Staff profile

Overview

Mahmoud Shahbazi is an Associate Professor in Electrical Engineering at Durham University, Deputy Director of Research, and Node Leader for the Electrical Power research node. His research focuses on reliability and fault-tolerance in power electronic systems, as well as the modelling, optimisation, reliability and resilience of converter-dominated energy systems, including hybrid AC/DC networks, microgrids, offshore wind electrical infrastructure, and resilient energy systems for critical infrastructure. He leads and contributes to major UK-funded research programmes, and plays a senior role in doctoral training, research strategy, and curriculum development within the Department of Engineering.

Research, Leadership and Academic Contribution

Dr Shahbazi’s research addresses fundamental challenges arising from the transition to low-carbon, converter-rich electricity systems. His work spans power systems and power electronics, with particular emphasis on power electronics reliability and fault-tolerant control, hybrid AC/DC network modelling, optimal power flow, system resilience, and reliability-aware operation of energy systems.

He has published extensively in leading international journals. His recent work includes single-author and senior-author contributions on universal AC/DC branch modelling, convex formulations for hybrid networks, and reliability-oriented control and optimisation of power electronic systems.

Since 2022, he has contributed to and helped deliver over £14 million in externally funded research and doctoral training programmes. He is Principal Investigator on EPSRC-funded projects and a Co-Investigator on major national consortia, including the EPSRC- and NERC-funded Aura Centres for Doctoral Training in Offshore Wind Energy.

He also provides research leadership through doctoral supervision and mentoring, and is regularly invited to examine PhD theses in the UK and internationally. His graduates have progressed to academic posts, postdoctoral fellowships, and senior engineering roles in industry.

Alongside research leadership, Dr Shahbazi contributes to departmental and faculty strategy as Deputy Director of Research and as Node Leader for the Electrical Power research node, coordinating research activity across power systems, power electronics, and energy systems and supporting alignment with departmental and faculty priorities.

Background and Education

Dr Shahbazi received his PhD in Electrical Engineering from Université de Lorraine, France. Before joining Durham University, he held academic and research positions in Iran, including roles as a lecturer and postdoctoral researcher. He joined Durham University in 2015, was appointed Assistant Professor in 2017, and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2022.

In addition to his research activities, he has made significant contributions to education and curriculum development. He has served as module leader for core undergraduate and postgraduate modules in electrical engineering and smart energy networks, led major curriculum enhancements, and designed new cross-institutional doctoral training modules in energy engineering for offshore wind. He chaired the Department’s Design Working Group, leading a strategic review and reform of design education across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.

Externally, Mahmoud is active in professional and international service. He is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow or senior member of relevant professional institutions, contributes to IEEE standards working groups and international task forces, serves on conference programme and steering committees, and acts as a reviewer for leading journals and funding bodies.

• Microgrid
• Power Electronics
• Renewable Energy
• Smart Grid
• Fault-Tolerant Control
• Electric Drives

Chapter in book

• Power Electronic Converters in Microgrid Applications
  
  Shahbazi, M., & Khorsandi, A. (2016). Power Electronic Converters in Microgrid Applications. In M. Mahmoud (Ed.), Microgrid: Advanced Control Methods and Renewable Energy System Integration. Elsevier.

Conference Paper

• Minimising the Impact of Contingency in Multiple-Period Short Term Operational Planning with RAS-FUBM For Wind Integration
  
  Khadijah Hamzah, S., Kazemtabrizi, B., & Shahbazi, M. (2024). Minimising the Impact of Contingency in Multiple-Period Short Term Operational Planning with RAS-FUBM For Wind Integration. In 13th International Conference on Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD 2024) (pp. 180-187). IET. https://doi.org/10.1049/icp.2024.2155
• Price Forecast Methodologies Comparison for Microgrid Control with Multi-Agent Systems
  
  Cruz Victorio, M., Kazemtabrizi, B., & Shahbazi, M. (2021). Price Forecast Methodologies Comparison for Microgrid Control with Multi-Agent Systems. Presented at 14th IEEE PES PowerTech Conference, Madrid, Spain. https://doi.org/10.1109/powertech46648.2021.9494970
• Distributed Real-Time Power Management in Microgrids using Multi-agent Control with Provisions of Fault Tolerance
  
  Cruz Victorio, M., Kazemtabrizi, B., & Shahbazi, M. (2020). Distributed Real-Time Power Management in Microgrids using Multi-agent Control with Provisions of Fault Tolerance. In 2020 IEEE 29th International Symposium on Industrial Electronics (ISIE) : proceedings. (pp. 108-113). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. https://doi.org/10.1109/isie45063.2020.9152548
• Decentralised Real-time Optimisation of Power Management in Microgrids Using Multi-Agent Control
  
  Cruz Victorio, M., Kazemtabrizi, B., & Shahbazi, M. (2019). Decentralised Real-time Optimisation of Power Management in Microgrids Using Multi-Agent Control. In 9th International Conference on Power and Energy Systems (ICPES), Perth, Australia, 2019. (pp. 1-6). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. https://doi.org/10.1109/icpes47639.2019.9105639
• Coordinated Control of DC Voltage Magnitudes and State of Charges in a Cluster of DC Microgrids
  
