovations
Research Environment for Smart Grids and Flexible Energy Resources (SGFER) + investments	10/2020 - 05/2022	VEBIC, Smart electric systems
TULEVA –Logistics and resource management of the future via ubiquitous precision positioning methods	09/2020 - 08/2022	Digital Economy, Technology and Innovations, Smart electric systems, Networked value systems NeVS
Energy for IoT and other electrical devices (E4IoT)	09/2020 - 08/2022	Smart electric systems, Renewable Energy and Built Environment, Renewable energy, Technology and Innovations, Efficient Powertrain Solutions

Publications

Publication year	Publication	Authors
2026	Toward intelligent and resilient microgrids: A survey of machine learning approaches for renewable energy integration	Razmi, Darioush; Razmi, Peyman; Babayomi, Oluleke; Zhang, Zhenbin
2026	A comparative study of the modified high voltage olivine-phosphate LiMPO4 (M = Fe, Mn, Co, Ni) as promising cathode materials for next-generation rechargeable batteries	Manfo, Theodore Azemtsop; Laaksonen, Hannu
2026	Enhanced Electrical Conductivity and Phenol Adsorption of Activated Carbon Fibers Derived From Palm Fiber Waste for Energy Storage and Environmental Applications	Al-Aoh, Hatem A.; Badi, Nacer; Wanees, Salah Abd El; Alghamdi, Saleh Ahmad; Al-Anazi, Faraj Abdul Rahim; Azemtsop Manfo, Theodore; Ignatiev, Alex
2026	Resilience-Oriented Computationally Intensive Operation of Renewable-Powered Reconfigurable Microgrids: A Matheuristic Approach	Zandrazavi, Seyed Farhad; Home-Ortiz, Juan M.; Shafie-khah, Miadreza
2026	Photovoltaic-Integrated Wireless Charging Systems for Electric Vehicles: A Smart City Perspective on Sustainable Urban Mobility	Shikdar, Tareq Anwar; Laaksonen, Hannu
2026	Advanced Predictive and AI-Based Converter Control Strategies for AC and DC Microgrids	Khan, Hussain Sarwar
2026	Robust MPPT for Photovoltaics: Interval Type-2 Fuzzy Logic with Experimental Validation	Butt, Bakhtawar; Kamal, Tariq; Hassan, Syed Zulqadar; Masood, Arsalan
2026	Trends and prospects in solution-cast polymer electrolytes: From processing simplicity to performance complexity	Adam, Abdullahi Abbas; Zainol, Norazwina; Manfo, Theodore Azemtsop; Karim, Mohamad Shaiful Abdul
2026	Advances in Battery Technologies for Next-Generation Energy Storage Systems	Sebbagh, Toufik; Manfo, Theodore Azemtsop; Şahin, Mustafa Ergin
2026	Developing Strategic Fit in Changing Business Dynamics: The Case of an Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Manufacturer	Khan, Hussain Sarwar; Hafeez, Shahid; Mubarak, Muhammad Faraz; Shahzad, Khuram