PhD Studentship - Improving Resilience and Situational Awareness in Interdependent Energy Networks during Adverse Events

Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences EPSRC Project Proposals 2025/26

Project Title: Improving Resilience and Situational Awareness in Interdependent Energy Networks during Adverse Events

Eligibility: UK/International

Funding: School of Electronic & Electrical Engineering Studentship consisting of the award of fees, together with a tax-free maintenance grant of £19,237 per year for 3.5 years (Competition). 

Lead Supervisor’s full name & email address

Dr Amir Abiri Jahromi: a.abirijahromi@leeds.ac.uk

Co-supervisor name & email address

Professor Mohsen Razavi: m.razavi@leeds.ac.uk

Project summary

The interdependence between energy networks such as electric power systems, natural gas networks, and heating systems has been increasing over the past years. This interdependence is expected to accelerate and become more complicated in the next two decades by the movement towards decarbonisation of energy networks. For instance, gas-fired generating units play a crucial role in providing operational flexibility for the integration of renewable energy resources such as wind and solar. Thus, adverse events in one system can easily spread to other systems and cause cascading failures. This highlights the pressing need for the development of mathematical models and co-simulation platforms with the ability to analyse and simulate the interdependence between energy networks. Moreover, there is a pressing need for development of new technologies with the ability to improve the situational awareness and resilience of interdependent energy networks during adverse events.

The objective of this project is to develop mathematical tools and co-simulation platforms with the ability to analyse the resilience of interdependent energy networks to cascading failures during adverse events. Moreover, we will investigate advanced technologies for improving the situational awareness and resilience of interdependent energy networks during adverse events. Applicants with a strong track record in any of the following fields are encouraged to apply for this position:

1) Power systems modelling (solid background in power systems and experience in working with EMTP-RV, PSCAD, PowerFactory, OPAL-RT, and optimization tools such as GAMS-CPLEX is a plus).

2) modelling and simulation of energy systems including electricity networks, gas networks, and heating systems.

3) Modelling and simulation of communication networks (Experience in working with OMNeT++ or GNS3 is a plus)

Please state your entry requirements plus any necessary or desired background

A first class or an upper second class British Bachelors Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate discipline.

Subject Area

Electronic and electrical, energy

For full details and to apply, please click on the ‘Apply’ button above 

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