PhD Opportunities

PhD Expressions of Interest

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The distribution network supplies electricity directly from the transmission system to end users and has been historically designed for unidirectional power flows with very limited observability. This infrastructure that delivers electricity to our houses, shops, buildings, etc., will need to undergo significant developments to cope with the increased levels of small-to-medium-scale distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar PV systems, wind farms, storage, and electric vehicles and to make the most of large amounts of data.

Australia, home to kangaroos, koalas, and more than 10,000 beaches, also has the largest residential PV penetration in the world: almost 1 in 3 houses have PV systems. The adoption of residential batteries is also growing at a pace not seen in other countries. The bi-directionality of power flows and the new behaviour of demand bring significant challenges to distribution companies that still need to operate and plan the poles and wires. However, many opportunities can be untapped if we find practical and clever ways of orchestrating these DERs.

The challenges of adapting the operation and planning of the distribution network to new and variable levels of demand and generation require forward thinking and technical innovation, and we are at the forefront of research and development in this sector. From the highly granular and detailed modelling of medium and low voltage networks and DER technologies to the stochastic quantification of whole-network impacts due to high DER penetrations to the exploitation and, more importantly, the identification of the most cost-effective integration solutions for both network operators and end-users, we are positioned as one of the most vital groups worldwide. Working directly with electric distribution companies, we provide academic expertise and facilities to test and develop solutions to bring electricity distribution networks into the low-carbon future.

The PhD projects will involve regional companies (data, know-how, and internships). From operational and planning perspectives, they will investigate practical and futuristic approaches (optimisation, artificial intelligence) to manage distribution networks with high penetrations of DER.

What are we looking for?

Enthusiastic applicants (of any nationality) that want to make a positive impact in the world and can work in a collaborative environment. You should have an excellent academic track record in Electrical Engineering (or similar) as well as excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Being familiar with distribution network modelling, distribution network analysis, programming languages, and/or optimisation/AI software packages is, of course, a bonus. However, we will also provide the corresponding training.

What are we offering?

Fully-funded scholarships for 3.5 years. This covers full international tuition fees, a stipend of ~AUD 37,000 a year (tax-free), and international relocation assistance of AUD 3,000 to move to one of the most liveable cities in the world. There is also a performance-based top-up of up to AUD 5,000 a year (tax-free).

You will be part of one of the world’s top research teams in Smart Distribution Networks. We are a family of like-minded engineers with diverse backgrounds who strive to produce world-class research. We take a collaborative approach to our research and value the social component of our activities.

You can learn more about our team, projects, and publications by visiting this website: https://sites.google.com/view/luisfochoa/

Interested in this exciting opportunity?

Please use the button below to submit an Expression of Interest including your transcripts and CV.