System-Level Optimisation of Offshore Wind and Green Hydrogen for Energy Transition

About the Project

These projects are open to students worldwide, but have no funding attached. Therefore, the successful applicant will be expected to fund tuition fees at the relevant level (home or international) and any applicable additional research costs. Please consider this before applying.

The overall aim of this PhD project is to develop and apply advanced multi-objective optimisation methodologies for the integrated design and operation of offshore wind farms, green hydrogen production systems, and associated energy storage technologies within a system-level energy transition framework.

The research will address the co-optimisation of offshore wind and hydrogen systems at both component and system scales. From the offshore wind perspective, this includes the optimisation of wind farm location, size, layout, and operational strategies. From the green hydrogen perspective, the project will investigate the optimal selection, sizing, spatial allocation, and operational scheduling of electrolysers, alongside the design and capacity optimisation of hydrogen production and storage infrastructure. Energy storage systems will be considered as enabling components that enhance flexibility, reliability, and overall system value.

The research will adopt a case-study-based approach, applying the developed methodologies to real-world offshore wind–hydrogen–storage configurations in different geographical and system settings. Modelling, simulation, and multi-objective optimisation will be carried out using the MOHRES software tool (https://mohres.com/), which supports integrated analysis of multi-energy systems and energy transition planning.

While the core optimisation framework and system-level objectives of the project are fixed, the precise research emphasis can be refined in line with the successful candidate’s background and interests. Depending on the applicant’s expertise, the PhD may place greater emphasis on offshore wind farm optimisation or on green hydrogen system optimisation, while maintaining a consistent integrated systems perspective.

The outcomes of the project will be assessed using multi-criteria evaluation methods to quantify technical, economic, environmental, and social impacts, ensuring relevance to academic research, industry stakeholders, and policymakers.

Selection will be made on the basis of academic merit. The successful candidate should have, or expect to obtain, a UK Honours degree at 2.1 or above (or equivalent) in relevant engineering discipline (e.g. Renewable Energy, Mechanical, Electrical, Power) or Applied Maths. The project is ideal for candidates with a strong foundation in programming, mathematical modelling, and optimisation, as these skills are essential for addressing the technical challenges of system design. Applicants must also have a solid background in renewable energy conversion systems and experience with programming in MATLAB or Python. During the PhD study, candidates are expected to develop a robust knowledge of artificial intelligence and multi-objective optimisation techniques, which are central to the research. Furthermore, the research demands a willingness to engage in cross-disciplinary exploration, combining technical, economic, and policy perspectives to develop comprehensive solutions.

Application Procedure:

Formal applications can be completed online: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/pgap/login.php.

You should apply for PhD in Engineering to ensure your application is passed to the correct team for processing.

Please clearly note the name of the lead supervisor and project title on the application form. If you do not include these details, it may not be considered for the studentship.

Your application must include: A personal statement, an up-to-date copy of your academic CV, and clear copies of your educational certificates and transcripts.

Please note: you do not need to provide a research proposal with this application.

Informal enquiries can be made by contacting Professor A Maheri on alireza.maheri@abdn.ac.uk

If you require any additional assistance in submitting your application or have any queries about the application process, please don't hesitate to contact us at researchadmissions@abdn.ac.uk

Funding Notes

This is a self-funding project open to students worldwide. Our typical start dates for this programme are February or October.

Fees for this programme can be found here Finance and Funding | Study Here | The University of Aberdeen

Additional research costs / bench fees may also apply and will be discussed prior to any offer being made.