H I G H L I G T H
USE with intervention in four continents
Ambassador of Portugal in the area of Energy 
The Power Systems Unit (USE) has obtained excellent results in the emerging areas for the national electrical sector, occupying a leading position in Portugal in the areas of regulation, markets and integration of renewable energies namely the wind energy. The European and international presence of the Unit in the consultancy area is also to be highlighted due to its strategic influence in the European Union. But USE goes further, because through EFACEC, it has technologies installed in four of the five continents... An exemplary Unit
Coordinated by Manuel Matos and João Peças Lopes, USE is known in INESC Porto as an exemplary unit that develops successful projects, closes contracts in an effective and responsible way and manages finances wisely. Apart from this, the Unit possesses high credibility as an independent entity that pays high-level consultancy services.
When it comes to Human Resources, the Unit has a praiseworthy work environment characterised by a healthy relationship among the collaborators, especially among the high number of foreign workers. The stable base of university researchers, reinforced considering the contract as an Associated Laboratory, as well as a well defined scientific and technical line, have made it easier to incorporate fellows and trainees.
 The experience that comes a long way
One may consider that the Unit’s internationalization started about 14 years ago, given that the European project SOLARGIS (Integration of Renewable Energies for Decentralized Electricity Production) was already seeking to explore methodologies of regional planning applied in several regions of Europe and Africa.
Dozens of projects later, USE has, besides several European projects, consultancy contracts with the Brazilian ONS (National Electric System Operator) to improve technical specifications and definition of the network procedures that enable the integration of wind generation, and, with the Spanish Electrical Network (together with REN – National Electrical Network, from Portugal) to evaluate the needs of storage in the Iberian electrical system until 2025.
 The international deals
In an indirect way, the Unit also participates in EFACEC international contracts currently in Mozambique and Brazil. The project Advanced Applications for DMS, developed for EFACEC, consisted of the development of software advanced tools for integration in the system of management of electrical energy distribution networks, resorting to the latest modelling and optimization techniques such as neural networks, genetic algorithms and fuzzy sets.
USE has been EFACEC’s partner for the last 10 years, in a sustained way - USE still provides new modules, supporting the company in the evolution of the network management systems to reach wider markets. Through this partnership with EFACEC, the Unit has had projects in four of the five continents. With other projects and contracts, the unit has worked in Spain, Brazil and Cape Verde.
The acknowledged competence
Apart from the high-level international consultancy, the Unit participates actively in the definition of research projects to carry out in cooperation with the Massachussets Institute of Technology (MIT) within the MIT/Portugal agreement, which is supposed to develop projects in the area of distributed generation of electricity and integration of renewable energies, with the participation of students of the PhD Programme in Sustainable Energy Systems that will start in FEUP next September 2007.
Also, the cooperation with Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) within the CMU/Portugal agreement is being planned, leading to joint research projects and to the possible hosting by INESC Porto of post-graduation students during their thesis work.
When questioned about the contact for new contracts in the consultancy area, the coordinator stands out that the Unit is not exactly advertising its own services. He explains that “people know us, they are aware of our competences and that is how projects are born”, admitting that, sometimes, the first contacts are born in international conferences where USE’s work and ideas are presented.
 An area of the future
This kind of projects usually involves the Unit’s coordinators, with the collaboration of other elements. However, Manuel Matos stresses that, in EFACEC’s case, Jorge Pereira plays an essential part.
For the coordinator, these are good contracts because they represent recognition outside the Unit’s limited domestic environment, and demanding for the same reason. He mentions “we would face the increase of this activity with satisfaction, always considering the limitations of available senior human resources, but there is not a direct relation, at the level we are, between advertisement and rewarding business opportunities”.
USE’s collaborators speak
“What do you like the most about the Power Systems Unit?”
Nuno Fidalgo – “Professional qualities and, above all, a nice and welcoming personal environment.
Mauro da Rosa – “Cultural diversity and the way they can communicate and grow friendships”
João Tomé Saraiva – “The diversity of people, whether in terms of personal characteristics or in terms of the scientific areas they dedicate themselves to.”
Paulo Jesus – “Our unit has many strong points. Mainly, it is a multidisciplinary unit containing many elements who know new methodologies applicable to power systems. However, it has people from all over the world, which makes this a truly international unit.”
Susana Silva – “The support of the advisor and work colleagues whenever necessary” |
