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A key solution to grid congestion

On behalf of the TU Delft PowerWeb Institute, researchers Kenneth Brunninx and Simon Tindemans are handing over a Position Paper to the Dutch Parliament on 14 November 2024, with a possible solution to the major grid capacity problems that are increasingly cropping up in the Netherlands. The Netherlands is unlikely to meet the 2030 climate targets, and one of the reasons for this is that large industry cannot switch to electricity fast enough, partly because of increasingly frequent problems around grid capacity and grid congestion. In all likelihood, those problems will actually increase this decade before they can decrease, the researchers argue. The solution offered by the TU Delft PowerWeb Institute researchers is the ‘flexible backstop’. With a flexible backstop, the current capacity of the power grid can be used more efficiently without sacrificing safety or reliability. A flexible backstop is a safety mechanism that automatically and quickly reduces the amount of electricity that an electric unit can draw from the grid (an electric charging station or a heat pump) or deliver (a PV installation). It is a small device connected or built into an electrical unit, such as a charging station or heat pump, that ‘communicates’ with the distribution network operator. In case of extreme stress on the network, the network operator sends a signal to the device to limit the amount of power. Germany recently introduced a similar system with electric charging stations. The backstop would be activated only in periods of acute congestion problems and could help prevent the last resort measure, which is cutting off electricity to users. ‘Upgrading the electricity network remains essential, but in practice it will take years. So there is a need for short-term solutions that can be integrated into long-term planning. We, the members of the TU Delft PowerWeb Institute, call on the government, network operators and regulator to explore the flexible backstop as an additional grid security measure,’ they said. The entire Paper can be read here . Kenneth Brunninx Associate Professor at the Faculty of Engineering, Governance and Management, where he uses quantitative models to evaluate energy policy and market design with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions. Simon Tindemans is Associate Professor in the Intelligent Electrical Power Grids group at Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science. His research interests include uncertainty and risk management for power grids. TU Delft PowerWeb Institute is a community of researchers who are investigating how to make renewable energy systems reliable, future proof and accessible to everyone.

25 year celebration of formal collaboration between Delft University of Technology and the University of Campinas

On 25 October 2024 we celebrated 25 years of formal collaboration between Delft University of Technology and the University of Campinas. What began as a project to exchange some students in chemical engineering has now grown to a multifaceted and broad academic collaboration which accumulated into 24 joint research projects (>20 M Euro); 16 advanced courses and 15 Doctors with a Dual Degree PhD. Patricia Osseweijer, TU Delft Ambassador Brazil explained, “We are proud to show and reflect on this special day the added value we created resulting from our joint activities. The lessons we learned demonstrate that especially continuity of funds and availability for exchanges has contributed to joint motivation and building trust which created strong relations. This is the foundation for academic creativity and high-level achievements.” The program presented showcases of Dual Degree projects; research activities and education. It discussed the future objectives and new fields of attention and agree on the next steps to maintain and strengthen the foundation of strong relations. Telma Franco, Professor UNICAMP shared that “joint education and research has substantially benefitted the students, we see that back in the jobs they landed in,” while UNICAMP’s Professor Gustavo Paim Valenca confirmed that “we are keen to extend our collaboration to more engineering disciplines to contribute jointly to global challenges” Luuk van der Wielen highlighted that “UNICAMP and TU Delft provide valuable complementary expertise as well as infrastructures to accelerate research and innovation. Especially our joint efforts in public private partnerships brings great assets” To ensure our future activities both University Boards have launched a unique joint program for international academic leadership. This unique 7-month program will accommodate 12 young professors, 6 from each university. The programme began on 4 November 2024 in Delft, The Netherlands.

POW team wins TU Delft Education Team Award 2024

During the Teaching Academy's Education Day, the awards were presented for Educator of the Year and Education Team Award. The team that developed the Personal Development Weeks (Persoonlijke OntwikkelingsWeek or POW) of the Bachelor Renewal won the award for TU Delft Education Team of the Year.

