Dr M Sharmina, Prof S Howell
Applications accepted all year round
Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)
About the Project
Blockchain is a peer-to-peer database technology (underlying Bitcoin) that can provide a secure and transparent system for recording energy transactions. This can hypothetically accelerate the development of smart grids, and distributed energy trading systems, and may permit new ways of doing business in the electricity sector, as is beginning to happen in banking. However in-depth models are lacking for what Blockchain can do in the real-world physical, social, regulatory or even political control of a power system.
This project aims to explore, in principle and by simulation, some modes by which Blockchain might facilitate peer-to-peer electricity trade. The PhD candidate will interview Blockchain experts, power engineers, actual and potential electricity-trading agents (such as households, companies and communities), and policy makers. The candidate will test emerging market scenarios by a range of methods, which may include agent-based modelling, and statistical mathematical analysis. The scope of analysis will include electricity prices, the agents’ profits or losses, unexpected/emerging interactions and other indicators of a market’s ‘successful’ functioning.
The project is not biased towards advocacy. It will seek to test known ‘modes of failure’ of Blockchain-based electricity trading, and will be alert to detect any unsuggested modes of failure. The results should improve recommendations to the energy industry and policy-makers, on whether, where and how to apply Blockchain within a power network. They will also aim to clarify the goals and tools for future research into localised energy trading and management, and into Blockchain.
Funding Notes
Funding covers tuition fees and annual maintenance payments of £17,500. Students with a first class/2.1 degree (or equivalent) with a background in engineering and physical sciences and Humanities, are encouraged to apply.
Applications will be reviewed as they are received until a candidate is selected; therefore candidates are encouraged to apply early.
UK / EU eligible candidates only (EU residents who have been resident in the UK for a minimum of 3 years)
See here for information on how to apply and entry requirements: http://www.power-networks-cdt.manchester.ac.uk/study/projects-apply/
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