This talk will introduce a range of optimisation-based decision support models and tools for the efficient planning and operation of hybrid AC/DC grids. The focus will be on improving the quality of cost–benefit assessment methodologies for robust investment decision support on the one hand, and on modelling uncertainty and the behaviour of AC and DC grid components in the context of power system reliability and security for operational decision support on the other hand. The talk will also present practical use cases and introduce several open-source tools developed by KU Leuven/Etch – EnergyVille.

Hakan Ergun received his MSc in Electrical Engineering from Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) in 2009 and his PhD in Electrical Engineering from KU Leuven in 2015. He has previously worked as a postdoctoral researcher and research expert at KU Leuven/EnergyVille. Since 2024, he has been an Associate Professor at KU Leuven and the Energy Transmission Competence Hub (Etch) within EnergyVille. His main research interests lie in the optimal development and operation of future energy networks for the renewable energy transition. He is the lead developer of several open-source network modelling tools for optimal planning and operation of AC and DC grids, including stability- and security-constrained network operation. He is a Senior Member of IEEE and an active member of CIGRE. He has been involved in numerous national and international research projects covering various aspects of power system modelling and optimisation and is currently active in several industrial and academic research projects, particularly on:
• Transmission and distribution system planning across different time scales
• Modelling of HVDC networks in optimisation applications
• Power system reliability modelling
• Various optimisation applications in transmission and distribution network planning

Wednesday, 10 December 2025, 10:00 – 12:00
FAV Lecture Hall 1 Helmut Veith, Favoritenstraße 11, 1040 Vienna