Interview with Christian Blanco Charro, The University of Oviedo

Dr. Christian Blanco Charro, Associate Professor, The University of  Oviedo, Spain. He received a B.S degree in Telecommunications Engineering in 2010, the M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering and the PhD in Electrical Engineering of the University of Oviedo, Gijón, Spain, in 2010, 2011 and 2015 respectively. Dr. Blanco was the recipient one IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition prize paper award in 2012. Dr. Blanco received the University of Oviedo Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis Award in 2016.

In 2011, he was awarded a fellowship of the Personnel Research Training Program funded by the Regional Ministry of Education and Science of the Principality of Asturias.
His research activity lies in the field of modeling and control of grid-connected converters, microgrids, digital signal processing, power processors for distributed power systems, being mainly focused on the synchronization and islanding tasks, designing power electronics based power processors for green energy sources and proposing new technical solutions to improve stability and power quality in electrical networks. Dr. Blanco was the recipient one IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition prize paper award in 2012. Dr. Blanco received the University of Oviedo Outstanding Ph.D. Thesis Award in 2016.

1. What is the role of your organisation in the TALENT project? What about your role?

The LEMUR research group, that belongs to the University of Oviedo, Spain (UNIOVI), worked in the development of an intelligent modular power electronic converter, that allows to integrate generation (photovoltaic), energy storage (lithium-ion batteries)systems and single phase converters for home loads. The novelty of this design is that it is possible to stack several power converters to increase/decrease the power that can be handled. At the same time, we worked on the “active building concept” which main goal is to modernize the low-voltage distribution network inside the next-generation of buildings. We worked on the power electronics development, and we proposed a control solution for that. The results indicate that integrating generation, energy storage, and energy management can minimize conversion steps, reduce overall losses, and propose advanced control strategies that enhance system efficiency, reconfigurability, and battery life improvement. This provides a solid foundation for modernizing low-voltage distribution networks, providing ancillary services, optimizing power demand management, and digitizing the low-voltage network across Europe.

2. What do you like more about TALENT?

TALENT is a project that tackles several of the major challenges facing the electrical energy conversion sector, including energy storage systems, power electronics, decentralized control strategies, communication systems, and new power devices. Being part of a consortium comprising large companies, technology centers, and universities is what drives us to provide a comprehensive solution to enhance future power grids. Despite the difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are pleased to have overcome the obstacles and achieved our goals. This has made us even more motivated to give our
best effort.

3. What applications and benefits are expected to be achieved at the end of the project?

For the past few decades, the Electrical Engineering industry, particularly electrical energy conversion, has faced major changes and challenges. Upon completion, the TALENT project will establish a strong foundation for modernizing electrical energy systems, enabling the integration of energy generation and storage at various levels, including residential buildings and transformer stations. One of TALENT's key contributions is the development of communication-based control strategies that facilitate interoperability between systems from different manufacturers, promoting cooperation among systems of varying power. The project has also created a variety of power converter topologies, modular or not, for integrating renewable energies into both the low voltage distribution network and photovoltaic generation plants. In conclusion, TALENT is making significant advancements in the Electrical Engineering sector and paving the way for a more efficient and sustainable energy future.