Investigate integration and scalability of sand thermal storage with renewable energy systems (ReNU+24/EE/MCE/MARTIN)

The EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Renewable Energy Northeast Universities Plus (ReNU⁺) is a collaborative doctoral training programme run by the Universities of Northumbria, Newcastle and Durham. In addition to undertaking an individual scientific research project at one of the three partner Universities, doctoral candidates will engage with added value training opportunities, for example in business, innovation and internationalisation through a 4-year training programme that has been designed to maximise the benefits of a cohort approach to doctoral training. The start date is 1st October 2025.

About the Project:

Are you passionate about renewable energy and decarbonisation technology? This PhD project focuses on the innovative use of sand as a thermal energy storage (TES) medium to enhance the reliability and efficiency of renewable energy systems for heating networks. STS offers a low-cost, environmentally friendly, and scalable solution for energy storage, critical for balancing the intermittent nature of renewables. While sand can retain heat long-term and withstand repeated cycles, optimizing its thermal conductivity and storage capacity remains a challenge for effective energy system integration.

This research will employ experimental and computational approaches to improve STS’s heat retention, extraction efficiency, and overall performance. Advanced machine learning models will help optimize system integration, predict performance under varied conditions, and assess environmental and economic impacts.

You will have the opportunity to work closely with industry partners and contribute to innovative energy storage solutions with significant societal impact. Ideal candidates should have a background in renewable energy, computing science, or data science.

Research Environment:

The successful candidate will become a member of the ReNU+ (ReNU) EPSRC CDT programme to start in October 2025.

The successful candidate will benefit from a range of training courses and career development opportunities offered by ReNU+ and Northumbria University.

Desirable skills:

Good background knowledge in renewable energy conversion systems and programming in MATLAB or Python.

Highly motivated in artificial intelligence and multi objective optimisation techniques.

Prospective students who graduated or going to graduate from Mechanical Engineering, Computer and Information Sciences, or related disciplines are invited to apply.

Academic Enquiries

This project is supervised by Prof. James Martin. For informal queries, please contact james.e.martin@northumbria.ac.uk. For all other enquiries relating to eligibility or application process please email pgr.admissions@northumbria.ac.uk.

Eligibility Requirements: 

• Academic excellence i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent GPA from non-UK universities with preference for 1st class honours); or a Masters (preference for Merit or above); or APEL evidence of substantial practitioner achievement. However, a 3 or 2:2 may be considered with relevant work experience, skills and/or expertise, please contact the Institution Director, vincent.barrioz@northumbria.ac.uk for further info.
• Appropriate IELTS score, if required.
• Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Northumbria or elsewhere.
• Must be able to commit to campus-based full-time or part-time study.

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must: 

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
• have settled status, or
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.   

Applicants will need to be in the UK and fully enrolled before stipend payments can commence. Note the following are not covered by the studentship. 

• Immigration Health Surcharge https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application
• Student Visa to enter the UK, please refer to https://www.gov.uk/student-visa.
• Costs associated with English Language requirements.

International applicants (including EU) must have valid immigration permissions to live and study in UK if they wish to study on a part-time basis. Northumbria University does not sponsor part-time student visas.

For further details on how to apply see https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply/    

Please complete the PhD application form in full, include the advert reference (e.g. ReNU+24/…) and also:

1. Upload degree certificates, transcripts and English qualifications (if applicable).
2. Upload your CV under the ‘Experience section’. This is MANDATORY.
3. In the personal statement section, select ‘no’ and type ‘no personal statement required’ in the box.
4. Research proposal is NOT required. Upload a blank document to progress your application. Choose ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Are you applying for a UKRI studentship?’ and then choose ‘EPSRC ReNU Plus’.
5. Choose ‘Scholarship’ under source of funding.
6. Post submission, you need to login to the applicant portal to complete a competency assessment form.

We have limited number of International awards available. Note that up to 5 offers will be made for the ReNU+ CDT projects advertised by Northumbria University.

Deadline for applications: 3 February 2025 

Start date of course: 1 October 2025 

Northumbria University is committed to creating an inclusive culture where we take pride in, and value, the diversity of our postgraduate research students. We encourage and welcome applications from all members of the community. The University holds a bronze Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, we are a Disability Confident Leader, a member of the Race Equality Charter and are participating in the Stonewall Diversity Champion Programme. We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers and are members of the Euraxess initiative to deliver information and support to professional researchers.