Dr. Alexander Fuchs

Dr. Alexander Fuchs is Principal Expert for power grid simulation at the Research Center for Energy Networks (Forschungsstelle Energienetze - FEN) at ETH Zurich. His work includes applications of optimization, simulation and geometric approaches for the planning and safe operation of power grids.

He has created, analyzed and simulated models of the European power grid of different complexity for various projects and applications, e.g. for the simulation of the Energy Strategy 2050 in the ISCHESS project, for the optimal operation of electricity storage (hydro, batteries) in the SCCER-FURIES project or for the analysis of the global dynamic grid security with a high share of renewable energies (PV plants) in the ACSICON project. The methods developed in these projects are also applied to the design and optimal operation of distribution grids with generation, storage, and charging stations for e-mobility. He has also conducted two studies on Swiss grid security for the Swiss Federal Electricity Commission (ElCom), for which he developed special software for N-1 security analyses and secure load flow optimization.

His PhD thesis (2014) at the Institute of Automatic Control at ETHZ was on the control and dynamic stability of the European power grid with high-voltage DC transmission. Previously, he studied mechatronics and aerospace engineering at the Technical University of Dresden, Germany (Dipl.-Ing. 2008), Ecole Centrale Paris, France (Ingénieur des Arts et Manufactures, 2008), and the University of Texas at Austin, USA (M.Sc 2007).