PhD in Mechanical Engineering – Social-Techno-Economic Analysis of Hydrogen Integration for the Energy Transition

The UK like many nations needs to radical reform its energy services as to support rapid decarbonization. The energy transition from decarbonization, net zero and towards sustainable solutions, must also be responsive to the needs of society, in terms of energy availability and affordability. Energy is a significant factor in both individual quality of life and prosperity, but also an integral factor in national and global inflation. Responsible Research and Innovation in the energy transition requires us to consider equity and equality in the design of future energy systems and services.

Technically, the energy transition requires the deployment of different technologies such as heat pumps, electric vehicles or other hydrogen-based solutions for the supply of decarbonized heat, electricity or transport. Tomorrow’s energy system will be a mixed energy system, with several energy carriers interacting with each other. For example, gas turbines or fuel cells for the transition from gas to electricity, electrolysers or batteries for the transition from electricity to gas or transport.

With an emphasis on People and Place, future energy systems need to unlock capacity from existing energy infrastructure and utilize energy demand flexibility from consumer and prosumer engagement. Social-Techno-Economic modeling has been identified as weakness in UK Energy Systems Modelling by UK-ERC. To address this weakness, the PhD will explore the social and economic dynamics of consumer and prosumer perspectives and behaviours to inform the modelling. 

In response to rising energy costs, a need to redefine energy citizenship and improve consumer agency, as well as the resilience of local, regional, and national energy services through intelligent demand response, our new understanding of the social-techno-economic modeling of hydrogen integration, into multi-vector smart local energy systems (SLES), is integral.

Given the widespread nature of these challenges, a holistic approach is needed to address them. Although various technological solutions exist (electrochemical storage, hydrogen technologies, decentralised control of electric vehicles via Smart Charging, Smart Heating, Demand Response, energy communities, etc.), their economic viability and social acceptability still need to be analysed and improved to facilitate the energy transition.

This PhD aims to understand the drivers for the economic and social success of a flexible, multi-vector energy system’s management solutions, especially energy systems integrating hydrogen solutions. The main outcome of the PhD will consist in the integration of social aspects into multi-agent-based models of future energy systems. This requires that the PhD candidate develops an expertise in energy, in modelling, and in social science studies.

The research will involve social-techno-economic modelling of future multi-vector energy systems, using a multi-agent systems approach to explore new scenarios, planning and control strategies for distributed whole energy systems. This modelling phase will include the modelling and design of new solutions for local multi-vector energy markets, and the modelling of energy flexibility strategies. In the second phase, the PhD candidate will study the factors that promote or limit the social acceptability by the residential sector of the new energy transition technologies, strategies and solutions studied and modelled in the first stage. This will be done by means of questionnaires, scenarios, focus groups and solution testing.

Outcomes of this research will include; influence on new social-demand-response strategies, local energy market business models, and an assessment on the influence of residential flexibility on decarbonization and energy service resilience.

The PhD student will work with other members of the Glasgow Centre for Sustainable Energy and the Digital Society and Economy (IRT). Leverage expertise in digital technologies, energy systems and social sciences.

This PhD is funded by the University of Glasgow in support of the EPSRC National Hydrogen Integration Hub (HI-ACT).

Applicants with interests in Social Science applied to the energy transition, Integrated Energy System Modelling, Multi-Agent Modelling and Systems Engineering.

Before submitting a formal application, please notify Prof David Flynn of your interest.

How to Apply: Please refer to the following website for details on how to apply for admission:

http://www.gla.ac.uk/research/opportunities/howtoapplyforaresearchdegree/.

Eligibility: 1st Class BEng (Hons), Masters with Distinction.