Public defence: Oleksandra Ishchenko

Oleksandra Ishchenko is disputing for a doctoral degree in process, energy and automation engineering. The thesis examines how industrial companies can adapt their electricity consumption in a smart way to relieve the power grid and contribute to a more stable power system, without affecting production or day-to-day operations.

19 Nov

Practical information

  • Date: 19 November 2026
  • Time: 10.00 - 15.00
  • Location: Porsgrunn, Auditorium A-271 and Zoom
  • Download calendar file

    • Link to digital participation to come

    Programme

    10.00. Trial lecture

    12.00. Public defence: Demand Response Aggregation in the Energy Market: Enhancing Flexibility and Efficiency

    Assessment committee

    • First opponent: Professor, Dr. Ing., Gina María Idárraga Ospina at Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León in Mexico
    • Second opponent: Associate Professor Dr. Merkebu Z. Degefa at the University of Stavanger 
    • Administrator: Associate Professor Roshan Sharma at the University of South-Eastern Norway
    • Chair of the defence: Professor and Head of Department Svein Thore Hagen at the University of South-Eastern Norway 

    Supervisors

    • Main supervisor: Associate Professor Nils Jakob Johannesen at the University of South-Eastern Norway 
    • Co-supervisors: Professor Carlos F. Pfeiffer at the University of South-Eastern Norway and Associate Professor Anatolii Zamulko at Kyiv Polytechnic Institute in Ukraine 
Any questions?

Oleksandra Ishchenko will defend her thesis for the degree of philosophiae doctor (PhD) at the University of South-Eastern Norway. 

She has followed the doctoral programme in process, energy and automation engineering, which is today called PhD in Technology, at the Faculty of Technology, Natural Sciences and Maritime Sciences. Portrett av Oleksandra Ishchenko

All interested are welcome to follow the trial lecture and the public defence.

Abstract

Industrial companies can contribute to a more flexible and resilient electricity system by adjusting their electricity consumption without compromising their core operations. As increasing shares of wind and solar generation introduce greater variability in electricity supply, while electrification places growing pressure on the power grid, demand-side flexibility is becoming an increasingly important resource.

This thesis develops a multi-level framework for industrial demand response aggregation across three interconnected levels: electricity markets, power grids, and industrial facilities. The framework combines insights from scientific literature and expert knowledge with analyses of electricity consumption data from an industrial site. The findings help identify which buildings and processes can respond collectively and quantify the amount of flexibility that can realistically be delivered.

The research shows that assessing an industrial site's flexibility requires more than analyzing total electricity consumption. It is also necessary to understand when flexibility is available, how long it can be sustained, and what consequences follow a reduction or shift in electricity use. For example, a temporary reduction in one building may lead to increased electricity consumption later or affect the operation of other parts of the facility. Demand response aggregation addresses these challenges by coordinating multiple flexibility resources and enabling them to act as a larger, more reliable resource.

The results can support industrial companies in participating in emerging flexibility markets, creating new value from existing energy resources, and contributing to a more reliable and sustainable electricity system. For grid operators and market participants, demand response aggregation offers a means of reducing network congestion, improving system reliability, and complementing investments in new grid infrastructure and electricity generation capacity.