ED: Prof. Tonkoski, what drew you to TUM and the Chair of Power Transmission and Distribution?
Prof. Reinaldo Tonkoski: My family and I have always loved Munich - it’s a city we visited often and eventually decided to make our home. Professionally, the TUM ecosystem offers an incredible environment: numerous institutions and units working on power electronics, renewable energy, energy storage, and energy management plus world-class labs and resources. It’s a perfect fit both personally and professionally.
You’ve worked extensively in Canada and the U.S. What experiences from those years influence your work here?
During my PhD at Concordia University in Montreal, and working part-time at CanmetENERGY, Canada’s national energy lab, I collaborated with researchers from Germany, Austria, and Japan through the International Energy Agency Photovoltaic Power System Program. These experiences shaped my focus on integrating renewable technologies into power systems and taught me the value of international cooperation. I am also an active member of IEEE, and collaborated extensively on international workgroups on topics like power system stability and voltage control. Being part of these diverse and international teams continuously enhances both my research perspective and the way I engage students through globally informed teaching.
Your research centers on integrating renewables into power grids. What projects are you currently working on?
One major project is with a German transmission system operator, analyzing how large-scale hydrogen plants in northern Germany might impact the grid positively but also negatively. We’re helping develop guidelines to effectively connect electrolysers without risking blackouts. Another focus is reactive power planning - essential for maintaining voltage stability in the grid and also how to improve our models to predict when a system design might fail. What really interests me is how to better integrate renewable energy technologies into the grid and how to make them play their best game.
One of the big goals is to prevent blackouts, such as those that occurred in Spain this year, for example. Is your team involved in investigating and preventing such events?
Yes, we’re running simulations to understand grid conditions that could lead to cascading failures. It’s complex - like a short circuit triggering a chain reaction. We’re trying to ensure systems can handle faults without collapsing. When we have a shortage or even a surplus of generation or reactive power, even for a short time, the frequency or the voltage can go out of balance, and that can trigger protection systems. That’s what happens sometimes when power plants or lines trip - each time one trips, it creates another imbalance that can cause another to trip, which is what happened in Spain and every other blackout. If we don’t manage this properly, we risk more blackouts. We need to plan resources and design control and operational structures that keep the electric grid stable under most conditions, even when we lose one line or one power plant.
What challenges arise when integrating diverse renewable energy technologies into existing power grids, and how is your research addressing these issues?
We found that solar and wind plants sometimes disconnect unexpectedly because inaccurate or outdated models fail to predict the conditions under which they would do so, especially during dynamic grid events. Our research focuses on developing data-driven methods to accurately model these technologies - without needing proprietary details - so they can be safely and reliably integrated into grid planning, control, and operation.
It’s like having an orchestra - many instruments playing together, renewables and non-renewables - and each behaves differently than expected because we assumed a different tuning. I also use another analogy: it’s like having a heavyweight lifter and a sprinter competing in the same event (grid design); they both need different conditions to perform well.
If we’re smart about how we integrate these technologies, we can keep up with the rapid growth in electricity demand, especially from new uses like AI data centers.
Are there any collaborations you’re particularly excited about?
Definitely. We have strong ties with transmission and distribution system operators like TenneT and Stadtwerke München. Internationally, we have a track record of collaborating with Sandia National Laboratories in the U.S., particularly in energy storage and electric grid integration.
How do you engage students in complex subjects like grid control and power electronics?
I believe in a balanced approach - providing solid foundational knowledge while integrating emerging technologies. We offer core courses like Electric Power Transmission and Distribution, and we collaborate with other chairs to harmonize the power engineering curriculum. Labs and hands-on experiments are key, exposing them to new tools and methods.
You also run a course called Smart Grid and the Energy Transition. What’s special about it?
It’s one of my favorites! Each week, power engineering industry experts join us to discuss real-world challenges and the solutions being tested. Students get direct insights from professionals and reflect on these discussions during tutorials focused on the most current topics. It’s a great way to bridge theory and practice in today’s fast-paced energy transition. Through this rich exchange, students learn not only about innovative solutions but also about the new problems that emerge - and stay up to date with the latest developments in the field.
The TUM Chair of Social Determinants of Health is offering a course in collaboration with you addressing misinformation. What was it about?
The course “BuSTED: Building Scientific Literacy to Tackle Misinformation in the Digital Age” is designed to explore misinformation across diverse fields. The misinformation that follows blackouts is particularly interesting to study, as we saw clear parallels with public health during COVID - especially how fake news can erode trust. Because the bulk interconnected electric grid is highly complex, problems are not always quick or simple to identify. Engineers aren’t always trained communicators, but they need to learn how to engage with society - especially in moments of crisis - to help maintain public trust. The course is open to all TUM students, from engineering to medicine and beyond, and a new edition will take place next summer semester.
The IEEE Power & Energy Student Summit has just ended. What were the highlights?
Hosting the IEEE Power & Energy Student Summit in Garching was exciting - it allowed us to showcase our labs and connect students with industry leaders. We had top-class speakers from Siemens Energy and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), more than 30 papers presented, and a poster session where students shared their work. The conference was aimed at young professionals, and seeing their engagement from the first minute to the last was truly inspiring. We depend on this new generation’s passion and creativity to drive a successful energy transition. We welcomed over 100 participants from 14 different countries - a true testament to Munich’s appeal and the Power and Energy community’s enthusiasm.