Scholarships Abroad Week

Receive funding for your time abroad Are you going abroad for your study programme in Semester 2, 2024-2025? Or are you going abroad for a traineeship/thesis/project in 2024-2025? You can receive additional funding for your time abroad. Come join the scholarship abroad presentation sessions to find out more. Presentation for Exchange students 19 November 13:00 – 13:30 in Lecture Hall C – Daniel Bernoulli (ME, 34.A-0-620) 19 November 19:00-19:30 – online in Teams Presentation for Internship/thesis/project students 19 November 13:00 – 13:30 in Lecture Hall B – Isaac Newton (ME, 34.A-0-720) 19 November 19:00-19:30 – online in Teams For more information visit the Student Portal .

Christmas lunch

Take part in a festive lunch with MoTiv, TU Delft Studentenraad en TU Delft ESA This holiday season, MoTiv, TU Delft, and the local Delft churches are bringing together homes and students for a special, heartwarming experience, and we would love for you to be part of it! After three successful years, we’re excited to continue this festive tradition, bridging cultures and creating connections. Are you interested in joining a holiday lunch as a guest , along with other international students, in a welcoming Delft-area home? Or perhaps you’d like to open your home as a host , sharing a warm, cultural celebration with students from around the world? This special event will take place from December 23rd to December 31st, between 12:00 and 15:00 . For Guests : If you’d like to participate as a guest, we’ll match you with a local host eager to share their holiday traditions. You’ll enjoy delicious dishes, laughter, and meaningful conversations, creating memories that feel like home, even far from family. Once matched, we’ll connect you with your host so you can coordinate details and meal plans together. Sign up as a guest in this google forms.(https://forms.gle/yLAqE83DcqWGwcKB8) For Hosts : If you’re interested in hosting, this is a wonderful opportunity to welcome students into your home for a memorable meal. By sharing food, stories, and perhaps even a few games, you’ll help make the season brighter for students eager to experience Dutch hospitality and holiday traditions. Sign up as a host in this google forms.( https://forms.gle/bJB5svxJZ1iTSF1c6 ) For any questions, feel free to reach out to us at motiv.connects@gmail.com. For more information, please visit our website at www.motiv.tudelft.nl/christmas-lunch-delft/ . Thank you for making this holiday season unforgettable. We look forward to celebrating with you! Warm regards, MoTiv, TU Delft Student Council, TU Delft ESA - Student Community Team

TU Delft and India collaborate on self-supervised Learning for Plastic Hotspots Identification from Satellite Images

Plastic hotspots refer to regions where plastic waste accumulates, often in large quantities, due to factors such as water currents, tides, and human activities. These hotspots represent significant environmental concerns because they contribute to pollution in aquatic ecosystems, endanger aquatic life, and impact human health through contamination of the food chain.

Open Day of the Newly Upgraded INSYGHT Lab

The INSYGHT lab at the Intelligent Systems (INSY) department has undergone a remarkable transformation, now boasting cutting-edge technology that includes multi-camera capture systems, advanced robotics, a robotic arm, audio synthesis capabilities, a sound-attenuated booth, and extended reality (XR) equipment. This state-of-the-art facility not only enhances multi-modal perception and generation but also fosters collaboration with the Social XR lab at the Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI), enabling seamless remote interactions between scientists and students from both institutions. 

Advancing AI Integration in the European Energy Sector

As the digital age transforms the energy landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) offers more and more solutions for enhancing efficiency, resilience, and sustainability. In collaboration with EPRI Europe, TU Delft is spearheading the AI-EFFECT project, which focuses on accelerating the development, testing, and validation of AI applications in the energy sector.

Speech by Tim van der Hagen at World Future Forum

Chairman of the Executive Board and Rector Magnificus Tim van der Hagen delivered this message this week at the World Future Forum in Lisbon.

Looking for help? Ask a fellow student!

