Heating and Cooling Demand on Power Networks in a Changing Climate

Institution: University of Manchester

Dept/School/Faculty: EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Power Networks

PhD Supervisor: Dr R Edwards

Co-Supervisor: Dr R Wood

Application Deadline: Applications accepted all year round

Funding Availability: Funded PhD Project (European/UK Students Only)

Student background required: 

Candidates should ideally have a background and / or first degree in Building Services / Electrical / Mechanical / Civil Engineering, although numerate applicants from outside these disciplines will be considered. 

Benefit to / Impact on Industry: 
The multidisciplinary project will bring together socio- technical and climate impacts to produce holistic , better informed predictions of future demand patterns 

What novelty will the student base their PhD on? 
The multidisciplinary approach to the prediction of future demand patterns has not been attempted before on the grand scale. 

Project overview: 
The PhD will explore how daily electricity load profiles for heating and cooling in buildings (domestic or commercial) may change in response to both socio-technical changes and climate impacts. Climate projections indicate that in the future, summer temperatures will increase which coupled with the urban heat island effect may encourage or perhaps even necessitate the adoption and use of cooling technologies, thereby increasing loads on power networks. The proportion of commercial buildings with air conditioning will probably increase and there is significant potential for domestic consumers to deploy cooling equipment in their homes, creating additional load during peak times. The project will explore the potential size of this increase determined by alternative technologies and usage patterns. 

Outline of Proposed Project Plan: 
Year 1: Taught courses and preparatory study 
Year 2: Extensive literature review 
Formulation of detailed research methodology 
Gathering of building stock data and assessment of future trends in building energy efficiency and usage. 
Year 3: Evaluation of possible future building stock, climate and electricity demand scenarios 
Identification of scenarios to be used in modelling 
Modelling of predicted demands 
Year 4: 
Sensitivity analysis ( this will be quite involved ) 
PhD Writing 
Paper writing 

Funding Notes:

This project is funded by EPSRC, the University of Manchester and our Industry partners. Funding is available to UK candidates. EU candidates are also eligible if they have been studying or working continuously in the UK for three or more years (prior to the start date of the programme). The successful candidates will have their fees paid in full and will receive an enhanced maintenance stipend. 

See here for information on how to apply and entry requirements: www.power-networks-cdt.manchester.ac.uk/study/projects-apply