Evelyn Heylen
Evelyn Heylen performs research in the field of future sustainable energy systems. She is currently head of research at Centrica Business Solutions and has an honorary association in the Electrical and Electronic Engineering department of Imperial College London, where she is also a guest lecturer. Evelyn joined Centrica in December 2020, after being a post-doctoral researcher at Imperial College London, UK, and the University of Leuven, Belgium. Prior to this, she obtained the degrees of Master in Energy Engineering and Doctor in Electrical Engineering from the University of Leuven, Belgium, in resp. 2013 and 2018. Her PhD research in the field of power system reliability was funded by a PhD fellowship of the Research Foundation Flanders.
Her current research focuses on how virtual power plants, consisting of assets with different characteristics, can help in realizing sustainable energy systems. For this purpose, she investigates novel flexibility products to support the operation of low-inertia power systems and multi-carrier energy systems, as well as control algorithms for virtual power plants to deliver different ancillary services and energy products. The design of flexibility products and control policies is supported by cutting-edge optimization techniques, and hybrid data-driven and physics-informed machine learning models.
Publications
Work in progress
Heylen E., Browell J., Strbac G., Teng F., "Valuation of Probabilistic Inertia Forecasts using a Probabilistic Model for Optimal Inertia Management"
Graham J. S., Heylen E., Teng F., "Explanatory Models for Inertia Forecasting using a Nordic Case-Study"
Bhardwaj V., Ergun H., Heylen E., Van Hertem D., "A novel security constrained optimal power flow considering fast ac/dc converter control"
Kaushal A., Ergun H., Heylen E., Van Hertem D., "A SCOPF model for congestion management considering power flow controlling devices"
Reviewed journals
Buizza C., Quilodran Casas C., Nadler P., Mack J., Marrone S., Titus Z., Le Cornec C., Heylen E., Dur T., Baca Ruiz L., Heaney C., Amador Diaz Lopez J., Arcucci R., "Data Learning: Integrating Data Assimilation with Machine Learning", Journal of Computational Science [Accepted for publication]
Heylen E., Browell J., Teng F., "Probabilistic Day-ahead Inertia Forecasting", IEEE Transactions on Power Systems [accepted for publication]
Heylen E., Teng F., Strbac G., "Challenges and opportunities of inertia estimation and forecasting in low-inertia power system", accepted for Publication, Sustainable and Renewable Energy Reviews, 2021
Leterme W., Heylen E., Van Hertem D., "On the Use of the Frequency Domain in Assessing Resonant Overvoltages during Transformer Energization", Electric Power Systems research, 196, 2021
Heylen, E., Papadaskalopoulos, D., Konstantelos, I., Strbac, G., "Dynamic modelling of consumers' inconvenience associated with demand flexibility potentials", Sustainable Energy, Grids and Networks, 21, 2020
Ovaere M., Heylen E., Proost S., Deconinck G., Van Hertem D., "How Detailed Value of Lost Load Data Impact Power System Reliability Decisions", Energy Policy, 132, 1064-1075, 2019
Heylen E., Ovaere M., Proost S., Deconinck G., Van Hertem D., "Fairness and Inequality in Power System Reliability: Summarizing Indices." Electric Power Systems Research, 168, 313-323, 2019.
Heylen E., Ovaere M., Proost S., Deconinck G., Van Hertem D., "A Multi-Dimensional Analysis of Reliability Criteria: From Deterministic N-1 to a Probabilistic Approach." Electric Power Systems Research, 167, 290-300, 2019.
Heylen E., Deconinck G., Van Hertem D., "Review and Classification of Reliability Indicators for Power Systems with a High Share of Renewable Energy Sources." Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 97, 554-568, 2018
Heylen E., Labeeuw W., Deconinck G., Van Hertem D. "Framework for Evaluating and Comparing Performance of Power System Reliability Criteria." IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 31 (6), 5153-5162, 2016
Book contribution
Heylen E., De Boeck S., Ovaere M., Ergun H., Van Hertem D., "Steady state security." Dynamic Vulnerability Assessment and Intelligent Control for Sustainable Power Systems , Ed. Rueda J. L. , Gonzalez-Longatt F., John Wiley & Sons, 2018.
Conference papers
Heylen E., Ovaere M., Van Hertem D., Deconinck G. "Fairness of Power System Load-Shedding Plans." IEEE Systems, Man & Cybernetics, Miyazaki, Japan, 7-10 October 2018., 6 pages, IEEE
Heylen E., Ovaere M., Deconinck G., Van Hertem D. "Fair Reliability Management: Comparing Deterministic and Probabilistic Short-Term Reliability Management." Power and Energy Society General Meeting. Portland, Oregon, USA 5-10 August 2018, 5 pages, IEEE
Heylen E., Troffaes M., Kazemtabrizi B., Deconinck G., Van Hertem D. "Qualitative Comparison of Techniques for Evaluating Performance of Short Term Power System Reliability Management." International Conference on Innovative Smart Grid Technologies. Torino, 26-29 September 2017, 6 pages, IEEE
Heylen, E., Deconinck, G., Van Hertem, D. (2016). "Impact of Increased Uncertainty in Power Systems on Performance of Short Term Reliability Management.", PMAPS. Beijing, 16 Oct. - 20 Oct. 2016 IEEE.
