Policy-Driven Approaches to Decarbonisation Readiness

This 3.5 year PhD project is fully funded and open to home students and overseas applicants. 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.

This interdisciplinary project will critically analyse how data analytics and policy modelling frameworks can be optimised to evaluate policy effectiveness, market incentives, and governance structures for the net-zero transition. The research will investigate how regulatory and economic policies shape infrastructure readiness, investment flows, and the adoption of low-carbon technologies. A key output will be the development of a Decarbonisation Readiness Index (DRI) that assesses policy alignment with net-zero goals, economic feasibility, and social equity considerations.

The project will bridge data analysis with policy evaluation, examining trends in carbon pricing, renewable energy subsidies, market-based incentives, and regulatory barriers. Emphasis will be placed on developing policy frameworks that leverage market-based instruments, public-private partnerships, and financial incentives to enhance decarbonisation readiness and equitable energy access.

The successful candidate will develop a comprehensive Decarbonisation Readiness Index (DRI) to inform targeted policy recommendations, ensuring that data-driven insights are aligned with effective market incentives and regulatory innovations. The research will contribute to designing policy instruments that accelerate net-zero transitions, ensuring an inclusive and socially just energy transition This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of data-driven policymaking, energy governance, and decarbonisation strategy, engaging with policymakers, regulators, and market stakeholders.

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 supervisors; Prof Aoife Foley - aoife.foley@manchester.ac.uk and Dr Welfle - andrew.welfle@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.

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