PhD project: Microgrid Resilience

Supervised by Rasa Remenyte-Prescott and Marco Rivera (Faculty of Engineering).

Aim: To develop a modelling approach for assessing microgrid resilience.

The deployment of renewable energy resources is a viable option to mitigate the emissions of greenhouse gases which have become one of the major concerns on a global scale, and the UK is committed to reaching net zero by 2050. To ensure a reliable electricity supply using renewables, deployment of distributed energy resources and their efficient operation require an interconnected energy system, known as a microgrid, which can operate autonomously when the upstream grid fails. In this way, microgrids can improve the resilience of the electricity system by reducing the amount of energy not supplied, and excess microgrid generation can be sold to the main grid to provide customers with financial benefits, such as reductions in electricity bills.

This exciting project will focus on modelling a small-scale converter-dominated microgrid, integrating renewable generation, hybrid electrical storage and hydrogen technologies. On the energy generation side, photovoltaic generation, batteries and supercapacitors will be used, and on the conversion and utilisation side, a hydrogen electrolyser and a fuel cell will allow hydrogen production, storage and reconversion to be actively controlled as part of the microgrid operation. Microgrid resilience metrics and their modelling and analysis approach will be proposed. A variety of disturbances (low/high frequency and high/low impact) and their effects on microgrid's ability to resist incidents efficiently and provide quick recovery and restoration will be analysed under uncertainty.

Entry Requirements: Starting October 2027, we require an enthusiastic graduate with a 1st class degree in engineering, maths or a relevant discipline, preferably at Masters level (in exceptional circumstances a 2:1 degree can be considered).

This position is open to UK/EU/overseas students. Funding sources can be explored at https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/pgstudy/funding/postgraduate-funding.aspx

This position is open until filled. Early application is strongly encouraged.