MRes Scholarship : Development of new renewable energy network models and the role of battery storage

The University of Liverpool (UoL) and Entrust Professional Services are seeking to appoint a suitable experienced and qualified individual to undertake a two year Master of Research (Mres) programme.

The overall aims of this research project are:
1. Financial Modelling of Solar Energy in a subsidy free environment along with battery storage and Anaerobic Digestion co-located across several sites in the British Isles.
2. Modelling solar probability against battery size, impacts of co-location on business cases and use of battery storage as a market entry point for solar as an energy reserve and response for the market, including impact on subsidy levels.
3. Battery Storage Revenues: Balancing the potential revenues associated with different stacks against the contractual obligations, to address key questions around determining an optimal revenue stack for any given technology, economic benefits of battery cycling, hedge of flex strategy approaches, applications of real time trading and including international and national revenue streams.
4. Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and their applicability to assets. Impact of TUoS and DUoS especially on battery storage, PPAs and their usage and regulatory challenges.

It is proposed that as part of a Masters of Research (MRes), the student will attain a very good understanding of the technical issues around the co-location of lithium-ion technology, Solar PV and Anaerobic Digestion, the electricity transmission and distribution networks. The student will develop a good understanding of the UK and Ireland electricity transmission and generation markets and how they operate in the UK and Ireland which is fast changing. The student will develop business models for the emerging energy storage industry markets, given the complexity of the technology and the dynamic nature of the markets, in order to become a future energy trader for battery energy storage in the UK and Ireland’s emerging low carbon electricity markets.

This MRes is one of 20 industry-led collaborative R&D projects from the Low Carbon Eco-Innovatory. The aim of the project is for you to work toward an MRes at the University of Liverpool through delivering ‘real – life’ solutions to industry. The Centre brings together the expertise, resources and global contacts of University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moore’s University and Lancaster University to create innovative low carbon goods, processes and services developed through collaborative R&D partnerships between local companies in the Liverpool City Region and local universities.

All LCEI MRes projects have been developed by SMEs contacting the University for assistance in R&D where the company does not have internal expertise, resource or facilities to carry out the research. This will give you a strong advantage in entering a competitive jobs market in both the academic and commercial sectors.

Application details:
To apply for this opportunity please email [[Email Address Removed]] quoting UoL-LCEI-206 in the email subject with:
• 2 page CV
• 2 page expression of interest
• A completed Application Criteria – available from www.liverpool.ac.uk/environmental-sciences/working-with-business/PhD-opportunities