PhD Studentship in Energy - Trilemma evaluation of whole energy systems

Start date and duration

September 2017. The funding covers a one year MRes in Energy followed by a three year PhD.

Application closing date

17 February 2017

Overview

Interested in energy systems, and how the UK energy system might decarbonise to contribute to a sustainable future? The PhD project will look at energy systems and consider how energy trilemma issues of sustainability, affordability and security of supply can be appropriately measured.

This studentship is in association with the EPSRC National Centre for Energy Systems Integration (CESI), a 5 year EPSRC project involving numerous industry and academic partners, providing a unique opportunity to receive research training within a vibrant consortium of leading UK universities and industry.

The purpose of the PhD is to develop, trial, refine and implement a trilemma evaluation method. The method shall consider appropriate key performance indicators which could be used to evaluate sustainability, affordability and security of supply. Weighting of indicators would also form part of method development. The weighted indicator set can then be trialled within the first CESI work programme, and refined as a result. The method will need to represent the uncertainty and sensitivity in the indicators.

Visualisation and exploration of these results is an important feature of the work, as the communication of this information within the Centre and to external stakeholders will assist with decision making on the focus of further effort.

Sponsor:
School of Mechanical and Systems Engineering (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/mech/)

Name of supervisor(s):
Dr S Walker, CESI, Mechanical and Systems Engineering (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/mech/staff/profile/sarawalker.html#background)

Dr N Wade, CESI, Electrical and Electronics Engineering (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/eee/staff/profile/nealwade.html#background)

Eligibility Criteria

You must have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 Honours degree in engineering, physics or a related subject or international equivalent.

This award is available to UK/EU and international candidates. If English is not your first language, you must have IELTS 7 with at least 6.5 in the written component.

How to apply:
You must apply through the University’s online postgraduate application system (http://www.ncl.ac.uk/postgraduate/apply/). To do this please ‘Create a new account’.

All relevant fields should be completed, but fields marked with a red asterisk must be completed. The following information will help us to process your application. You will need to:
•insert the programme code 8090F in the programme of study section
•select ‘PhD Mechanical Engineering’ as the programme of study
•insert the studentship code ME035 in the studentship/partnership reference field
•attach a covering letter and CV. The covering letter must state the title of the studentship, quote reference code ME035 and state how your interests and experience relate to the project
•attach degree transcripts and certificates and, if English is not your first language, a copy of your English language qualifications.