Connect! In September, TU Delft started the pilot project Connect: a place on campus where you can go with your questions to a fellow student, in the spirit of 'for and by students'. Not sure where to go with questions about your studies, personal development or wellbeing? Connect's student hosts are happy to help and think with you, whether your question is big or small. You are welcome to drop in between 12:00 and 14:00 Monday to Friday. In November you can find us Monday to Wednesday in Exhale and Thursday and Friday in the Aula, next to the TU Delft shop. In December we are in the Echo on Mondays and Tuesdays and in the Aula on Wednesdays to Fridays. See the current list of locations and opening hours here .

X is cleaning up!

Friday 15 November, between 10:30 and 11:30 am, X is hosting a giveaway event! We have some furniture and other items left that are still too good to throw away, so we'd like to make others happy with it. As a TU Delft student, you are welcome to come and see if there's anything you can use. All items are for free. How the giveaway works: First come, first served. You will be assisted in the order of arrival. Sign in at 10:30 a.m. in Freetown Foyer. A line will be created at the registration desk. Tickets will be handed out in the order of the line, granting access to the room with all available items. Each person may choose and take up to 2 items. You must take the items immediately. Items cannot be left at X. You are responsible for any required transportation and/or carts. You should also bring any necessary tools (for example, to disassemble a cabinet). Once they're gone, they're gone. The registration desk closes at 11:30 AM at the latest. Goods will not be taken back. The event is for students studying at TU Delft. Other groups are excluded from participation. Items cannot be viewed in advance. Some examples of items we will be giving away: compartment cabinets from IKEA, old theater spotlights, chairs, a laughing mirror, clocks, desk lamps, a table.

Workshop: Are we prepared for the challenge of critical materials?

On 31 October, policymakers, industry leaders and academic institutions gathered at TU Delft | Campus The Hague to jointly reflect on education & knowledge transfer on raw material shortages. The event focused on collaboratively exploring key questions: What are the knowledge needs? What knowledge resources are needed? How can we effectively organize cooperation and implementation?

Explainer: Ice Melt and Antarctica

It is most unlikely to happen, but if all the ice in Antarctica were to melt, the sea level would rise 57 metres. That would put the Netherlands almost completely under water. For a long time, scientists thought this was impossible: the South Pole is unassailable. It turns out otherwise. Our PhD candidate Sophie de Roda Husman investigates the real situation and explains that one fragmenting ice shelf triggers a series of events that accelerate the melting process in this movie from Universiteit van Nederland. For her doctorate Sophie created a historical record of Antarctic surface melt that is high-resolution in both space and time, by gathering a large amount of data with remote sensing techniques. Watch the movie (in Dutch):

Switch from Qualtrics to Microsoft Forms

A new platform for creating and managing surveys The current survey creation and management platform, Qualtrics, will soon be phased out. Microsoft Forms will be the new platform for collecting data through surveys for the time being. A tender for TU-wide survey software will be launched soon. Why this change? Qualtrics is being phased out due to the doubling of costs. As an alternative, Microsoft Forms survey software offers better integration with our existing systems, a higher level of security and greater ease of use. This will make it easier and more efficient for everyone to create and complete surveys. What does this mean for you? Qualtrics will only be supported for current surveys. In fact, once Qualtrics is discontinued, it will no longer be possible to retrieve or migrate data from this platform. It is therefore important to migrate any current or upcoming surveys to Microsoft Forms as soon as possible. All use of Qualtrics must be closed and archived by 1 July 2025. Tender A tender for TU-wide survey software will be launched soon. Do you have requirements you would like to share? Let us know at projectsurveytool-esa@tudelft.nl .

IDE celebrates the opening of the ‘Triangular – Cooking for what Matters’ exhibition

On 13 November, IDE will celebrate the opening of the ‘Triangular - Cooking for What Matters’ exhibition in the IDE Etalage. The grand reveal will take place at 13:30, directly after the open lecture by Markus Orthey, Braun Design Director. Created in collaboration with Braun, the exhibition features work by students from TU Delft’s Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering and Politecnico di Milano.