  Shahbazi, M., Kazemtabrizi, B., & Dent, C. (2016). Coordinated Control of DC Voltage Magnitudes and State of Charges in a Cluster of DC Microgrids. Presented at IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies, Europe, Ljubljana, Slovenia. https://doi.org/10.1109/isgteurope.2016.7856272

Journal Article

• Convex Flexible Branch Model (CFBM): Convex Model for solving AC/DC Hybrid Networks Optimal Power Flows
  
  Higuera-Gutiérrez, G., Kazemtabrizi, B., & Mahmoud, S. (2025). Convex Flexible Branch Model (CFBM): Convex Model for solving AC/DC Hybrid Networks Optimal Power Flows. International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems, 170, Article 110785. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijepes.2025.110785
• An Efficient Universal AC/DC Branch Model for Optimal Power Flow Studies in Hybrid AC/DC Systems
  
  Shahbazi, M. (2025). An Efficient Universal AC/DC Branch Model for Optimal Power Flow Studies in Hybrid AC/DC Systems. IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, 40(4), 3211-3221. https://doi.org/10.1109/tpwrs.2024.3514815
• Energy Consumption Assessment in A DC Electric Railway System with Regenerative Braking: A Case Study of Isfahan Metro Line 1
  
  Hamedani, P., Fazel, S. S., & Shahbazi, M. (2025). Energy Consumption Assessment in A DC Electric Railway System with Regenerative Braking: A Case Study of Isfahan Metro Line 1. International Journal of Engineering, 38(3), 528-538. https://doi.org/10.5829/ije.2025.38.03c.02
• A Switch-Mode and Waveform Shaping Inverter With an Intrinsically Adjustable Nonlinear Output Capacitance
  
  Lotfi, A., Shahbazi, M., Issa, W., Wheeler, P., Sekiya, H., Kazimierczuk, M. K., & Blaabjerg, F. (2024). A Switch-Mode and Waveform Shaping Inverter With an Intrinsically Adjustable Nonlinear Output Capacitance. IEEE Access, 12, 165918-165927. https://doi.org/10.1109/access.2023.3309295
• Modeling and Simulation of DC Electric Railway System with Regenerative Braking: A Case Study of Isfahan Metro Line 1
  
  Hamedani, P., Fazel, S. S., & Shahbazi, M. (2024). Modeling and Simulation of DC Electric Railway System with Regenerative Braking: A Case Study of Isfahan Metro Line 1. Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering Innovations, 12(2), 439-448. https://doi.org/10.22061/jecei.2024.10665.728
• Understanding wind turbine power converter reliability under realistic wind conditions
  
  Alsaadi, S., Crabtree, C. J., Matthews, P. C., & Shahbazi, M. (2024). Understanding wind turbine power converter reliability under realistic wind conditions. IET Power Electronics, 17(4), 524-533. https://doi.org/10.1049/pel2.12670
• A Reliability-Optimized Maximum Power Point Tracking Algorithm Utilizing Neural Networks for Long-Term Lifetime Prediction for Photovoltaic Power Converters
  
  Shahbazi, M., Smith, N. A., Marzband, M., & Habib, H. U. R. (2023). A Reliability-Optimized Maximum Power Point Tracking Algorithm Utilizing Neural Networks for Long-Term Lifetime Prediction for Photovoltaic Power Converters. Energies, 16(16), Article 6071. https://doi.org/10.3390/en16166071
• A Quasi-Z-Source Four-Switch Three-Phase Inverter with Null Vector Capability
  
  Haghi, R., Beiranvand, R., & Shahbazi, M. (2023). A Quasi-Z-Source Four-Switch Three-Phase Inverter with Null Vector Capability. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 70(6), 5421-5432. https://doi.org/10.1109/tie.2022.3198238
• Real-time resilient Microgrid power management based on multi-agent systems with price forecast
  
  Cruz-Victorio, M., Kazemtabrizi, B., & Shahbazi, M. (2023). Real-time resilient Microgrid power management based on multi-agent systems with price forecast. IET Smart Grid, 6(2), 190-204. https://doi.org/10.1049/stg2.12089
• Statistical Evaluation of Wind Speed Forecast Models for Microgrid Distributed Control
  
  Cruz Victorio, M. E., Kazemtabrizi, B., & Shahbazi, M. (2022). Statistical Evaluation of Wind Speed Forecast Models for Microgrid Distributed Control. IET Smart Grid, 5(5), 347-362. https://doi.org/10.1049/stg2.12073
• Enhancing reliability of photovoltaic power electronic converters under dynamic irradiance conditions
  
  Jacobo Tapia, R., & Shahbazi, M. (2022). Enhancing reliability of photovoltaic power electronic converters under dynamic irradiance conditions. Microelectronics Reliability, 135, Article 114583. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microrel.2022.114583
• Universal Branch Model for the Solution of Optimal Power Flows in Hybrid AC/DC Grids
  
