Doctoral Program in Power Systems
Leading the way in cutting-edge research to address the challenges that decarbonization poses to the electricity and energy sectors.
What does the Doctoral Program in Power Systems consist of?
Climate change and the need to decarbonize global energy demand pose unprecedented challenges for the electricity sector. These challenges include the large-scale integration of intermittent renewable energy sources, the electrification of energy demand, the activation of electricity demand to provide system services, and integration with other energy systems, such as the hydrogen sector. Many of these challenges are also reflected in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The Doctoral Program in Power Systems will enable you to help address these challenges. You will have the opportunity to join internationally renowned teams affiliated with the School of Engineering (ICAI) and the Institute for Research in Technology (IIT). Through this program, you will be able to contribute to applied research projects in direct collaboration with leading companies in the energy sector.
The electricity sector plays a key role in the energy transition, and research must support its decarbonization.
The quality of our faculty is complemented by the participation of professors from some of the world’s most prestigious universities, creating an international environment that also includes numerous students from other countries. In addition, you will have the opportunity to complete study abroad programs at internationally renowned institutions and earn official recognition from the Ministry, such as the International Mention on your doctoral degree or a thesis co-supervised by a foreign university. Finally, the program can also be pursued as an Industrial Doctorate.
The quality of our faculty is complemented by the involvement of lecturers from some of the world’s most prestigious universities, creating an international atmosphere in which numerous students from other countries also participate. Furthermore, you will be able to undertake academic placements at internationally renowned institutions and obtain official recognition from the Ministry, such as the International Mention on your PhD degree or a thesis co-supervised with a foreign university. Finally, the program can also be undertaken as an Industrial Doctorate.
- CentersEscuela Internacional de Doctorado
- LanguagesEnglish, Spanish
- CertificationDoctorates
- ModalityIn-Person
- Duration4 years full time and 7 years part time
- Seats10
Do you have any questions?
If you would like to receive more information about this program, please complete the form below.
Research Lines
This focuses on research work related to the analysis, control and modelling of electrical power systems, as well as the analysis and development of models for the simulation and optimisation of the electrical networks of the future.
These lines are developed through applied research projects and in collaboration with leading companies and institutions in the sector. In addition, our PhD students work in an international environment, joining the research groups of the Institute for Research in Technology (IIT) or one of our Chairs. All this creates an ecosystem that combines teamwork, academic excellence and internationalisation, and ensures a real transfer of knowledge to society.
Staff by research lines
What makes us different?
Theses in progress
International doctoral students
Teachers with a living sexennial
Study Plan
Doctoral Program in Power Systems / DSEE RD99/2011
Training activities must be carried out by all students in the Doctoral Program and are not subject to academic evaluation. Some are mandatory and others are optional. These activities provide training to students in certain specific aspects of Research in general. Their cost is included in the enrollment fees for the Program. The types of training activities planned in this Doctoral Program are:
The following guide shows the detailed steps that students must follow to register the activities that they carry out during their Doctoral studies: Guide to Managing Doctoral Activities for the Student.
Bibliographic management workshop
(Mandatory) 15h- Methodological seminars (Mandatory) 20h
- Research seminars (Mandatory) 20h
- Doctorate workshops (Mandatory) 8h (1 or 2 days)
- Publishing results (Mandatory)
- Interdisciplinary seminars
- Doctorate and Scientific Research at Comillas
- Presenting at conferences (Optional)
- Periods in international research centres (Optional)
- Advanced Excel for applied research (10h)
- Advanced optimization modelling for applied research (10h)
- Advanced VBA-Excel for applied research (10h)
- Current research topics (10h)
- Data Analysis (10h)
- Data management (10h)
- Forecasting techniques (10h)
- Introduction to Biomechanics (10h)
- Introduction to Python (10h)
- Reinforcement learning (10h)
The list of optional activities is not closed, it can be completed with others not mentioned that are part of the work of the doctoral thesis (e.g. books, book chapters, patents, etc.).
All these activities are carried out in parallel to the research work, so their planning must be agreed between the PhD student and his/her supervisor(s).
Calendar of activities:
- Calendar of Training Activities organized by the ICAI School of Engineering.
- Calendar of Training Activities organized by the International International Doctoral School
In order to learn more about the procedure and steps of the doctorate, you can consult the Quick Guide to a PhD at Comillas.
The additional training courses are typically master's level courses that will be mandatory for those doctoral students who are assigned to them upon admission to the program. The need or not to take these courses is determined by the Academic Committee of the program according to the student's admission profile.
The additional training courses are established individually for each student according to their profile and the research area that they will develop
Research team
Guest researchers
Join a research group of international prestige.
Everything you need to know
Quality and regulations
DOCTORAL GUIDES
- Quick Guide to the Doctorate at Comillas
- Guide to good practice for the direction of doctoral theses at Comillas Pontifical University
ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
- Doctoral Regulations
- Specific regulations for the presentation of theses as a compendium of publications
OTHER REGULATIONS
- RD 99/2011, which regulates official doctoral studies (consolidated text with the modifications of RD 576/2023, among others)
Information for students
Our alumni
Timo Gerres
A PhD at ICAI combines the best of both worlds: challenging industrial projects while researching the future of our energy systems.
Shilpa Bindu
It never ceases to amaze me how much I am growing as a researcher at Comillas. Undoubtedly, the guidance of professors and the university's training activities play an important role in enabling students to find their way into academic and industrial research.
Manuel Pérez Bravo
The doctorate at Comillas puts cutting-edge research at the service of real-world needs.
It may interest you....
Comillas ICAI
School of Engineering (Comillas ICAI)
The tradition of training engineers began in Madrid in 1908. Today, Comillas ICAI is a polytechnic school whose academic activity focuses on Industrial and Telecommunications Engineering.
Related studies
- Engineering
- Doctorates
- English, Spanish
- 4 years full time and 7 years part time
- Engineering
- Doctorates
- English, Spanish
- 4 years full time 7 years part time
- Engineering
- Doctorates
- English, Spanish
- 4 years full time and 7 years part time
- Engineering
- Doctorates
- English, Spanish
- 4 years full time 7 years part time
Preguntas frecuentes
We solve your doubts
A maximum of four years, full-time, and seven years, part-time, from admission to the program until the application for submission of the doctoral thesis is made.
No, you can defend your thesis at any time if it is admitted for defence, but you should note that the minimum tuition fees are three years full-time and five years part-time.
Initially, it is advisable to contact the program coordinator to assess the possible line of research and thesis supervisor. Afterwards, you will have to register in the admissions portal and upload the necessary documentation. Depending on the program, this documentation may vary, please read carefully the information note of the selected program where the required documents are detailed.
Contact
PhD Coordinator:
Prof. Michel Rivier Abbad
Academic Committee:
You can consult the composition of the Academic Committee at the following link.
Information Point:
Higher Technical School of Engineering (ICAI).
Comillas Pontifical University
C/ Alberto Aguilera 25 - 28015 Madrid
Tel. +34 91 5422 800 - Ext. 4239
email: dirpostgradoicai@comillas.edu
