Mr. Thanh Huynh | Energy markets | Best Researcher Award

Senior Energy Engineer, at Siemens AG, Germany.

Summary

Thanh Huynh, Ph.D. candidate and Senior Energy Engineer at Siemens AG, is a German-born expert in energy systems and digitalization. With a rich blend of academic and industrial experience, Thanh bridges cutting-edge research with practical applications. His professional journey spans automation engineering, energy flexibility, and local energy markets for multimodal energy systems. Thanh has contributed to multiple publications in top-tier journals and has successfully supervised several master’s theses. Fluent in German, English, and Vietnamese, Thanh thrives in multicultural environments, leveraging his expertise to foster innovation in energy systems.

Professional Profile

ORCID

Education 🎓

Thanh holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, and Computer Engineering from RWTH Aachen (2018), where he graduated with distinction (1.3). His thesis focused on power flow controllability in medium-voltage grids using DC technology, earning a perfect score (1.0). Thanh also earned his Bachelor of Science from RWTH Aachen (2016) with a thesis on particle deposition under hybrid AC/DC fields, also graded 1.0. Beyond formal education, Thanh attended specialized programs, such as the Vietnam-Germany Summer School on Wind Power, and actively participated in global development and educational initiatives.

Experience 🛠️

Thanh’s career spans research, industry, and entrepreneurship. Since 2023, he has served as Senior Energy Engineer at Siemens AG, spearheading automation and digitalization in energy systems. Concurrently, he pursues a Ph.D. at TU Darmstadt, investigating local energy markets for multimodal energy systems. His tenure at Siemens Corporate Technology (2019–2023) focused on market algorithms for sector-coupling using advanced optimization methods. Thanh also managed the construction and administration of MIA Hotel and Café in Vietnam, showcasing his project management skills. Earlier, Thanh interned as a Research Assistant at TUMCREATE Singapore and RWTH Aachen, honing his expertise in grid modeling and linear programming.

Research Interests 🔍

Thanh’s research focuses on energy flexibility, local energy markets, and digitalization of energy systems. His Ph.D. explores thermal-electric energy systems with temperature flexibility in heating sub-networks. Thanh is passionate about developing optimized algorithms for sector-coupling and energy management, leveraging tools like Mendix, Python, and AWS. He is also interested in integrating digital twins and advanced simulation techniques to enhance energy systems’ efficiency and sustainability. Thanh’s work emphasizes bridging academic research with practical applications to address global energy challenges.

Awards 🏆

Thanh’s achievements reflect his dedication and excellence. He received the PROMOS Scholarship in 2018, enabling international research exposure. His academic work consistently earned top grades, including perfect scores for both his bachelor’s and master’s theses. Thanh’s contributions as a project leader, researcher, and engineer have been recognized in industry and academia, showcasing his leadership and innovation.

Publications 📚

Thanh has contributed to impactful research on energy systems:

• 2024
  Title: Local multi-modal energy market for thermal-electric energy systems with temperature flexibility.
  Journal: Energy
  Authors: Thanh Huynh, P. Friedrich, S. Thiem, V. Danov, F. Steinke, S. Niessen
  DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.133584
  Summary: This paper explores a local energy market framework integrating thermal and electric energy systems, considering temperature flexibility in heating networks to optimize energy exchange and efficiency.
• 2024
  Title: Design and simulation of district heating networks: A review of modeling approaches.
  Journal: Energy
  Authors: S. Kuntuarova, T. Licklederer, Thanh Huynh, D. Zinsmeister, T. Hamacher, V. Perić
  DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2024.132189
  Summary: A comprehensive review of methodologies and tools for modeling district heating networks, highlighting best practices for energy system optimization.
• 2022
  Title: Local energy markets for thermal-electric energy systems considering energy carrier dependency.
  Journal: Smart Energy
  Authors: Thanh Huynh, F. Schmidt, S. Thiem, M. Kautz, F. Steinke, S. Niessen
  DOI: 10.1016/j.segy.2022.100065
  Summary: This study investigates the interaction between energy carriers and storage systems within local markets for hybrid thermal-electric energy systems, proposing solutions to improve reliability and economic viability.
• 2020
  Title: Optimal electric-distribution-grid planning considering demand-side flexibility.
  Journal: Applied Energy
  Authors: S. Troitzsch, B. K. Sreepathi, Thanh P. Huynh, A. Moine, S. Hanif, J. Fonseca, T. Hamacher
  DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.114917
  Summary: Focused on the integration of thermal building systems’ flexibility into electric grid planning, this paper provides an optimization framework tested in Singapore’s distribution grid.

Conclusion

Thanh Huynh is a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award, with a compelling combination of academic excellence, professional innovation, and societal impact. His work addresses critical global challenges in energy systems and digitalization, making him a valuable contributor to both research and industry. While there is room for further outreach and diversification, his achievements to date position him as a deserving recipient of the award.