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

Show more news

Research projects

Project	Duration	Actors
AI-based Two-stage Stochastic Electricity Market Model for the Nordic Region (AIM4NORD)	09/2025 - 08/2026	Technology and Innovations, Smart electric systems
Nordic Energy Capital	03/2025 - 03/2027	Management, Technology and Innovations, Digital Economy, Public policy and governance, Smart electric systems, Cyber-Physical Systems
IDEAL4GREEN - Building decentralised, distributed and local microgrids for decarbonisation electrification challenge	01/2025 - 12/2028	Smart electric systems, Technology and Innovations
FlexiPower	01/2025 - 03/2026	Smart electric systems, Technology and Innovations
InnoWind Innovative Offshore Wind Power Infrastructure Service and Maintenance Business	11/2024 - 10/2026	Digital Economy, VEBIC, Technology and Innovations, Smart electric systems, Cyber-Physical Systems
Grid Code certification by Simulation (GCCS)	10/2024 - 09/2026	Smart electric systems, Technology and Innovations
CPS Security Lab	01/2024 - 10/2024	Cyber-Physical Systems, Smart electric systems, Technology and Innovations
WSTAR - Wasa zero emission data centre	01/2023 - 12/2025	Digital Economy, Technology and Innovations, Smart electric systems, Cyber-Physical Systems
DiTArtIS - Network of Excellence in Digital Technologies and AI Solutions for Electromechanical and Power Systems Applications	10/2022 - 09/2025	Technology and Innovations, Smart electric systems, Renewable Energy and Built Environment, VEBIC
Next Level Energy Setup	09/2022 - 11/2024	VEBIC, Technology and Innovations, Smart electric systems

Publications

Publication year	Publication	Authors
2025	A Mixed-Integer Programming Approach for Locating V2G-Capable EV Chargers in Smart Grids	Naderian, Hossein; Veisi, Mehdi; Karimi, Mazaher; Laaksonen, Hannu; Hatziargyriou, Nikolaos
2025	Improved Frequency Stability Support for Low-Inertia Power Systems	Laaksonen, Hannu
2025	Role of Hydrogen in Optimal Operational Planning of Multi-Energy Microgrids	Shahbazbegian, Vahid; Ameli, Hossein; Laaksonen, Hannu
2025	Adaptive DER and OLTC Control Scheme for Flexible Distribution Grids	Laaksonen, Hannu; Hatziargyriou, Nikos
2025	Social Justice in Electrical Energy Outage Management Through the Controllability Index	Arasteh, Hamidreza; Bahramara, Salah; Gholizadeh, Mahyar; Moslemi, Niki; Kaheh, Zohreh; Biazar, Milad; Shafie-khah, Miadreza
2025	Sleuthing For First Electrical Engineers-Unsung Heroes	Simoes, Marcelo Godoy
2025	A multistage expansion planning method for distribution networks incorporating an adaptive short-term correction mechanism	Yao, Yan; He, Ye; Hatziargyriou, Nikos D.; Wu, Hongbin; Han, Pingping
2025	Attribution of Responsibility for Short-Duration Voltage Variations in Power Distribution Systems via QGIS, OpenDSS, and Python Language	de Souza, Arthur Gomes; Passatuto, Luiz Arthur Tarralo; Bernardes, Wellington Maycon Santos; Freitas, Luiz Carlos Gomes; Resende, Enio Costa
2025	An Optimal Scheduling Framework for Integrated Energy Systems Using Deep Reinforcement Learning and Deep Learning Prediction Models	Zhang, Lei; He, Ye; Wu, Hongbin; Hatziargyriou, Nikos D.
2025	The Power-to-X (PtX) Effect in Ancillary Service Markets: From Opportunities and Challenges toward Future Directions	Hayati, Mohammad Mohsen; Aminlou, Ali; Abapour, Mehdi; Shafie-khah, Miadreza; Shahinzadeh, Hossein; Gharehpetian, Gevork B.