María Martínez Barbeito

PhD in Physics

My PhD journey began in November 2019, when I joined the Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Physics and Complex Systems (IFISC) in Mallorca, Spain, as a predoctoral researcher under the supervision of Prof. Pere Colet and Prof. Damià Gomila.

My research focused on the dynamics and stability of power grids in scenarios with a high share of renewable energies. I was initially particularly interested in modeling and analyzing islands’ grids. Later, during a research stay at the Electrical Energy Efficiency Group (Switzerland) with Prof. Philippe Jacquod, I expanded my work to include larger, continental-scale grids.

In September 2024, I successfully defended my PhD thesis and was awarded the degree with the distinction cum laude.

Main publications
  • M. Martínez-Barbeito, D. Gomila, P. Colet, J. Fritzsch, & P. Jacquod, . (2025). Transmission grid stability with large interregional power flows. Physical Review Research, vol. 7, no 1, p. 013137. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevResearch.7.013137.
  • M. Martínez-Barbeito, D. Gomila, & P. Colet. (2023). Dynamical Model for Power Grid Frequency Fluctuations: Application to Islands with High Penetration of Wind Generation. IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, p. 1-10. DOI: 10.1109/TSTE.2022.3231975.
  • M. Martínez-Barbeito, D. Gomila, & P. Colet. (2021). Data analysis of frequency fluctuations in the Balearic grid before and after coal closure. ENERGY 2021, The Eleventh International Conference on Smart Grids, Green Communications and IT Energy-aware Technologies, 2021, p. 13-18.
Other publications
  • D. Gomila, B.A. Carreras, J.M. Reynolds-Barredo, M. Martínez-Barbeito, P. Colet, & O. Gomis-Bellmunt. (2025). Reducing blackout risk by segmenting the European power grid with HVDC lines. Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy. DOI: 10.35833/MPCE.2024.000768.
Contributed talks
  • Dynamical model for power grid frequency fluctuations: application to islands with high penetration of renewables. XXIII Congreso de Física Estadística, FISES 2023. Pamplona (Spain). October 25-27, 2023.
  • Frequency fluctuations in the Balearic grid with high penetration of solar PV and HVDC frequency control. Conference on Complex Systems, CCS2022. Palma (Spain). October 17-21, 2022.
  • Effects of high penetration of wind power in the frequency fluctuations of islands' power grids. 7th Annual Workshop on Complex Sociotechnical Systems, COMSOTEC. Tarragona (Spain). March 31 - April 1, 2022.
  • Frequency fluctuations and stability of power grids with a large renewables penetration ratio. Satellite Complexity in Energy Systems at the Conference on Complex Systems, CCS2020. Online. December 9-10, 2020.
Other talks
  • Transmission grid stability with large scale power flows due to renewables. IFISC. February 2, 2024.
  • Frequency fluctuations and stability of power grids with a large renwables penetration ratio. Workshop on Power Grid Dynamics. IFISC. April 20-21, 2023.
  • Balearic power grid stability in scenarios with large photovoltaic generation. IFISC. February 2, 2023.
  • Data analysis of frequency fluctuations in the Balearic grid before and after coal closure. IFISC. February 1, 2022.
  • Frequency fluctuations and stability of power grids with a large renewables penetration ratio. IFISC. January 24, 2021.
Poster presentations
  • Interplay of inertia and damping in power grids. XXIII Congreso de Física Estadística, FISES 2023. Pamplona (Spain). October 25-27, 2023.
  • Effects of high penetration of wind power in the frequency fluctuations of Gran Canaria's power grid. XXIII Congreso de Física Estadística, FISES 2022. Zaragoza (Spain). May 12-14, 2022.
Achievements

Chair (Jul 2023 - Feb 2024) and member (Apr 2022 - Feb 2024) of the Advisory Board of the Young Researchers of the Complex Systems Society (yrCSS). The Board is responsible for organizing the warm-up event prior to the annual international Conference on Complex Systems, as well as promoting collaboration among early-stage researchers and supporting other initiatives.