Smart Grids for Decarbonisation and Flexibility: Renewable and Transport Energy Integration

University of Birmingham, Department of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering

Dr Zhongbei Tian

Applications accepted all year round

Self-Funded PhD Students Only

About the Project

Achieving net-zero emissions requires an energy system that is highly flexible, resilient, and capable of integrating large volumes of renewable generation and electrified transport. This PhD project will investigate next-generation Smart Grid technologies and system architectures that enable deep decarbonisation through improved flexibility, intelligent operation, and coordinated management of multi-vector energy systems.

The project will focus on the rapid transformation of electricity networks driven by renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, the deployment of energy storage systems, and the electrification of transport across road, rail, ship and aircraft. As the penetration of variable renewable energy increases, power systems must operate with reduced inertia, greater uncertainty, and more complex dynamics. At the same time, electric vehicles, rail traction loads, port electrification loads, depot charging, and fast-charging infrastructure are emerging as major new demands on distribution and transmission networks. These trends create new challenges but also significant opportunities to unlock flexibility through advanced control, digitalisation, and cross-sector integration.

This PhD will explore methods to model, simulate, and optimise Smart Grid operation under high renewables and high electrification scenarios. Potential research themes include:

• Renewable energy integration, including forecasting, grid stability analysis, and mitigation of variability using storage and demand response.
• Flexibility provision, examining how distributed storage, vehicle-to-grid (V2G), rail traction systems, and industrial loads can provide frequency response, peak shaving, congestion management, and voltage support.
• Energy storage optimisation, assessing the role of battery systems, hybrid storage technologies, and emerging multi-use business models.
• Transport energy integration, including coordinated control of EV charging infrastructure, railway traction substations, depot microgrids, and intermodal transport hubs.
• Smart Grid control and optimisation, leveraging advanced digital twins, AI-enabled system management, and multi-energy optimisation frameworks.

The successful candidate will develop high-fidelity models of renewable-rich, electrified power networks and apply advanced analytical, simulation, and optimisation techniques. Depending on interest, the project may also incorporate real-time hardware-in-the-loop simulation, power electronics-in-the-loop testing, or integration with industry-grade tools used by grid operators and transport agencies.

The work will contribute to the design of future low-carbon energy systems where electricity, transport, and storage assets operate in a coordinated, intelligent manner. The expected outcomes include new methodologies for flexibility assessment, operational strategies to support renewable integration, and technical insights that enable the development of resilient, cost-effective Smart Grids capable of meeting net-zero objectives.

This project is suitable for students with backgrounds in electrical engineering, energy systems, control engineering, power electronics, transport engineering or related fields. It offers opportunities to work with industry partners and research centres engaged in Smart Grid innovation, transport decarbonisation, and energy systems integration.

Funding Notes

This is a self-funded PhD position. The successful candidate will join the Birmingham Power and Control Group. The student will have extensive opportunities to gain experience in both cutting-edge academic research and real-world industry innovation through collaborations with national and international partners.

Excellent applicants may be considered for nomination to competitive funding schemes, including government scholarships, University of Birmingham PhD awards, and industry-sponsored studentships.