PhD Engineering: A feasibility study on integrating electric buses with waste gasification for a green public transport system and solid waste management

The School of Engineering of the University of Glasgow is seeking a highly motivated graduate to undertake an exciting 3.5-year PhD project entitled ‘A feasibility study on integrating electric buses with waste gasification for a green public transport system and solid waste management’ within the Division of Systems, Power & Energy.

The current public transport buses are mainly powered by diesel in Glasgow. These buses generally use diesel based internal combustion engine and, are noisy and a major contributor to urban air pollutants such as hydrocarbons, NOx and particulate matters (PM). Additionally, the diesel consumption by buses leads to a high greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint for the public transport system. Fuel cell electric buses are excellent alternatives with the advantages of being less noisy and air polluting. However, the carbon footprint of fuel cell electric buses is largely dependent on the sources of hydrogen and will be carbon friendly if the hydrogen production process has a lower carbon footprint.

This project is a feasibility study on a hybrid system that combines fuel cell electric bus systems with decentralized biomass waste gasification-derived hydrogen generation systems in Glasgow. The hydrogen is derived from the water gas shift reaction of syngas from the gasification of biomass waste, which has an overall negative carbon footprint. Deploying electric buses with the support from gasification stations will serve to improve the urban air quality of Glasgow and reduce the carbon footprint of Glasgow’s public transport system. We will map the economic feasibility, and carbon and PM emission saving potential of the hybrid system using Monte Carlo simulation-based cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and life cycle assessment (LCA). Optimum system configurations (e.g., scale, operating conditions of gasification, and selection of hydrogen storage techniques) will be decided. We will also compare the proposed system with the existing diesel-based system regarding economics and environmental sustainability. The economic and environmental impacts of the hybrid system on the overall public transport system and waste management system of Glasgow will be evaluated. Finally, relevant policy and subsidy incentives will be suggested based on the feasibility boundary conditions of the analysis.

For an informal discussion or for further information on this project, potential applicants are encouraged to contact: Dr. Siming You ([Email Address Removed])