Education

May. 2020

PhD in Interdisciplinary Engineering (Honors with Distinction) – Khalifa University, Madsar Institute, UAE

Dissertation: Provision of Power System Flexibility for Higher Penetration of Renewable Energy in the Power System.

Dec. 2015

M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering (Honors) - Khalifa University, the Petroleum Institute, UAE

GPA: 3.72/4.00. Thesis: PID Controller Optimization for Multiple Inputs Using Integral Performance Index Criteria.

Jun. 2010

B.Sc. of Science in Electrical Engineering (Honors) - Khalifa University, The Petroleum Institute, UAE

Full Tuition Support from the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
Course Work:    Completed 139.5 credit hours of required course work + 6 extra credit hours

                              Overall GPA = 3.71/4.00. ECE Courses GPA: 3.95/4.0

Publications

                    Peer-Reviewed Journals

Published

[41 citations]

M. Wahbah, B. Mohandes, et. al. “Unbiased cross-validation kernel density estimation for wind and PV probabilistic modelling”, in Energy Conversion and Management, 266, 115811, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2022.115811

Published

[44 citations]

K. Antoniadou-Plytaria, et. al, "Scenario-based Stochastic Optimization for Energy and Flexibility Dispatch of a Microgrid," in IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, doi: 10.1109/TSG.2022.3175418.

Published

[55 citaitons]

H. Beder, B. Mohandes, et. al., "A New Communication-Free Dual Setting Protection Coordination of Microgrid," in IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery, doi: 10.1109/TPWRD.2020.3041753.

Published

[31 citaitons]

B. Mohandes, M. S. El Moursi, N. Hatziargyriou and S. El Khatib, "Incentive based Demand Response Program for Power System Flexibility Enhancement," in IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, doi: 10.1109/TSG.2020.3042847.

Published

[82 citaitons]

B. Mohandes, et. al, "Optimal Design of an Islanded Microgrid With Load Shifting Mechanism Between Electrical and Thermal Energy Storage Systems," in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 2642-2657, July 2020

Published

[68 citaitons]

B. Mohandes, et. al,, "Renewable Energy Management System: Optimum Design and Hourly Dispatch," in IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 1615-1628, July 2021

Published

[397 citations]

B. Mohandes, M. S. E. Moursi, N. Hatziargyriou, and S. E. Khatib, “A review of power system flexibility with high penetration of renewables,” IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, vol. 34, pp. 3140–3155, July 2019.

Published

[24 citations]

B. Mohandes, Y. L. Abdelmagid, and I. Boiko, “Development of PSS tuning rules using multi-objective optimization,” International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems, vol. 100, pp. 449 – 462, 2018

Published

[4 citations]

B. Mohandes, I. Boiko and Y. Abdel-Magid, "Control System Loop-Shaping as a Mathematical Optimization Problem: An Ensemble of Models," in IEEE Access, vol. 8, pp. 137185-137197, 2020,

Published

[67 Citations]

B. Mohandes., El-Chaar, L., Lamont, L., “Application Study of 500W Photovoltaic (PV) System in the UAE,” Applied Solar Energy Journal, Vol. 45, n. 4, pp. 242-247, December, 2009.

Published

[24 Citations]

B. Mohandes, et. al, “Advancing cyber–physical sustainability through integrated analysis of smart power systems: A case study on electric vehicles”, I.J. of Critical Infrastructure Protection, Volume 23, 2018, Pages 33-48,

Published

[16 Citations]

 Al Shereiqi, A, B. Mohandes, et. al, “Co-optimisation of wind farm micro-siting and cabling layouts”. IET Renew. Power Gener. 2021; 15: 1848– 1860.

