Hierarchical Control of Energy Hubs to Deliver Services to Both Power and Transport Sectors

The UK Government’s net zero strategy predicts a 60% increase in electricity demand due to the switching of energy supply modes from fossil fuel to electricity in major sectors including transport. Transport is currently the largest emitting sector and decarbonizing all form of transport is a national key priority. Railway is a cleaner transport mode, and the UK’s largest electricity consumer (~4 TWh p.a. ~1.2% of UK total). The railway's decarbonisation ambitions to phase out diesel trains by 2040 will result in a major increase in electricity demand (~ 3TWh), requiring ££ billions investment to electrify/decarbonize ~15,000 single track kilometre (stk) rail. Energy hubs are novel microgrid technology to interface with both transport network and power grid as configurable, flexible and controllable coupling components, transforming power supply for electrifying the transport network from inflexible loads to flexible demand. <br /> <br /> This Hierarchical Control of Energy Hubs project aims to tackle one of the technical challenges to design a hierarchical control framework and methods to meet various control objectives in delivering services to both power grid and transport traction power supply network.

<p>The energy hub concept was first proposed by Leeds team to support railway decarbonization, and subsequent projects have investigated its feasibility and technical design, followed by a recent £11M project to build a demonstrator to verify the technology and explore its business viability. The ultimate goal is to implement the Energy Hub solution at as many of the 2,500 railway stations and depots in the UK, and also extend the energy hubs to other transportation modes, making these hubs key energy and transport nexuses. By connecting these hubs to the grid, we aim to support a future low-carbon power system and defer the transmission network upgrade, unlocking the capacity of GB transmission network while supporting electrification of the transportation networks. </p> <p>The hierarchical control of the energy hub is one of the key innovative technologies to support operation and control of the energy hubs when they are interfacing with both power grid and traction power supply network for surface vehicles. However, several key challenges remain to be addressed in the control of the energy hubs, including primary, secondary and tertiary control to meet multiple control objectives in order to deliver various services to both traction power supply network and power grid. </p> <p>This Hierarchical Control of Energy Hubs project aims to tackle one of the technical challenges in designing a hierarchical control framework and methods to meet various control objectives in delivering services to both power grid and transport traction power supply network. An open plug-and-play framework with associated novel power electronics topology and control methods will be developed with the following distinctive and novel features: 1) Enable plug-and-play application of different grid forming and grid following units in microgrids; 2) Enable fast and effective aggregation of microgrids and their devices and components through the primary, secondary and tertiary control to improve the overall flexibility of the energy network and to deliver services to both power grid and traction power supply network. </p>

<p>Formal applications for research degree study should be made online through the <a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/research-applying/doc/applying-research-degrees">University's website</a>. Please state clearly in the Planned Course of Study section that you are applying for <em><strong>PHD Electronic & Electrical Engineering FT</strong></em> and in the research information section that the research degree you wish to be considered for is <em><strong>Hierarchical Control of Energy Hubs to Deliver Services to Both Power and Transport Sectors</strong></em> as well as <a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/electronic-engineering/staff/1381/professor-kang-li">Prof Kang Li</a> as your proposed supervisor. <em><strong>Please state clearly in the Finance section that the funding source you are applying for is School of Electronic & Electrical Engineering Studentship 2025/26.</strong></em></p> <p>If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence that you meet the University's minimum English language requirements (below).</p> <p><em>As an international research-intensive university, we welcome students from all walks of life and from across the world. We foster an inclusive environment where all can flourish and prosper, and we are proud of our strong commitment to student education. Across all Faculties we are dedicated to diversifying our community and we welcome the unique contributions that individuals can bring, and particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to Black, Asian, people who belong to a minority ethnic community, people who identify as LGBT+ and people with disabilities. Applicants will always be selected based on merit and ability.</em></p> <p>Applications will be considered after the deadline.  Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the supervisors for an informal discussion before making a formal application.  We also advise that you apply at the earliest opportunity as the application and selection process may close early, should we receive a sufficient number of applications or that a suitable candidate is appointed.</p> <p>Please note that you must provide the following documents in support of your application by the closing date of Wednesday 15 January 2025:</p> <ul> <li>Full Transcripts of all degree study or if in final year of study, full transcripts to date</li> <li>Personal Statement outlining your interest in the project</li> <li>CV</li> </ul>

Applicants to research degree programmes should normally have at least a first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline. The criteria for entry for some research degrees may be higher, for example, several faculties, also require a Masters degree. Applicants are advised to check with the relevant School prior to making an application. Applicants who are uncertain about the requirements for a particular research degree are advised to contact the School or Graduate School prior to making an application.

The minimum English language entry requirement for research postgraduate research study is an IELTS of 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component (reading, writing, listening and speaking) or equivalent. The test must be dated within two years of the start date of the course in order to be valid. Some schools and faculties have a higher requirement.

<p class="MsoNoSpacing">A highly competitive School of [Insert School] Studentship providing the award of full academic fees, together with a tax-free maintenance grant at the standard UKRI rate (£19,237 in academic session 2024/25) for 3.5 years. There are no additional allowances for travel, research expenses, conference attendance or any other costs.</p> <p>You will be responsible for paying the overtime fee in full in your writing up/overtime year (£320 in Session 2024/25), but the scholarship maintenance allowance will continue to be paid for up to 6 months in the final year of award.</p> <p><strong>Important:</strong> Please note that that the award does <em><strong>not</strong></em> cover the costs associated with moving to the UK.  All such costs (<a href="https://www.leeds.ac.uk/international-visas-immigration/doc/applying-student-visa">visa, Immigration Health Surcharge</a>, flights etc) would have to be met by yourself, or you will need to find an alternative funding source. </p> <p>Please refer to the <a href="https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/">UKCISA</a> website for information regarding Fee Status for Non-UK Nationals.</p>

<p>For further information about this project, please contact Professor Kang Li by email to <a href="mailto:k.li1@leeds.ac.uk">k.li1@leeds.ac.uk</a></p> <p>For further information about your application, please contact PGR Admissions by email to <a href="mailto:phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk">phd@engineering.leeds.ac.uk</a></p> <p> </p>