PhD Position in Grid-scale Energy Storage at Build to Zero

Organisation/Company

Build to Zero S.L.

Department

https://buildtozero.es/

Research Field

Engineering » Industrial engineering

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions

PhD Positions

Application Deadline

15 Apr 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Madrid)

Country

Spain

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

40

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Horizon Europe - MSCA

Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number

101227219

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Within the framework of the project “Grid-scale Energy Storage: Imperatives for Accelerating the Green Transition (RESTORATIVE)”, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe’s Research and innovation Programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No. 101227219, at Build to Zero R&D department, we are seeking a candidate for a PhD position to research large-scale energy storage technologies, specifically the development of methods and models refinements, analyses, and optimizations for scale-grid TES integration and operation planning algorithm.

RESTORATIVE consists of 17 PhD students at 7 universities and 4 companies. The project has a total of 16 beneficiaries and associated partners from 10 different European countries. All 17 PhD projects fall within the overall theme of grid-scale energy storage technologies, but investigate the topic from different perspectives, including technological development, reliability and security, integration and coupling, socioeconomic and environmental assessment, and policy and regulation.

This PhD project will take place at Build to Zero, with enrolment at University of Lleida (Spain) as PhD student. Apart from the time at Build to Zero, there will be two secondments for the position, i.e. one academic secondment of approx. 6 months at the Technical University of Denmark, Denmark, and one industrial secondment for 3 months at GreenLab in Denmark.

In addition, there will also be common gatherings and trainings with the other 16 PhD students in the doctoral network, including 3 summer/winter schools in Denmark and Italy and 2 online workshops. 

As a participant in the project, the PhD student will be part of Build to Zero R&D department and enrolled at the University of Lleida as a PhD student. The activities within the project will benefit from synergies with other projects in the group as well as with other activities at the department. The main supervisor will be Associate Professor Cristina Prieto from Build to Zero, and the co-supervisor will be Professor Luisa F. Cabeza from the University of Lleida.

Responsibilities and tasks

The overall aim is to develop methods and models (mainly in Python and OpenModelica) for optimization, and analysis of scale-grid systems integrated with power-to- heat and TES technologies. The key tasks here include:

• Developed optimization algorithms for grid operation with power-to-heat and TES technologies
• Identify the requirements for TES to achieve stability, reliability, and responsiveness demanded by the grid.
• Analyze the impact of regulations on TM-GSES integration.
• Conduct a techno-economic assessment to optimize the integration and reduce LCOS.

RESTORATIVE PhD student

Qualifications

Candidates must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree in industrial engineering, thermal sciences, or similar. Experience with research on modeling of energy storage systems, programming in Python or OpenModelica, and dynamic modeling of energy systems is a plus.

Further obligations

The doctoral candidate (DC) is expected to visit the network partners during secondments for a total duration of 9 months (6 months in Denmark + 3 months in Denmark). Additionally, the DC is expected to participate in outreach activities, including but not limited to, participation in public events and campaigns, as well as dissemination to the popular press. Moreover, the PhD student will have to fulfil any requirement from the University of Lleida to get his/her PhD, such as a one time UdL Doctoral Workshop and the yearly justification activities. Furthermore, due to the mobility rules of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie program, the applicant must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in Spain for more than 12 months in the 36 months immediately before their recruitment date.

Approval and Enrolment

The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programs at University of Lleida. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study program, please see the University of Lleida webpage (https://www.doctorat.udl.cat/en/escola/benvinguda/ ). 

We offer

Build to Zero is a leading company in the Power-to-Heat and Thermal Energy Storage (TES) sector. We provide ThermalBox®, a robust solution designed specifically for industrial decarbonization. Our R&D department is dedicated to driving technological innovation, reducing costs, and maximizing the efficiency of TES technologies. Besides, the University of Lleida is globally recognized for its excellence in research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.

Salary and appointment terms

The appointment will be based on the collective bargaining agreement for technical and engineering office staff. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union. The period of employment is 3 years. The start date will be as soon as possible, or according to mutual agreement. The minimum salary approximately equates to 54,522.72 € per year (pre-tax and social security), depending on the chosen candidate’s seniority.

The workplace is Build to Zero office in Seville (Spain). 

Further information

Further information may be obtained from Prof. Cristina Prieto (cristina.prieto@b2z.es ).

You can read more about Build to Zero here .

Application procedure

Your complete online application must be submitted no later than 15 April 2026 (23:59 CET). Apply by sending an email to: cristina.prieto@b2z.es

Applications must be sent as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. To apply, please attach all your materials in English in one PDF file. The file must include:

• A motivation letter (cover letter)
• Curriculum vitae (indicating the places where you have lived/worked throughout the last 3 years for the mobility rules compliance check + contact information of 3 references)
• Grade transcripts and BSc/MSc diploma (in English or Spanish), including official description of grading scale

You may apply prior to ob­tai­ning your master's degree, but cannot begin before having received it.

Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

All interested candidates, irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background, are encouraged to apply. 

E-mail

cristina.prieto@b2z.es

Research Field

Engineering » Industrial engineering

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Build to Zero

Country

Spain

State/Province

Sevilla

City

Sevilla

Postal Code

41092

Street

C/ Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, 2

Geofield

State/Province

Sevilla

City

Sevilla

Website

https://buildtozero.es/

Street

C/ Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, 2 Torre Sevilla – Planta 1

Postal Code

41092

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