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How student Petar Vuckovic works at Alewijnse on innovative energy technology and his future in the maritime sector.
Working on a unique project that brings Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) technology to the maritime sector? Petar Vuckovic from Montenegro and a Power Electronics student at the University of Twente has been given this exceptional opportunity at Alewijnse. He is contributing to an innovative Typhoon HIL solution for electrical systems, enabling algorithms of an Energy Management System to be validated in real time, faster and more safely. This reduces technical risks and significantly lowers energy and fuel consumption onboard vessels.
Through his research, Petar directly contributes to an important technological development within the maritime sector. At the same time, his story goes beyond technology: it shows how a student consciously chooses system thinking and the ambition to contribute to the energy transition.
Focus on system thinking
“Technology in the maritime sector has always been close to my heart. I was inspired both by my mother, who completed a degree in electrical engineering, and by my childhood on the coast of Montenegro. From an early age, I was interested in mathematics and physics. Later, I chose electrical engineering because I wanted to think at a systems level.
In Montenegro, the focus in electrical engineering is mainly on theoretical knowledge. That is why I came to the University of Twente, where the emphasis is stronger on the practical application in industry. I have now been living and studying here for six and a half years.”
From internship to master’s thesis
At the University of Twente, an internship is a mandatory part of the curriculum. While exploring my options, conversations with Professors Thiago Batista Soeiro and Nataly Banol connected me with Alewijnse and their R&D team. They had posted several interesting master’s thesis assignments on the university portal that immediately caught my attention. As I have always been interested in the energy transition and the maritime power sector, the choice was easy.
At Alewijnse, I investigate the capabilities and limitations of the software and conduct tests on the performance and stability of the Power Management System (PMS) in a DC grid environment. I was fortunate to complete an internship at Alewijnse prior to my master’s thesis, where I focused on solid-state circuit breakers and the protection of DC grids. In January, I started my master’s thesis on power management in DC systems.
Ideal collaboration with the university
The collaboration with the University of Twente is ideal, as they also work with Typhoon HIL solutions. This allows them to provide strong support in modeling electrical systems within this environment.
“I really enjoy working in the maritime sector, and especially at Alewijnse. The company has extensive technological knowledge and actively invests in developing new teams. Sustainable technologies appeal to me because they contribute to a better future.”