Consumer energy decarbonisation and energy poverty mitigation

The Project:

To limit global warming to the target of 1.5°C, COP26 ended with a global agreement to accelerate action against climate change this decade alongside many countries aiming for longer-term goals of net zero emissions by 2050. The building sector emissions are historically one of the largest sectors when including direct and indirect emissions from heating, electricity and cooking it accounts for 28% of global emissions, followed closely by the transport sector with 27%. Approximately 60% of emissions from both of these sectors is from consumer energy demands, making personal energy use from residential buildings and cars around 33% of global emissions.

To address personal energy (e.g., heating/cooling, transport, and electricity) decarbonisation, previous studies usually focus on the interaction between these demands, with work completed primarily at national level. However, as energy demands, investment for personal energy decarbonisation is usually paid by customers. It is critical to allow an understanding of if low-carbon technologies will be viable for consumers, and therefore if they will be taken up at mass, which may lead to different results to that which is optimum by regional level long term analysis.

This project is to lead the development of numerical models and analysis tools for consumer energy decarbonisation within regional/global perspectives. Objectives are to 1) analyse domestic energy decarbonisation (electricity, heating and transport) options from the customer's perspective (one region or across regions in the world), 2) assess if decaronisation will worsen equality of access to energy services (e.g., electricity, water, etc), and /or 3) assess if bottom-up customers' least cost options are compatible with top-down system optimums. Also, like HeatMyHome.ninja project, this PhD project will develop modelling tools. The PhD project is funded by KCL for over 3.5 years.

The group:

The He Research Group is a mixed modelling/experimental lab. We are a team and support each other. You have the independence to develop your own ideas. The group aim to be a jumping board for your successful career in academia, industry, and spin-outs. For detail, please visit https://sites.google.com/site/whspersonalwebsite/home?authuser=0

Application Procedure:

Your Profile: A UK home student with good programming skills and interests. Passion about clean energy and decarbonisation. Committed to facilitating energy transitions to net zero and open to talking to cross-disciplinary researchers. Commitment to transparency, reproducibility and Open Science; Experience with modelling, optimisation and programming is a plus

To be considered for the position candidates must apply via King’s Apply online application system. Details are available at:

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/engineering/postgraduate/research-degrees

Please choose the supervisor’s name in your application and all correspondence.

The selection process will involve a pre-selection on documents, if selected this will be followed by an invitation to an interview. If successful at the interview, an offer will be provided in due time.

https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/how-to-apply