Designing the Resilient Lunar Power Grid

About the Project

As humanity prepares for a sustained presence on the Moon, the single most critical challenge is establishing a reliable, resilient, and truly sustainable power grid. Designing this life-support system is a profound engineering challenge. Do you place solar farms at the poles for near-constant light, or in the mid-latitudes for different operational advantages? How large must the battery farms be to survive the deep cold of the 14-day lunar night?

These are not independent questions. The optimal placement of assets is deeply coupled with the dynamic, second-by-second operation of the grid. Yet, these challenges are often tackled in isolation. This PhD project will pioneer a new, holistic approach. You will create a novel integrated co-design framework that, for the first time, links strategic site optimisation with high-fidelity operational simulation to design a truly resilient lunar power system.

Your mission will be to build the most realistic "digital twin" of a lunar grid to date. Going far beyond the "smooth Moon" assumption, you will:

1. Use real lunar topography data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to model how local crater walls and terrain cast shadows that impact power generation.
2. Incorporate advanced models for the long-term degradation of the system, accounting for factors like battery cycle life and the persistent risk of micrometeoroid impacts.
3. Develop an intelligent Energy Management System (EMS) that uses forecasting and optimisation to make smart decisions about when to store energy, when to use it, and how to shed non-critical loads to maximise mission survival.

This project isn't just about calculating power output; it's about answering the deep questions of system resilience. What is the true lifetime of a lunar grid under realistic conditions? Where are its vulnerabilities, and how can we design a system that can withstand them? Your work will produce a powerful new design tool for future space missions and establish a blueprint for powering humanity's future on the Moon and beyond.

Academic qualifications

A 1st degree (minimum 2:1 classification) in one of the following areas:

• Aerospace, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering
• Systems Engineering
• Physics or Applied Mathematics
• Computer Science (with a strong focus on physical modelling)

English language requirement

IELTS score must be at least 6.5 (with not less than 6.0 in each of the four components). Other, equivalent qualifications will be accepted. Full details of the University’s policy are available online.

Essential attributes:

• Mathematical Modelling: A strong ability to represent complex physical systems computationally.
• Energy Systems & Thermodynamics: The principles of energy generation, storage, and transfer.
• Programming: Demonstrable experience in a language suited for technical computing (e.g., MATLAB, Python).
• Control Systems: An understanding of feedback and system dynamics.
• Excellent quantitative and analytical problem-solving skills.
• A keen interest in space exploration and solving complex, interdisciplinary challenges.
• The ability to work independently and drive a novel research agenda.
• A creative and inquisitive mindset.

Desirable attributes:

• Experience with simulation software (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink).
• Knowledge of optimisation algorithms or machine learning.
• Familiarity with power electronics or battery management systems.
• Previous project work related to space systems, renewable energy, or microgrids

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

• Completed application form
• CV
• 2 academic references, using the Postgraduate Educational Reference Form (download)
• Research project outline of 2 pages (list of references excluded). The outline may provide details about
  1. Background and motivation of the project. The motivation, explaining the importance of the project, should be supported also by relevant literature. You can also discuss the applications you expect for the project results.
  2. Research questions or objectives.
  3. Methodology: types of data to be used, approach to data collection, and data analysis methods.
  4. List of references.

The outline must be created solely by the applicant. Supervisors can only offer general discussions about the project idea without providing any additional support.

• Statement no longer than 1 page describing your motivations and fit with the project.
• Evidence of proficiency in English (if appropriate)

To be considered, the application must use

• the advertised title as project title

For informal enquiries about this PhD project, please contact e.tingas@napier.ac.uk

Application Enquiries: https://www.napier.ac.uk/research-and-innovation/doctoral-college/application-guidance

Application link: https://evision.napier.ac.uk/si/sits.urd/run/siw_sso.go?mP9MDnTs1Rwm8ftb3WVhDhXtraMQwXSUMdHC9wIc34es5bJqXf