Approaches to Decarbonisation of Energy Use at Hillsborough Castle - An Historic Royal Palace

Summary

Decarbonising royal palaces presents a complex challenge due to the need to balance modern environmental sustainability with strict heritage conservation. Palaces like Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and Hampton Court Palace were built centuries before energy efficiency standards existed, making retrofitting highly disruptive and technically demanding.

Organizations like the Royal Household and Historic Royal Palaces face several unique hurdles in their race to meet net-zero targets. Architectural & Conservation Restrictions preserve historic fabric and standard insulation, draft-proofing, or drilling can permanently damage old rafters, historic masonry, and delicate plasterwork.

Visual impact rules make adding solar panels or external heat pumps challenging with Grade I listing protections, requiring innovative concealment.

Strict planning permissions make approvals for low-carbon alterations notoriously slow and legally complex.

Thick, uninsulated solid walls create a high thermal mass that requires immense energy to heat initially. Single-glazed, monumental windows and vast, cavernous spaces lead to severe heat loss Historic upgrades often unearth hazardous materials, such as asbestos embedded in older piping and wiring infrastructure, complicating removals.

High, unpredictable visitor foot traffic spikes water and heating demands across large public washrooms and catering facilities. Indoor microclimates must maintain rigid humidity and temperature controls to protect priceless art collections from degrading and Palaces double as working administrative headquarters and state event spaces, meaning retrofitting must work around tight royal diaries and security protocols.

Thus novel technologies and approaches will require advances in engineering technology, but first requires a thorough understanding of its energy use.

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 no more than 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)
• Vice Chancellor's Research Scholarship (VCRS)

PhD Scholarships are available for this project and will cover:

• Tuition fees.
• A maintenance allowance of approximately £22,000 (exact rate is to be confirmed) per annum for three years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
• A Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) of approximately £900 per annum.

To be eligible for these scholarships applicants must: be a UK or Irish national; or have pre-settled or settled status; or have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

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 i.e. September 2027.

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, funded from any source, including self-financing students, are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Students in full-time employment are not eligible for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies.

Part-time PhD scholarships may be available at a 0.5 pro rata rate of the full-time scholarship, which would require a six-year registration period.

The University will award a successful candidate one of the following scholarships for the project, depending on the funding available at the time an admissions offer is made:

1. Department for the Economy (DfE) PhD Scholarships
2. Vice Chancellor’s Research Scholarships (VCRS)

Please note that the Terms and Conditions for scholarships are subject to change for 2027/28.