Agentic Reconfigurable Battery Scheduling for Multi-Energy Markets

About the Project

Project Description:

The College of Business, Technology and Engineering draws on talents, expertise and facilities across Sheffield Hallam University. The vision is to be the leading provider of applied research excellence delivering business, materials, computing, science and engineering innovations meeting the development needs of industry.

This project is part of a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (Sheffield Hallam University | About the University | 23 PhD programmes in English - FindAPhD.com) scheme, in which the successful applicant will undertake certain teaching duties associated with the student experience, in addition to working towards a PhD qualification. They will contribute up to 180 hours of support for research or teaching related activity per academic year. This activity forms part of the scholarship and there is no additional payment.

PhD Research Topic:

Agentic Reconfigurable Battery Scheduling for Multi‑Energy Markets

Are you driven by big ideas, bold innovation, and research that can reshape the future of energy system? This fully funded PhD offers an exceptional opportunity to work at the cutting edge of agentic-AI, smart energy systems, and next‑generation battery technologies. We are seeking a highly talented, curious, and motivated researcher to join a pioneering project that aims to redefine how energy storage participates in tomorrow’s multi‑energy markets.

About the Project

As renewable energy grows, the need for intelligent, flexible, and resilient storage increases. Traditional battery scheduling is no longer enough. This project explores a transformative concept: reconfigurable battery systems that can autonomously adapt their behaviour in real time. When combined with agentic AI capable of reasoning, planning, and taking multi‑step autonomous actions, RBS become powerful, self‑optimising assets that can participate in electricity, heat, transport, and hydrogen markets.

Your research will develop the algorithms and models that enable these reconfigurable batteries to:

• Interpret and respond to rapidly changing market signals
• Reconfigure their internal topology for optimal performance while balancing revenue generation, battery health, emission reduction, and microgrid resilience.
• Coordinate across multiple energy vectors
• Maximise revenue while supporting grid stability and decarbonisation
• Operate autonomously within complex microgrid and multi‑energy environments

This is a chance to shape the intelligence layer of future smart grid architecture.

What You Will Do

You will explore advanced AI frameworks- including multi‑agent reinforcement learning, autonomous optimisation agents and large model‑based reasoning systems and integrate them with detailed models of reconfigurable battery hardware. You will design and test strategies that allow reconfigurable batteries to participate intelligently in markets such as frequency response, peak‑shaving, EV charging optimisation, heat‑pump support, and hydrogen production.

You will also build simulation environments and/or digital twins to evaluate performance under realistic operational and market conditions.

Why You Should Apply

• Work at the intersection of AI autonomy, energy storage innovation, and multi‑energy market design
• Contribute to real‑world solutions for microgrids, remote communities, and grid‑constrained regions
• Join a dynamic research team with strong industry and academic links
• Shape technologies that support the global transition to a flexible, low‑carbon energy system.

Who We Are Looking For

We welcome exceptional candidates from electrical engineering or related disciplines. Strong analytical and programming skills are highly valued. Experience in AI or optimisation and power systems are essential. Intellectual curiosity, creativity and ambition matter as well.

If you are excited by smart energy technologies, and research that can make a real difference, we would be delighted to hear from you. For questions, please contact

Dr. Augustine Ikpehai, a.ikpehai@shu.ac.uk.

Eligibility

Applicants should hold at least a 1st or 2:1 Honours degree in BEng/BSc/MSc/MEng Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Power Systems or a related discipline.

We strongly encourage applications from individuals from groups underrepresented in postgraduate research, including but not limited to women, LGBTQ+, and minoritised ethnic groups.

Information for international applicants

English language requirements of IELTS 7 with a minimum score of 6.5 in all test areas (or equivalent) are mandatory if English is not your first language. Qualifications should have been taken within the last two years.  Further information can be found here.

How to apply

To apply for this GTA scholarship, please use our online application form.

You must ensure that you upload:

1. A personal statement (up to 2 pages maximum) detailing your interest in the project and how your experience in academia, industry, research or social activities makes you the best candidate (Please upload this in place of a proposal). We’re looking for evidence of:
• motivation and curiosity for postgraduate research
• analytical and technical expertise related to the research proposal
• ability to communicate clearly
• planning and organisational skills
• ability to work independently and collaborate with others
• commitment to integrity and responsible research
• resilience to setbacks and challenges
• where you might contribute to teaching
2. Two letters of reference, or details of two referees, at least one from an academic and both dated within the last 2 years
3. Copy of your highest degree certificate
4. Non-UK applicants must submit IELTS results (or equivalent) taken in the last two years and a copy of their passport

If you are applying for multiple GTA projects, please clearly list them all in your application. You will need to submit a tailored personal statement for each project.

Application deadline: 07 May 2026

Start date: October 2026

Interviews: TBC

Information about our research degrees can be found here.

Overview of the GTA scheme

Conditions of Award

Funding Notes

The GTA scholarship is for 3.5 years of full-time study and provides tuition fees at both the UK (home) and international level plus a maintenance bursary in line with guidance from UK Research and Innovation and the Living Wage Foundation (for illustrative purposes, the Sheffield Hallam University bursary for 25/26 is £22152). GTA scholarships are open to both UK (home) and international applicants.