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

News 07.10.2026

How can grid reliability be secured in the future? Professor Hannu Laaksonen emphasises flexible energy solutions

News 02.10.2026

From research to business: FlexiPower unlocking the energy flexibility potential of buildings

News 07.09.2026

Ostrobothnia Chamber of Commerce Award presented to Seyedehsahar Seyedbarhagh – sector coupling enhances energy system flexibility

Show more news

Research projects

Project	Duration	Actors
Future Ready Harbour Concept – Towards Sustainable Maritime Ecosystem	08/2020 - 01/2021	VEBIC, Renewable energy, Smart electric systems, Networked value systems NeVS, Strategic business development, Management, Technology and Innovations, Efficient Powertrain Solutions
Cybersecurity and Resilience of Digital Energy Systems (CR-DES)	04/2020 - 03/2023	Smart electric systems, Cyber-Physical Systems, Technology and Innovations, Resilience
ALBATTS - Alliance for Batteries Technology, Training and Skills	11/2019 - 05/2024	Technology and Innovations, Smart electric systems, Executive Education
CEE4WES - Circular Economy Ecosystem for Waste-to-Energy Sector	11/2019 - 09/2020	VEBIC, Strategic business development, Economics, Management, Accounting and Finance, Smart electric systems
FLEXIMAR, Novel marketplace for energy flexibility	04/2019 - 12/2020	Smart electric systems, VEBIC, Marketing and Consumption Research
SolarX – Maximizing PV integration capacity in energy and power systems	01/2019 - 04/2022	Smart electric systems, VEBIC, Marketing and Consumption Research, Technology and Innovations
SG Platform	11/2018 - 06/2019	Smart electric systems, VEBIC
FUSE	08/2018 - 07/2021	Smart electric systems, VEBIC
SESP	12/2016 - 12/2018	Smart electric systems, VEBIC

Publications

Publication year	Publication	Authors
2026	Physics-Guided Residual Learning for Short-Term Solar Irradiance Forecasting	Shikdar, Tareq Anwar; Laaksonen, Hannu
2026	Enhanced Discrete-Time Differentiators for LCL Resonance Damping Through Capacitor Voltage Feedback	Olímpio Filho, José de Arimatéia; Silva, Paulo Fernando; de Oro Arenas, Luis; Curi Busarello, Tiago Davi; Godoy Simões, Marcelo; Morales Paredes, Helmo Kelis
2026	Assessment of Post-Fault Voltage Recovery in IBRs-Dominated Grids: Evaluating the Role of Grid-Forming Converters	Aljarrah, Rafat; Salem, Qusay; Karimi, Mazaher; Abuishmais, Ibrahim; Jaber, Hamza
2026	Learning When Not to Use a Battery: Multihorizon Failure Intelligence	Shikdar, Tareq Anwar; Laaksonen, Hannu
2026	Volatility-Aware Sizing and Seasonally Adaptive Control of Hybrid Energy Storage Using Multi-Horizon Forecasting in a Nordic Campus Microgrid	Shikdar, Tareq Anwar; Laaksonen, Hannu
2026	Interface-controlled broadband photodetection in Si3N4/n-Si hybrid devices	Manfo, Theodore Azemtsop; Yıldız, Dilber Esra; Bağcı, Cengiz; Hussaini, Ali Akbar; Yıldırım, Murat
2026	MODWT-Based Wavelet Neuro-Fuzzy MPPT for Photovoltaic Systems with Comparative Analysis to Machine Learning Controllers	Kamal, Tariq; Hassan, Syed Zulqadar
2026	A Compact 1D-CNN for Photovoltaic Fault Diagnosis With Leakage-Aware Validation: A Comparative Study	Hassan, Syed Zulqadar; Sana, Babar; Kamal, Tariq; Masood, Arsalan; Ahmad, Muhammad; Shafiullah, Md.
2026	A comprehensive review of sector coupling as a strategy for power system flexibility	Seyyedeh-Barhagh, Sahar; Khajeh, Hosna; Laaksonen, Hannu; Mohammadi-Ivatloo, Behnam; Hatziargyriou, Nikos
2026	Fault Level Considerations in Tomorrow's Wind and PV-Rich Power Grids: A Review	Aljarrah, Rafat; Karimi, Mazaher; Marzooghi, Hesamoddin