Dynamic performance and AI driven optimisation of hybrid energy systems for net zero
The EPSRC and BBSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Negative Emission Technologies for Net Zero (Net2Zero CDT) is a partnership between Aston University (lead institution), the 糖心原创, Queen's University Belfast, and the University of Warwick.
You will benefit from:
- Access to world-class research facilities
- Collaboration with academia, industry, government, and policymakers
- International networking opportunities
- Training in engineering, communication, entrepreneurship, and business skills
- A three-month industrial, research, or policy placement
- Opportunities to contribute to transformative net-zero technologies
Project overview
This fully funded PhD project aims to develop and evaluate a novel hybrid energy system that integrates gas turbines, low-temperature carbon capture, biomass gasification, and advanced solar thermal technologies to enable carbon-negative fuel production and grid support.
The project addresses the urgent need to decarbonise energy systems while maintaining grid stability and supporting sustainable fuel production. You will investigate how intelligent hybrid energy platforms can enhance system performance, maximise carbon utilisation, and contribute to the UK's net-zero ambitions.
Aim
The project aims to design and evaluate an integrated hybrid energy system capable of:
- Supporting flexible and resilient energy generation
- Producing carbon-negative fuels
- Enhancing grid stability under variable renewable energy penetration
- Maximising carbon dioxide utilisation through advanced process integration
- Demonstrating the technical, environmental, and economic feasibility of large-scaledeployment
Research objectives
You will:
- Develop thermodynamic models of integrated hybrid energy systems combining gas turbines, biomass gasification, low-temperature carbon capture, advanced solar thermal technologies
- Conduct transient simulations using UK climate and grid demand profiles
- Evaluate system performance under variable operating conditions
- Perform techno-economic assessments to determine commercial viability
- Undertake life cycle assessment (LCA) to quantify environmental benefits
- Develop AI-driven multi-objective optimisation frameworks to:
- Coordinate energy flows across the hybrid system
- Improve operational efficiency
- Maximise carbon dioxide utilisation
- Support intelligent control strategies
- Investigate the transferability of the hybridisation framework to industrial furnaces (e.g. steel and cement sectors), waste-to-energy plants, and other industrial energy systems
Project background
Supervisors: Dr Ioanna Dimitriou and Dr Oliver Fisher
As global energy demand continues to increase, reducing carbon emissions whilemaintaining reliable energy supplies presents a significant challenge.
Gas turbine-based power generation remains a major contributor to electricity supply but also produces substantial carbon emissions. Existing hybrid energy system studies often focus on electricity-intensive Power-to-X approaches, whilst underutilising biomass conversion and advanced solar thermal technologies.
Emerging low-temperature carbon capture technologies, including electrochemically mediated amine regeneration, offer significant promise but remain largely unexplored within integrated hybrid systems.
This project seeks to address these challenges by developing intelligent, flexible, and economically viable hybrid energy systems capable of accelerating the transition towards netzero.
Prospective start date: February 2027 for four years
Person specification
We are seeking highly motivated candidates who hold, or expect to obtain before commencing the project, a First Class or strong Upper Second-Class (2:1) Honours degree (or equivalent) in:
- Chemical engineering
- Mechanical engineering
- Energy engineering
- Process engineering
- Or a closely related discipline
Essential skills and experience
You should possess:
- Motivation, creativity, and resourcefulness
- A mature approach to learning
- A solid foundation in thermodynamics, process modelling, programming, and energy systems
- Experience in, or willingness to learn, modelling and simulation software such as MATLAB, Pythono Engineering Equation Solver (EES), Aspen Plus, and TRNSYS
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Desirable attributes
Although not essential, experience in any of the following areas would be advantageous:
- Energy systems modelling
- Carbon capture technologies
- Biomass conversion processes
- Artificial intelligence and optimisation
- Techno-economic analysis
- Life cycle assessment
Equality, diversity, and inclusion
The Net2Zero CDT is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in higher education and research including people from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled people, LGBTQI+ people, and women.
Eligibility and funding
This opportunity is open to home fee status candidates only. Read the . Applicants should ensure they meet the UK Government regulations relating to home fee status eligibility before applying.
- UKRI tax-free stipend (£21,805 per year for 2026/27)
- Full tuition fee support
- Research training support grant
How to apply
Closing date: open until filled. This studentship is filled on a first-in, first-served basis; therefore we encourage early expression of interest.
You should first . You only need to submit one Expression of Interest regardless of the number of projects you are interested in at the Net2Zero CDT. Successful applicants will be invited to submit a formal application via the NottinghamHub.
When submitting an EOI form please include the following information:
- Your personal details for processing the application
- A copy of your passport and, where relevant, include evidence of settled or pre-settled status
- Your personal characteristics for monitoring purposes only
- Your academic background. We will require English language copies (or screen captures) of the transcripts and certificates for all your higher education degrees including any bachelor degrees
- If English is not your first language you will be required to present evidence that you meet the English Language requirements. You can submit the evidence at a later stage
- Your research background and experience
- Expressions of interest will be assessed against the following criteria
- Candidate’s motivation and experience: the extent to which the candidate’s expertise, experience, and ambitions align with the goals of the Net2Zero CDT programme
- If you are shortlisted you will have the opportunity to meet the potential supervisors.
Contact
For enquiries regarding eligibility, funding, or the application process please email the Net2Zero CDT team at EZ-Net2Zero-CDT@nottingham.ac.uk
For enquiries regarding the research project, supervision, technical aspects of the research, or the proposed work programme please email: