PhD Studentship: Stability and Control of Inverter-based Resources in Electrical Distribution Networks

This 3.5 year PhD project is fully funded and home students, and EU students with settled status, are eligible to apply. The successful candidate will received an annual tax free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£19,237 for 2024/25) and tuition fees will be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year.

Modernised distribution power networks face an unprecedented challenge as thousands of power electronic converters are required to connect renewable energy sources and energy storage systems to the power network. These converters employ sophisticated control algorithms that must simultaneously achieve multiple objectives in real-time. The complexity of coordinating these distributed systems while ensuring stability and optimal performance presents a significant technical barrier that must be overcome to achieve widespread renewable energy integration. The proliferation of distributed energy resources (DERs) has fundamentally transformed traditional power distribution networks from passive systems into active networks with bidirectional power flows. This transformation introduces new dynamics and interactions between power electronic interfaces, traditional grid infrastructure, and various control systems. The increasing penetration of renewable energy sources, particularly solar PV and wind power, creates a pressing need for advanced coordination strategies that can maintain system stability while optimising performance across multiple timescales and spatial domains. Systematically resolving these challenges in renewable-dominated power networks stands as a critical cornerstone for enabling the roadmap to net zero.

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

To apply, please contact the main supervisor, Dr Mahdieh Sadabadi - mahdieh.sadabadi@manchester.ac.uk. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

Advert information