Limelight

In a universe of more than 1200 collaborators, there are many months when there is more than one collaborator with a performance suitable for “Limelight”. An example of this is the fact that for several months we receive more than one nominee. This led to a change in the publication policy: BIP has started to highlight all nominees, without considering the merit (because all nominees have much merit!). Additionally, considering the criteria for news opportunity, an interview with one of the nominees is developed.

THIS MONTH WE SPOKE WITH David Rua (CPES)

1. How did the opportunity of working at INESC TEC emerged? 

I came to INESC TEC because of my PhD in Sustainable Energy Systems through Professor Peças Lopes who thought I should associate my research work to the different existing projects in CPES. Along with Professor Ruela, it was possible from the beginning, to establish a cooperation with CTM, given that my core training is in telecommunications.

2. Your work has been developed at the Centre for Power and Energy Systems. How is your daily routine?

It’s diversified! I have the opportunity to program, and also to coordinate some people that work with me in some of the projects that we are involved in. Although the pace is sometimes fast, the truth is that I can learn from all those I work with: sometimes, the knowledge is more technical sometimes more "bureaucratic".

3. This nomination is especially made under the completion of the AnyPlace project. Tell us a little about this work.

The AnyPlace project aimed at developing what is expected to be the platform of the future for the smart management of energy in households. The project identified the different regulatory and economic contexts of different European countries, analysed existing business models and specified a modular and interoperable Home Energy Management System (HEMS). This customisable platform, based on different software and hardware modules, was converted into a prototype and it was tested successfully in 25 homes in the city of Dörentrup, Germany.

The participation in the project was diversified, having to assume both the role of coordinator and manage the different partners, as well as being an active element in the development part of HEMS. This dual aspect, while demanding, has allowed me to learn a lot from the point of view of management of people, financial management and from the technical point of view. It was an opportunity to work with people with very different profiles.

4. The other distinction is related to the InteGrid project. What is your contribution in this project?

The InteGrid project is based on the development of different technologies and solutions to interconnect stakeholders such as utilities, households, manufacturers and end-users. One of the aspects is based on the development of the HEMS in a post- ANYPLACE perspective, where more functionalities are explored to allow users to participate in new energy services, based on a market logic. My contribution, along with other colleagues of CPES, consists in managing the development of those new functionalities and implementing the 2.0 version of the HEMS. A service, which will use the consumption flexibility and which will allow the users to become active elements in the power grid, will be created. This new version will be installed in over 100 houses distributed by three pilots in Portugal: Caldas da Rainha, Samouco and Valverde.

5. We will end this interview by asking you to comment on your nomination by the CPES Coordination:

“In July, David Rua completed the work in the European Project AnyPlace, the first European project coordinated by the Centre for Power and Energy Systems (CPES) where he had an extremely relevant participation from the elaboration of the application phase, to the H2020 programme, to the project management and also to the important contributions for the development and demonstration of an innovative system of active management of the electrical energy consumption. Also in July, David contributed decisively to the completion of a set of tasks of the European Project InteGrid, showing thoroughness and commitment.”

I am very pleased to know that my work is recognised by the coordination of my centre, but this recognition is also for the different colleagues who I worked with, whom I share this distinction with.

Nominations for July/August

• David Rua, CPES

“In July, David Rua completed the work in the European Project AnyPlace, the first European project coordinated by the Centre for Power and Energy Systems (CPES) where he had an extremely relevant participation from the elaboration of the application phase, to the H2020 programme, to the project management and also to the important contributions for the development and demonstration of an innovative system of active management of the electrical energy consumption. Also in July, David contributed decisively to the completion of a set of tasks of the European Project InteGrid, showing thoroughness and commitment.”, CPES Coordination

• Artur Rocha, CSIG

“Artur Rocha is a senior researcher of CSIG who has an impressive track record in the presentation of applications and in leading INESC TEC teams in European projects in the e-health field. Since 2007, Artur has had continuously active European projects in the area (FP6, FP7, H2020, AAL JP, etc.), besides the national projects. This August, two more European projects proposals led by Artur were approved, both in the e-health field, starting in January 2019, with Artur leading the INESC TEC’s participation in three active European projects in this area. He is truly in the limelight.”, CSIG Coordination

• Ricardo Cruz, CTM

“Ricardo Cruz is a researcher of an exemplary professionalism and motivation who has been developing, under his PhD a work with a significant scientific impact in machine learning with applications in the support of the medical diagnosis. This scientific work has been conducted simultaneously with the collaboration in several group activities. In July in particular, it should be highlighted: a) the participation in the organisation of the Visum 2018 Summer School, namely in the co-organisation of the competition associated to the event; b) the organisation of the activity ‘Escondidos nos dados’ (in English 'Hidden in the data') in the Junior University (this activity in the Junior University was thought, organised and managed by Ricardo); c) the support in the VILab: Visual Intelligence Laboratory, a group to introduce the computer vision research to the younger students.", CTM Coordination