IDE in the media (Week 45 2024)

Curious about which of our researchers, educators, students, and alumni have been featured in the media recently? Then be sure to check out this week's "In the Media" article.

IDE Publication Highlights (Week 45 2024)

Click here to view recent publication highlights from our staff and students.

Designing for Human Autonomy in the age of autonomous technologies

The drive for autonomous technology spans from workplaces to personal lives, promising breakthroughs in safety, healthcare, and daily conveniences. But this raises a crucial question: What happens to human autonomy? And how to enhance it through design? Historically seen as a tool to enhance our freedom, today’s technology risks undermining human control and agency.

An interview with Aukje Hassoldt: “You can't solve what you don't discuss”.

DEWIS interviews staff members in different positions about gender diversity and inclusion. For this edition, we talked to Professor Aukje Hassoldt, dean at the Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management (TBM), about the influx and advancement of women into academic positions, parenthood and social safety. Aukje Hassoldt was appointed the dean of TBM on 1 October 2019 and will step down on 1 December 2024 to become dean of the Rotterdam School of Management (RSM) at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Talk about the unwritten rules. You can’t solve what you don’t discuss. We have to start the conversation in a respectful way and learn to understand each other’s points of view. Professor Aukje Hassoldt Left Aukje Hassoldt during the DE&I Week 2023 Even today, parents and teachers sometimes discourage girls and other minority groups from studying physics based on the well-meaning but misguided notion that they should be protected. You studied physics at Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam. Did this narrative not affect you? Aukje: “It definitely did. I believed the narrative that physics would be difficult. That’s why it wasn’t my first choice, even though I had my heart set on studying physics. While studying econometrics, I discovered that I could handle the maths. When I went on to study physics, I learned that it wasn’t a difficult programme for me.” What can we do now to change the narrative? Aukje: “Last year, Birgit van Driel wrote a riveting column about her studies in the Delta, in which she went over everything she found difficult - and it wasn’t the coursework! Degree programmes are either right for you or not, but secondary school teachers should be vigilant not to inadvertently single out particular subjects as ‘difficult’. That’s what we should try to change. Some people find maths difficult, while others struggle with other subjects. We have to get rid of the idea that some subjects are inherently ‘hard’, for example by paying attention to this in our outreach activities.” You later held various positions at Rijkswaterstaat (Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management) and the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). Did you ever feel excluded? And how did you deal with that? Aukje: “I always felt perfectly at home at Rijkswaterstaat and TNO. I was often the youngest, the only woman and the project leader or supervisor, but that’s exactly what interested me. I never felt uncomfortable. Anything but, organisations welcomed me with open arms. The same is true for RIVM and TU Delft.” You served as dean of the faculty of TBM from 1 October 2019 to 1 December 2024, during which time the percentage of female professors at the faculty has stagnated at about 30%. Is that enough? Aukje: “There has been growth, albeit not at as much as I’d hoped. At the TBM faculty, we’ve appointed five new female professors in recent years, but some have also retired, which means the overall percentage has stayed at around 30%. Our percentage of female associate professors (UHD), however, did go from 15% to 32% and our percentage of female assistant professors (UD) from 36% to 50%. The pipeline is fuller than it was before, but we’re not there yet. In the end, we want there to be 50/50 split in all positions.” What can the university/faculty do to help female researchers build a promising academic career? Aukje: “It’s important to take a critical look at issues such as advancement and differences in perception. Our approach consists of our so-called ‘fleet review’, in which a small committee discusses how our staff is developing and who is ready for a next step. We explicitly look at whether everyone is gaining enough leadership experience and honing their leadership skills. We ask each other critical questions, watch out for possible bias and do everything we can to keep the advancement process fair. At the same time, we will still need training courses to become and remain aware of our unconscious biases. We already have diversity training courses for all staff and a course for members of appointment advisory committees, all of which also have a trained