Low-carbon cements for use in ground engineering and supporting the future growth of geothermal energy infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

Summary

The Northern Ireland (NI) Government has set the ambitious target to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050, to mitigate against climate change.

The Department for the Economy’s ‘Energy Strategy’ and ‘Energy Action Plan 2025’ highlight innovation priorities including expanding renewable energy resources, increasing storage capacity and developing technologies that support green and circular economic growth.

NI has significant underground geothermal energy resources, which could play a key role in the country’s net zero solutions and deliver substantial economic benefits.

Recent advances in geothermal energy include integrating closed-loop ground source heat pump systems into civil engineering foundations (e.g. concrete piles).

These dual purpose ‘energy piles’ offer a sustainable and scalable solution for harnessing geothermal energy from underground soils and rocks, whilst serving as structural foundations for infrastructure.

However, further innovation is needed to decarbonise energy piles, specifically in addressing the following challenges:

• Their current manufacture using Portland cement-based concretes, which contributes 8-10% of global CO2 emissions. This is driving sectoral efforts to reduce reliance on Portland cement by using low-carbon alternatives (e.g. calcined waste clays), which support circular economic growth.
• The high carbon footprint and costs for excavating soil and landfill disposal to install pre-cast concrete energy piles.
• The geotechnical ground improvement technique ‘deep-soil-mixing’ is emerging as a low-carbon alternative to concrete piling; whereby cementitious binders are mixed into the soil to form cemented-soil columns without spoil.

Whilst deep-soil-mixed columns lack the high strength of concrete piles for large structural loads (e.g. high-rise buildings), they can be used for highway/railway embankment stabilisation, low-rise building foundations and contaminated land remediation.

This research will investigate the thermal and mechanical strength properties, and market potential of using new low-carbon circular cements in concrete piles and deep soil mixed columns, in support of NI’s growing renewable (geothermal) energy and civil engineering infrastructure.

This is a collaborative research project with industrial partners Keltbray Holdings and HIPERPILE.

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.

• Research proposal of 2000 words detailing aims, objectives, milestones and methodology of the project

Equal Opportunities

The University is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community, particularly from those with disabilities.

Appointment will be made on merit.

Funding and eligibility

This project is funded by:

• Department for the Economy (DfE)

This scholarship will cover tuition fees and provide a maintenance allowance of £21,000* (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).  A Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of approximately £900 per annum is also available.

To be eligible for these scholarships, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a UK National, or

• Have settled status, or

• Have pre-settled status, or

• Have indefinite leave to remain or enter, or

• be an Irish National

Applicants should also meet the residency criteria which requires that they have lived in the EEA, Switzerland, the UK or Gibraltar for at least the three years preceding the start date of the research degree programme.

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.

*Part time PhD scholarships may be available, based on 0.5 of the full time rate, and will require a six year registration period