PhD Study : Industrial energy cluster mapping and energy vectors integration potential for Northern Ireland

Apply and key information  

Summary

The UK’s net-zero emission target by 2050 provides clear direction to implement energy efficiency measures, renewable and efficient technology adaptation.  This requires a strategic decarbonisation effort for each sector based on their energy/emission but also needs an overall sector integration approach. In Northern Ireland, the heat sector consumed 50% of energy followed by the Transport sector 33% and the Power sector 17% in 2017. However, surprisingly, the gas and electricity share was only 29% in total energy consumption while the remaining came from petroleum products. Despite 2% and 8% of non-domestic connections for gas and electricity, large industrial and commercial customers consumed 55% of gas and 63% (non-domestic) of electricity in total gas and electricity consumption, respectively.

To decarbonise the heat and electricity sector in NI requires high penetration of renewable energy and energy storage technology at a different scale. In order to make an evidence-based decision for location/technology/cost/ etc, it requires an energy load profile (heat and electricity) and identification of clusters. Also, due to grid constraints, it is difficult to install new renewable based technology in the congested area despite the huge potential. There is a heat map for electricity constraint for NI but no heat load map or any industrial cluster map that can be used along with electricity, wind, geothermal and gas network profiles.

This project aims to develop heat a load map for industrial customers and identify the industrial cluster within NI particularly large heat clusters within the respective council area. To gather extensive data, surveys and information from land and property service, EPC data and data from other government agencies would be obtained. Based on the data analysis, and using tools available for GIS, a heat load cluster map would be developed.

This map would be aligned with the electricity constraint map to identify limitations and potential for various technologies such as energy storage, heat pumps, district heat network etc for those industrial clusters.

In addition, the energy vector (heat, electricity, and transport) integration potential would be evaluated based on their techno-economic assessment for a particular council area from the respective heat cluster. This would lay the foundation for implementing various technology deployments and concrete policy development.

​The overall project will be carried out at Centre for Sustainable Technology (CST) and in collaboration with a staff member from the School of Geography and Environmental Science (SGES). CST would provide support in energy-related software, tools and access to existing contacts with utility companies, local councils, housing executives, government bodies and businesses, whereas SGES would provide support for data, and software access related to GIS development. The project would develop methodologies, GIS maps, and industrial heat load clusters that would be valuable information and knowledge for the NI economy going forward. This project would require travel within Northern Ireland to conduct interviews, surveys, meetings, and data collection.

Essential criteria

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

  • Clearly defined research proposal detailing background, research questions, aims and methodology

Funding and eligibility

The University offers the following levels of support:

Vice Chancellors Research Studentship (VCRS)

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

  • Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
  • Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
  • Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

Department for the Economy (DFE)

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

  • Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
  • Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
  • Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
  • Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living

Recommended reading

BEIS, 2021. Net Zero Strategy: Build Back Greener. [Online] Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/net-zero-strategy

Agbonaye, O, Keatley, P, Huang, Y, Ademulegun, O & Hewitt, N 2021, 'Mapping demand flexibility: A spatio-temporal assessment of flexibility needs, opportunities and response potential', Applied Energy, vol. 295, 117015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117015

Ademulegun, O, Keatley, P & Hewitt, N 2021, 'Techno-Economic Analysis of Energy Storage within Network Constraint Groups for Increasing the Share of Variable Renewable Energy', The Electricity Journal, vol. 34, no. 6, 106974, pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tej.2021.106974

Agbonaye, O, Keatley, P, Huang, Y, Ademulegun, O & Hewitt, N, Northern Ireland Demand Flexibility Map, 2020, Web publication/site. DfE, 2020. Energy in Northern Ireland 2020. [Online] Available at: https://www.economy-ni.gov.uk/sites/default/files/publications/economy/Energy-In-Northern-Ireland-2020.pdf

Le, KX, Huang, MJ, Wilson, C, Shah, NN & Hewitt, NJ 2020, 'Tariff-based load shifting for domestic cascade heat pump with enhanced system energy efficiency and reduced wind power curtailment', Applied Energy, vol. 257, 113976. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113976

Hewitt, N, Cotter, D, Huang, M & Shah, N 2019, Industrial Heat Pumps in the UK, Current Constraints and Future Possibilities. in IIR 25th ICR2019 International Congress of Refrigeration. pp. 4463-4470, ICR2019 : The 25th IIR International Congress of Refrigeration, Montreal, Canada, Montreal, Canada, 24/08/19.

Mc Kenzie, P., 2019. Energy Justice and Energy Poverty. [Online] Available at: https://pure.ulster.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/78439023/QUB_Presentation_2019_McKenzie.pdf Mc Kenzie, P., 2018.

Northern Ireland Assembly, Knowledge Exchange Seminar Series (KESS). [Online] Available at: https://pure.ulster.ac.uk/files/78439176/KESS_Policy_Briefing_Paper_2018_McKenzie.docx

Inna, V, Keatley, P, Shah, N, Green, R & Hewitt, N 2018, 'How heat pumps and thermal energy storage can be used to manage wind power: A study of Ireland', Energy, vol. 157, pp. 539-549. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2018.03.001

The Doctoral College at Ulster University

Key dates

Submission deadline
Monday 28 February 2022
12:00AM

Interview Date
Mid March 2022

Preferred student start date
Mid September 2022

Applying

Apply Online  

Contact supervisor

Dr Nikhilkumar Shah

Other supervisors