Student Assistant Position in Photovoltaic Power Forecasting

Renewable energies are the key to achieving a climate-neutral future in Germany, with photovoltaics playing a central role. However, the weather-dependent and thus fluctuating nature of solar power generation poses new challenges for the electricity grid. Accurate forecasts are essential to anticipate fluctuations – such as voltage peaks – and to enable more effective responses.

LITES is conducting research on photovoltaic power forecasting. To this end, a real-world laboratory is currently being set up on the South Campus: several PV modules and sensors are installed to record power and irradiance data with second-level precision. All measurements are transmitted and consolidated in a central database.

To support this project, we are looking for a motivated student assistant. The position involves accompanying the experimental setup and contributing to the development of a project proposal based on the results.

Possible tasks include:

• Monitoring and maintaining the experimental setup
• Occasional soldering and repair work on ESP32-based sensor systems
• Contributing to scientific work, in particular:
  • Supporting data collection
  • Conducting literature research on analysis methods (e.g., graph neural networks)
  • Performing periodic data analyses
  • Assisting in drafting project proposals

We offer:

• First-hand insights into cutting-edge research with the aim of high-impact publications
• Broad opportunities to engage in all aspects of the scientific process – from data collection and analysis to visualization and manuscript preparation
• Depending on qualifications and motivation, the opportunity to take on genuine research responsibilities beyond basic support tasks