Heylen, E., Deconinck, G., Van Hertem, D. (2016). "Analysis Framework for Performance Evaluation of Reliability Management in Power Systems with Increased Uncertainty.", ESREL. Glasgow, 26 Sep. - 29 Sep. 2016.
Heylen, E., Deconinck, G., Van Hertem, D. (2015). "Impact of Value of Lost Load on Performance of Reliability Criteria and Reliability Management.", PowerTech. Eindhoven, 29 June - 2 July 2015 (art.nr. 462099) IEEE.
Heylen, E., Jordens, R., Patteeuw, D., Helsen, L. (2014). "The Potential of Air-Water Heat Pumps in a Belgian Residential Retrofit Context in relation to Future Electricity Prices.", International Conference on System Simulation in Buildings. Liege, 10-12 December 2014 (art.nr. 16).
Heylen, E., Van Hertem, D. (2014). "Importance and difficulties of comparing reliability criteria and the assessment of reliability.", IEEE Young Researchers Symposium. Gent, 24-25 April 2014 (art.nr. 18) EESA.
PhD Dissertation
Heylen E., "Evaluation of Power System Reliability Management Towards Socially Acceptable Short-Term Reliability Criteria" , Jan. 2018
Invited talks
2021:
- ComForEn conference 2021, 'Renewable energy communities: Bringing the energy transition to the citizens', Hybrid [22/11/2021, invited by Dr. Stefan Mark] COOCK project Smart Port Inspiration session, 'AI to valorize flexible demand using demand-response services', Hybrid [22/10/2021, invited by Dr. Matthias Strobbe]
- MOOC TU Delft: Intelligent and Integrated Energy Systems, Online [Invited by Dr. Simon Tindemans]
- Panel member Supergen Net Zero Conference: Greening the economy and society, Online [01/09/2021]
2020:
- Seminar University of Strathclyde, Online [Invited by Dr. Jethro Browell]
2019:
- Seminar University of Essex, Essex, UK [Invited by Dr. Fanlin Meng]
- ESAT Clustersymposium, Geel, Belgium [Invited by Dr. Bert Herteleer]
- 11th seminar for Next Generation of Researchers in Power Systems, Copenhagen, Denmark [Nominated by Prof. Dirk Van Hertem]
2018:
- Symposium on Stability Assessment and Intelligent Control for Sustainable Electrical Power Systems, TU Delft, The Netherlands [Invited by Prof. dr. Jose Rueda Torres]
2016:
- Seminar Edinburgh University, Edinburgh, UK [Invited by Prof. Chris Dent]
2015:
- Heat pump symposium, Leuven, Belgium [Invited by Prof. Maarten Sourbron]
Science outreach
A need for speed to keep the lights on, Online, 19 August 2021
Heylen, E., Van Hertem, D., (2019) Laat de elektriciteit maar stromen, De Standaard, 9 January 2019 [in Dutch]
Heylen, E. (2018) How can electricity shortages be addressed in a fairer way? , KU Leuven blogt
Heylen, E., Van Hertem, D., Belmans, R. (2018) Fact check: The Belgian energy provision of electricity in the winter of 2018-2019
Articles in popular press and technical journals based on science outreach
Huysmans L. (2018) Hoe België evolueerde van overcapaciteit naar stroomtekort, Trends, Based on: Fact check: The Belgian energy provision of electricity in the winter of 2018-2019
Viane P. (2018) Gaat het licht straks daadwerkelijk uit: De diverse factoren in de weegschaal, Elektricien - Vakblad voor de elektro-installateur, 2018-06, Nov. 2018, Based on: Fact check: The Belgian energy provision of electricity in the winter of 2018-2019
Projects
MAESHA Sustainable energy development at the French island Mayotte
Short-term system inertia forecast with National Grid (Transmission system operator United Kingdom)
H2020 EU Sysflex Task leader of T4.1: "Integration of System Services from new technologies into System Operator scheduling and decision support tools". Collaborative effort with EDF (France), PSE (Transmission system operator Poland) and NCNR (Poland)
FP7 GARPUR on the development of a Generally Accepted Reliability Principle with Uncertainty modelling and through probabilistic Risk assessment. Collaborative effort with amongst others Sintef (Norway) Statnett (Transmission system operator Norway) and RTE (Transmission system operator France)
Teaching and Supervision
Teaching
'Convex relaxations in optimization' in M.Sc course on Topics on Control, Imperial College London, UK [2019-2020, 2020-2021]
Supervision
Co-supervisor PhD Candidate Imperial College London: Jemima Graham
Supervisor MSc students Imperial College London: Zhidi Huang, Ying Xu
Daily supervisor MSc student KU Leuven: Margarita Dosi