About the Project
Description: The decarbonisation of the power system has seen the decommissioning of coal plants across the EU, with more envisaged. These plant locations have strong grid connections and access to coal transportation and storage infrastructure, and there is therefore potential to leverage this infrastructure by replacing coal plants with low carbon alternatives. This project, a collaboration between NUI Galway (Dr Rory Monaghan) and the ESRI (Dr Muireann Lynch), examines the technical and economic feasibility of replacing coal stations with biorefining at scale, using the 900 MW Moneypoint plant in Ireland as a case study. The favoured route to decarbonising these sites tends towards conversion to solid biomass fuel for electricity production with opportunities for carbon capture over longer time horizons. The aim of this study is to establish the comparative potential for biorefining and hydrogen solutions and to examine the relative impact of several biorefining archetypes within the full energy system based on the real case study of Moneypoint within the Irish energy system.
Based on an examination of the literature, the work will develop representations for coal-to-white wood pellet conversions and several biorefining archetype solutions. These may include gasification, pyrolysis, hydrogen production and advanced biofuel production pathways from the biomass. These archetypes will be applied to case study examples of existing coal-to-power infrastructure using technoeconomic electricity and gas system models at hourly temporal resolution. The archetype options will be assessed across three broad metrics: cost, environmental sustainability and system impacts. Technology, feedstock mobilisation, energy security and risk will be examined quantitatively.
Duration: 1st February 2021 – 31st January 2025, alternating years based at NUI Galway and ESRI, Dublin
Stipend & tuition: €18,500 per annum plus tuition fees for 4 years.
Requirements: Honours Bachelors (Level 8) degree in Engineering with at least a 2.1 Honours grade or equivalent. A Masters degree (Level 9) is desirable but not required. The successful candidate will have a strong background in thermodynamics, modelling languages (including for example Matlab, Python, Aspen). Extremely strong written and spoken English communication skills are essential. Backgrounds in geographic information systems (GIS), optimisation and/or life cycle assessment are advantageous.
How to apply: Send a one-page cover letter, and your CV with names and contact details of two referees to the project supervisor, Dr. Rory Monaghan at [Email Address Removed], with “Moneypoint PhD application findaphd” in the subject line (this is essential to avoid applications getting lost). The closing date for receipt of applications is 9pm (Irish time) Sunday 1st November 2020.
Additional information: Dr. Rory Monaghan: Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=S_VYLXYAAAAJ&hl=en, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorymonaghan/, Twitter: @IrishEnergyGuy, email: [Email Address Removed]
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