bias observer. On top of that, managers are required to attend management skills training courses and we offer feedback training for everyone.” If you had the chance to implement one measure to improve the advancement of women to senior and decision-making positions at the university/faculty level, what would it be? Aukje: “I would love to organise another talk for young women researchers and senior scientists to share experiences about building your career and making conscious choices. I reckon that would be a good way to support them. In my previous jobs, I also found that a good course on conversation skills can be a big help, and I think TU Delft could do more in this regard.” In 2020, you said that your ideal university is one that is friendly, welcoming, challenging and inspiring. Does TU Delft live up to this ideal, or do we still have a way to go? Aukje: “We could be kinder to each other at times. I’d also add ‘safe’ to my criteria, by which I mean social safety: feeling comfortable to speak your mind, provided you do that in a respectful way. People deserve to feel heard and be taken seriously, and a respectful tone is non-negotiable. Of course, that doesn't mean you always get your way, but it's important that we can provide that safety.” What concrete measures has the faculty taken to promote social safety in the workplace? Aukje: “We organise staff lunches where we engage in small-group discussions that have proven to be very informative and valuable, as they help us stay in touch and listen to each other. Having a well-functioning Personnel Committee (faculty sub-committee of the Works Council) is also very important. I’ve found that staff members with a Dutch background are more likely to dare to bring up issues, but the Personnel Committee has now helped give a voice to international staff. Furthermore, contact with the PhD Council (PhD candidates) is very important, as they’re a vulnerable group. Some may feel uncomfortable speaking up about difficult situations, for instance, and may not even reach out to a confidential adviser. For these people, a peer group can be a valuable source of support. Social safety is about how we treat each other on a daily basis, which makes it a joint responsibility of us all. Managers have a special role because they can do a lot to foster an open atmosphere, but it’s still a duty we all share. We have to be respectful, while ensuring that everyone feels comfortable speaking their mind and is taken seriously. The faculty’s 10-point draft plan for social safety also proposes a code of conduct of sorts.” What can department chairs do to create an environment in which women and people from minority groups can grow and develop personally and professionally? Aukje: “The difference between good and not so good management is often in the details. What makes management so difficult is that it requires great precision and subtlety. When you feel a jokey atmosphere evolve, for instance, you have to be able to intervene in a respectful way. Another example is ensuring that everyone gets the opportunity to weigh in, including more introverted people. These are just examples, but there are many ways managers can contribute to a safe and open atmosphere.” Dr. Isabel Torres, co-founder and CEO of Mothers in Science, gave a talk to the DEWIS community in February, in which she highlighted the barriers and prejudices that mothers in STEM face in their careers. How can managers support parents and people with caring responsibilities? What do we need to do? Aukje: “The maternity wall is a real problem. Fatherhood and motherhood are equally important, and young parents need good support. I should add that informal care-givers (i.e. for older parents) also deserve support: these are phases of life that we all have to deal with.” Is the university responsible for changing the notion that you can’t have a family and a career? Aukje: “Absolutely. Universities should treat men and women as equals when it comes to caring responsibilities, nor should we implicitly expect new fathers to continue working as if nothing has changed, like we did in the old days.” What advice would you give women to help them navigate academia and its culture of unwritten rules? Aukje: “Talk about the unwritten rules. You can’t solve what you don’t discuss. We have to start the conversation in a respectful way and learn to understand each other’s points of view.”

Bring your own cutlery set

Starting January 1, 2025 As of January 1, 2025 , disposable cutlery will no longer be offered for free at TU Delft’s catering locations. It will only be available for a fee (0.25 euros per fork/spoon/knife). In the academic year 2023/2024, over 130,000 pieces of disposable cutlery were used. By bringing your own reusable cutlery set we reduce waste. This aligns with TU Delft’s sustainability ambition to be CO2-neutral, circular, and climate-adaptive by 2030. Don’t have a cutlery set yet? Purchase one for 2 euros at any catering location on campus or at the Aula shop .