PhD Gabriel Miguel Gomes Guerreiro Awarded DTU’s Young Researcher of the Year
We are proud and excited to announce that Gabriel Gomes was awarded the DTU Young Researcher of the Year Award! We interviewed him to learn more about his work at InnoCyPES, DTU, and Siemens Gamesa. You can read the full interview below:
Your PhD tackled some of the toughest challenges in grid compliance. What originally drew you to this topic?
I was already working in the field when I found the project, and it immediately made sense to me. I believe grid compliance is one of the main challenges for integrating wind power. Without meeting grid requirements, the technology simply will not be accepted.
Many of your contributions are now influencing international standards. Which of your results do you think will have the biggest long-term impact?
I think my biggest long-term impact will be on standards for testing and modelling wind turbines in Real-Time Software-in-the-Loop and similar environments. These methods will become increasingly important, with much of today’s full-scale testing moving into these flexible platforms
You worked closely between DTU and Siemens Gamesa. What did you gain from the industry-embedded PhD experience?
Coming into the PhD I was already shaped by my industrial background, so an industry-embedded setup made a lot of sense for me. The biggest benefit was that every idea was tested immediately against practical reality. My colleagues at Siemens Gamesa constantly asked where something would be used, whether the infrastructure existed, or if a simpler solution already worked. This forced me to refine my ideas and make them truly applicable in industry.
What advice would you give to young researchers who want to work on energy systems, wind power, or grid compliance?
I think one of the most important things today is to get involved with industrial standards and working groups as early as possible. It helps you build real expertise, understand where the field is heading, and just as importantly, build a network. These three things together are crucial if you want to have an impact in this area, especially from an industry perspective.
What are you most excited to explore next – either in research or in the energy industry?
After the PhD I joined the European Patent Office. It has been exciting to work on the other side of innovation, evaluating patents from major manufacturers and applying what I learned in a new context. I now get a broad view of where the industry is heading and can follow new ideas from an early stage.