                    Other Publications

Published

[Best Paper Nomination,
2 citations]

B. Mohandes, M. S. El Moursi and S. El Khatib, "A New Index of Power System Flexibility: Response Delay ( ) of Distributed Devices," 2019 International Conference on Smart Energy Systems and Technologies (SEST), Porto, Portugal, 2019, pp. 1-6. doi: 10.1109/SEST.2019.8849013

Published

Usman, M., Mohandes, B., et. al, “Scalable uncertainty aware ancillary services procurement tool for active distribution systems”, 27th International Conference and Exhibition on Electricity Distribution - CIRED 2023, Rome (Italy). 12-15 June 2023. In: CIRED 2023: Conference proceedings, e-ISBN: 978-1-83953-855-1

Published

B. Mohandes, et. al, "AI-Based Estimation of Available Flexibility at Individual House Level," 2023 IEEE Power & Energy Soc. Gen. Meet. (PESGM), Orlando, FL, USA, 2023, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/PESGM52003.2023.10252702.

Published

[1 citation]

J. Čiurlionis, P. H. Nguyen, D. Koster, and B. Mohandes, ‘Deterministic scheduling optimisation for Local Flexibility Markets in distribution networks’, in 2021 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies-Asia, 2021, pp. 1–5.

Under preparation

B. Mohandes, “MATPOWER/MOST User Manual: User-Defined Variables, Constraints, And Cost Terms”.

Professional Background

                    Academia

2020 - Present

Postdoctoral Associate, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Luxembourg:

-        November 2020 – August 2023: FLEXIGRID project

o   Leading deliverable 3.4: Quantification of flexibility at distribution level

o   Collaborating in deliverable 3.2: Design of self-regulating local markets for flexibility

-        June 2022 – Present: TESTIFY project

-        Assist in proposal writing

Jan 2015 - May 2020

Graduate Student Research Assistant: Electrical Power Group, Khalifa University, Masdar Institute

-    Investigated utilization of DR and inverter-based renewables for providing dynamic VAR support to the power system, eliminating the need for FACTS devices.

-    Designed a smart DR contract to empower current demand response (DR) models in the power system.

-    Provide technical support for Masdar’s Research Center in King-Abdullah City of Atomic and Renewable Energy Project - Saudi Arabia.

Jan 2015 - May 2020

Teaching Assistant: Khalifa University - Masdar Institute & The Petroleum Institute

2009-2010

Undergraduate Student Research Assistant: Electrical Power Group, Khalifa University, Petroleum Institute

-     Study of Meteorological conditions effect on thin-film PVs performance (Copper-Indium-Selenide).

    Industrial Experience: Oil, Gas & Petrochemicals Sector

2010 - 2016

Electrical Engineer, Abu Dhabi Polymers Industries (Borouge) Part of Borealis group and ADNOC group

Technical Group Function, Ruwais production plant.

-     Non-intrusive Online Cable Testing Project for all Borouge-2 plant 33KV cables.

-     Feasibility study, Front End Engineering Design and Supervision during EPC Phase for the following projects:

§ Construction of new ethane storage sphere at Borouge-3 plant site

§ Construction of containers yard for low density polyethylene at Borouge-3

§ Improving acid dosing system in ethylene unit at Borouge-1

§ Revamping and expansion of single site catalyst at polyethylene units of Borouge-2 and Borouge-3

§ Installation of impressed-current cathodic protection for the repair of Borouge-2 failed seawater basin

§ Relocation of six HV motors plus site facilities for the repair of Borouge-2 failed seawater basin

§ Procurement and installation of a thyristor controlled heater for Borouge ethane handling unit at export jetty

§ Procurement and installation of new vapor return arm at Borouge export jetty

§ Replacement of obsolete control cabinet for Active-Magnetic-Bearing (by SKF) for 7MW Compressor.

-     Site engineer at Borouge major turnaround 2012/2013. Provide technical support and supervision of execution in:

§ Extension of bus bar for Borouge new colored grid compounding project

§ Installation of a new switchgear cubicle and new control relays in distributed-control-system’s cabinets and HV & LV cable joints for Borouge catalyst expansion project.

-     Review of electrical design plans and material approval requests for two office buildings at Borouge site. Scope includes lighting fixtures, power fixtures, cabling work and uninterruptible power supply system:

§ Conversion of Existing Admin Building to New Technical Group building; project cost � 20M AED

§ Borouge New Training Center: project cost � 55M AED

-     Attach� to Technical Compliance department

§ Acquiring concepts of HAZOP, HAZID, HSEIA, QRA, COMAH and HSECES procedure.

