PhD Study : Renewable Energy and Storage for Outdoor Events Sector (RESOES)

Summary

The UK has one of the biggest outdoor events industries worldwide, valued at £39.1 billion every year which accounted for 35.1% of the UK visitor economy. The industry has many different sectors which include Conferences, music festivals, trade shows & exhibitions, sporting events, cultural events, corporate hospitality, and outdoor events. Due to the mobile nature of the industry both electrical and thermal application needs are covered by generators which run on fossil fuels when mains connections are not available. As a result of this, the sector consumed an estimated 380 million litres of diesel fuel to provide electrical power with approximately 980,000 tonnes of CO2 being emitted. In addition to the carbon emissions the diesel power generation is a contributor for particulate and toxic air pollution which causes approx. 40,000 premature deaths in the UK every year.

Research conducted by the Green Festivals Alliance UK has shown that the sector’s fuel consumption accounts for up to 70% of an events core carbon footprint and is one of the top five overhead costs when operating at events requiring power. There are several major requirements that these systems have with the most important being the reliability, and ease of operation. The mobile nature of the industry is also a significant factor, as where the environment a system is located can change frequently. The UK government has set an ambitious target for net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Renewable energy generation combined with appropriate energy storage solutions (both electrical and thermal) will be at the heart of the technological innovation required to achieve this target.

More specific to the outdoors event industry and its heavy reliance on diesel fuel, low-cost renewable electricity generated on-site combined with electrical and thermal energy storage which can be both pre-charged and topped-up during operation can offer significant economic advantages and help achieve 100% reliance on renewable energy. The potential to combine electric vehicles for both transport and power source offers significant synergies.

The project will develop methodologies that utilise renewable energy generation combined with energy storage as an alternative to fossil fuel generation for the operations of outdoor events. The work will focus on market ready technologies and how they can be adapted and combined to operate effectively and efficiently on different aspects of the industry such as mobile catering units, concert events and outdoor markets. The economic viability of the examined scenarios will be part of the investigation to allow realistic solutions to be produced.

The methodologies used in this project can include any of the following:

*Desk-based study and modelling investigating the potential of a renewable energy system VS a fossil fuel system. The study can use energy modelling software such as HOMER.

*Quantitative and/or qualitative data collection from industry stakeholders and users.

*Experimental validation which examines technology operation and how set energy usage profiles (corresponding to real life operating scenarios) can be covered by the developed solutions.

*Demonstration of the developed solutions in real operations which both validate effectiveness as well as capture user feedback.

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

Desirable Criteria

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Masters at 65%

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