From 1 to 27 February, Sanja Kelemen, a PhD researcher from FERIT Osijek, visited IRI UL through the SynGRID mobility exchange. During her stay, she worked on research related to energy communities and prosumer energy systems, contributing to the goals of the energy transition and smarter distribution grids. In the reflections below, Sanja shares what her research is about, what progress she made during the exchange, and what stood out most about Ljubljana and Slovenia.

In simple terms, what is your research about, and how does it connect to the energy transition and smarter grids?

My research focuses on optimal management of prosumer energy systems within energy communities (ECs). It addresses the transition from traditional consumers to prosumers, who actively participate in the consumption, production, storage, and exchange of electricity within the EC. This research area contributes to the energy transition and smarter grids by enabling higher integration of renewable energy sources and enhancing system flexibility at the distribution level.

During these three weeks at IRI UL, what did you work on that felt like a real step forward for you?

During my stay at IRI UL, I worked on preparing and finalising a research paper for an international conference titled Performance Assessment of Energy Communities with a Focus on Increasing the Number of Participants. The paper presents a mixed-integer linear programming model developed in the GAMS environment and applied to an energy community comprising consumers and prosumers, some of whom have PV power plants, battery energy storage systems, and/or electric vehicles. The model evaluates how increasing the number of prosumers and consumers impacts overall social welfare, CO2 emission impact, and electricity exchange with the grid and local electricity market.

How did you experience the atmosphere at IRI UL and the wider university?

The atmosphere at IRI UL was highly collaborative and welcoming. The working environment was focused and productive, yet open and supportive. What made the experience particularly special was the people. Everyone was incredibly kind, warm, and open-minded. They were always approachable, sincere, and ready to help, whether in academic discussions or in everyday situations. The wider university environment also felt international and well-connected, which further enriched the experience. Thanks to this supportive and friendly atmosphere, our stay at IRI UL was truly a special and memorable experience, both professionally and personally.

Outside the lab: what surprised you most about Ljubljana or Slovenia, and what was your favourite free-time experience?

What surprised me most about Ljubljana was how green and peaceful it is, while still being lively and culturally rich. The proximity of mountains, lakes, and forests makes the country truly special. It’s hard to pick just one favourite free-time experience because I really enjoyed everything, from road trips to Lake Bled, Postojna Cave, Kranjska Gora, Lake Jasna, and Peričnik Waterfall. But if I had to choose, my favourite was visiting Kranjska Gora and Lake Jasna, where there was snow, and the scenery was truly beautiful. On other days, walking along the Ljubljanica River and exploring the old town, especially around Ljubljana Castle, was also really wonderful.