Advancing Sustainable Hydrogen Production for Net Zero Industries

Summary

The urgency to mitigate climate change has never been greater as atmospheric carbon dioxide levels surpass critical thresholds. Hydrogen, a sustainable energy carrier and versatile fuel, is a key solution for reducing global dependence on fossil fuels. However, achieving this transition requires significant investment in advanced electrolysis technologies. Integrating high-temperature electrolysis with low-carbon energy sources, such as nuclear and renewables, offers a transformative and optimized pathway to sustainable chemicals production, aligning with the UK’s drive towards future sustainable industries.

This PhD project will focus on designing and optimizing an industrial symbiosis (IS) network in the UK, incorporating power plants (nuclear, gas-fired, and biofuel-fired), renewable energy sources (wind, solar), and hydrogen processing facilities. The project will address spatial and temporal dynamics to create a resilient and efficient hydrogen production ecosystem. By leveraging IS principles, the network will enable resource-circular solutions for sustainable and green chemical manufacturing. This includes integrating renewable and low-carbon electricity with waste streams from energy production, enhancing energy efficiency, and minimizing resource use.

This research aligns with national and global efforts to combat climate change by providing innovative, climate-smart pathways to decarbonising energy and chemical production. You will develop expertise in energy systems optimisation, sustainable process design, and industrial symbiosis, contributing to the UK’s transition to net zero.

This project aims to develop novel new ways to optimise the temporal nature of renewable energy and supply chain variability, demonstrating the resilience of the designed Industrial symbiosis network.

Specific Project related objectives include:

1. Evaluate process and energy efficiencies of H2 and green platform chemicals using real-time data from solid oxide electrolysis benchmarked against alternative business-as-usual (BAU) flowsheets.
2. Model conventional energy processes (gas-fired reactor, nuclear reactor) and evaluate process integration options, considering waste flow analysis and IS calculations.
3. Generate IS options, design hybrid flowsheets and benchmark process performance against other BAU production scenarios.
4. Estimate potential benefits across sustainability domains using techno-economics and life cycle sustainability assessments.
5. Construct case-specific supply chain optimisation models under uncertainty linked to power system variability, cost and GHG emissions.

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.