  Alvarez-Bustos, A., Kazemtabrizi, B., Shahbazi, M., & Acha, E. (2021). Universal Branch Model for the Solution of Optimal Power Flows in Hybrid AC/DC Grids. International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems, 126(Part A), Article 106543. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijepes.2020.106543
• Theoretical and technical potential evaluation of solar power generation in Iran
  
  Ghasemi, G., Noorollahi, Y., Alavi, H., Marzband, M., & Shahbazi, M. (2019). Theoretical and technical potential evaluation of solar power generation in Iran. Renewable Energy, 138, 1250-1261. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.02.068
• Fast Detection of Open-Switch Fault in Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Converter
  
  Shahbazi, M., Zolghadri, M., Khodabandeh, M., & Ouni, S. (2018). Fast Detection of Open-Switch Fault in Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Converter. Scientia Iranica : Internationa Journal of Science & Technology., 25(3), 1561-1570. https://doi.org/10.24200/sci.2017.4371
• Real-time power switch fault diagnosis and fault-tolerant operation in a DFIG-based wind energy system
  
  Shahbazi, M., Poure, P., & Saadate, S. (2018). Real-time power switch fault diagnosis and fault-tolerant operation in a DFIG-based wind energy system. Renewable Energy, 116, 209-218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.02.066
• Improvement of Post-Fault Performance of a Cascaded H-bridge Multilevel Inverter
  
  Ouni, S., Zolghadri, M., Khodabandeh, M., Shahbazi, M., Rodriguez, J., Oraee, H., Lezana, P., & Schmeisser, A. (2017). Improvement of Post-Fault Performance of a Cascaded H-bridge Multilevel Inverter. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 64(4), 2779-2788. https://doi.org/10.1109/tie.2016.2632058
• Quick Diagnosis of Short Circuit Fault in Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Inverter using FPGA
  
  Ouni, S., Zolghadri, M., Rodriguez, J., Shahbazi, M., Oraee, H., Lezana, P., & Schmeisser, A. (2017). Quick Diagnosis of Short Circuit Fault in Cascaded H-Bridge Multilevel Inverter using FPGA. Journal of Power Electronics., 17(1), Article 56-66. https://doi.org/10.6113/jpe.2017.17.1.56
• Open-circuit switch fault tolerant wind energy conversion system based on six/five-leg reconfigurable converter
  
  Shahbazi, M., Saadate, S., Poure, P., & Zolghadri, M. (2016). Open-circuit switch fault tolerant wind energy conversion system based on six/five-leg reconfigurable converter. Electric Power Systems Research, 137, 104-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsr.2016.04.004
• T-Type Direct AC/AC Converter Structure
  
  Khodabandeh, M., Zolghadri, M., Shahbazi, M., & Noroozi, N. (2016). T-Type Direct AC/AC Converter Structure. IET Power Electronics, 9(7), 1426-1436. https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-pel.2015.0151
• Open- and Short-Circuit Switch Fault Diagnosis for Nonisolated DC–DC Converters Using Field Programmable Gate Array
  
  Shahbazi, M., Jamshidpour, E., Poure, P., Saadate, S., & Zolghadri, M. (2013). Open- and Short-Circuit Switch Fault Diagnosis for Nonisolated DC–DC Converters Using Field Programmable Gate Array. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 60(9), 4136-4146. https://doi.org/10.1109/tie.2012.2224078
• FPGA-Based Reconfigurable Control for Fault-Tolerant Back-to-Back Converter Without Redundancy
  
  Shahbazi, M., Poure, P., Saadate, S., & Zolghadri, M. (2013). FPGA-Based Reconfigurable Control for Fault-Tolerant Back-to-Back Converter Without Redundancy. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 60(8), 3360-3371. https://doi.org/10.1109/tie.2012.2200214
• FPGA-based fast detection with reduced sensor count for a fault-tolerant three-phase converter
  
  Shahbazi, M., Poure, P., Saadate, S., & Zolghadri, M. (2013). FPGA-based fast detection with reduced sensor count for a fault-tolerant three-phase converter. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, 9(3), 1343-1350. https://doi.org/10.1109/tii.2012.2209665
• Fault-Tolerant Five-Leg Converter Topology With FPGA-Based Reconfigurable Control
  
  Shahbazi, M., Poure, P., Saadate, S., & Zolghadri, M. (2013). Fault-Tolerant Five-Leg Converter Topology With FPGA-Based Reconfigurable Control. IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, 60(6), 2284-2294. https://doi.org/10.1109/tie.2012.2191754
• Five-leg converter topology for wind energy conversion system with doubly fed induction generator
  
  Shahbazi, M., Poure, P., Saadate, S., & Zolghadri, M. (2011). Five-leg converter topology for wind energy conversion system with doubly fed induction generator. Renewable Energy, 36(11), 3187-3194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2011.03.014