§ Production of performance standards for HSECES systems

-     Review of Borouge standards documents and electrical safety procedures

-     Execute bad actor analysis study for all site’s electrical equipment for a 2 years period

-     Production of new specifications guideline document on Earthing, equipotential bonding and lightning protection

-     Technical study and construction support for several small-budget projects (cost < 81,000 USD)

-     Investigation & production of technical reports for failures and warranty claims of different equipment

Summer 2009

Electrical Engineering Intern, Abu Dhabi Gas Industries

Conferences, Workshops, and Seminars

December 2018

TRANSCO - CIGRE Day Invited speaker. Power system flexibility with high penetration of renewables

February 2019

Power Energy Summit Dubai UAE 2019, Invited speaker under young researcher category: new flexibility index for demand response units

Leadership Activities & Voluntary Work

Collaborator on MATPOWER-MOST Project: Contributions include:

Three bug reports, including a proposed fix for one bug, and four new features

December 2020

Outstanding Reviewer award by IEEE Transactions on Power Systems

2016 - present

Reviewer for IEEE Transactions on Power systems, on Smart Grid, on Industrial Informatics, on Sustainable Energy, on Energy Conversion, IEEE Power Engineering Letters, IET Generation, Transmission and Distribution, and IET Renewable Power Generation

April 2019

Invited Judge for UAE-skills competition. Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning Category

Professional Trainings and Certifications

Nov. 2013

Functional Safety Management for TÜV-SÜD Certification (Training by Risknowlogy)

Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) and HAZOP. Passed the certification test at first attempt.

Apr. 2012

Electric Wiring Regulations Certification By Regulation and Supervision Bureau-UAE

Nov. 2011

Pearl Sustainability Buildings Rating System of Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council

Awards & Honors

Summer 2019

Nomination for MIT-Science Review award for young innovators under 35. Nominated by Dr. M. El Moursi

Spring 2017

Shortlisted for Masdar Institute & Massachusetts Institute of Technology Student Exchange Program

December 2015

Masdar Institute Research Fellowship Grant for PhD students

June 2010

Partial tuition support scholarship by Petroleum Institute for part-time Master’s students

May 2010

Renewable Energy Competition UAE University - shortlisted for second round of evaluation, for solar-enhanced electric wheelchair project

May 2009

Winning Team at UAE-IEEE Competition: Design Of Simplex Free-Space Optical Transceiver

Spring 2009

Outstanding Junior Student Award  for Electrical Engineering Department - Petroleum Institute

August 2005

Recipient of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Full Scholarship for Undergraduate Students

Soft skills

Computer Skills

Programming Languages

-  Python

-  Julia

-  MATLAB

-  GAMS

Administrative Tools

-  LaTeX

-  Adobe Photoshop

-  Autocad Autodesk

Technical Design Packages

-  PS-CAD

Other:

-  RT-Lab for operation of real time data simulation platform: OPAL-RT

-  Operate high-performance computing clusters with PBSProfessional & LSF Schedulers using PuTTY and MobaXterm terminals.

Spoken Languages

Arabic: Native speaker

English: Bilingual proficiency (C2)

German: A2

Luxembourgish: A2

Test Scores

-   Graduation Record Exam (GRE) [General Test]

Quantitative Reasoning

Verbal Reasoning

Total

Analytical Writing

Dec. 2015

164/170 – 88^th percentile

155/170

319/340

3.5/6.0

Aug. 2010

790/800 – 91^st percentile

390/800

1180/1600

4.5/6.0

-   Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) [Internet Based Test (iBT)]

Reading

Listening

Speaking

Writing

Total

Aug. 2015

29/30

26/30

28/30

26/30

109/120

Mar. 2013

29/30

29/30

27/30

27/30

112/120

Jun. 2010

29/30

24/30

27/30

30/30

110/120