DER to support EV charging

DER to support orchestration of high power EV charging infrastructure in weak grids

Degree type

PhD

Closing date

1 February 2023

Campus

Hobart

Citizenship requirement

Domestic/International

Scholarship

$36,161pa for 3.5 years

About the research project

This project is part of the new ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre in Energy Technologies for Future Grids (ARC Future Grids ITTC). The ARC Future Grids ITTC is a 5 year, $8.5M investment program, including $5M from the Australian Research Council (ARC), designed to support the transition of Australia’s power and energy industry to a more sustainable, competitive and resilient position based on the development of human intellectual capital through training a new generation of innovators while simultaneously fostering an R&D culture within the electricity sector to leverage new skills for advancing Australia’s transition to a clean energy future.

Led by the University of Wollongong, the ARC Future Grids ITTC brings together 6 Universities (The University of New South Wales, The University of Queensland, University of Tasmania, Deakin University, and Curtin University) and 14 industry partners (CSIRO, Hydro Tasmania, TasNetworks, Powerlink, ZECO Energy, GHD, ACEN Australia, TPS Energy, Shoalhaven Water, Ingeteam Australia, Abel Energy, 123V, Essential Energy, and The Australian Power Institute) across five Australian states to deliver the next generation of industry leaders and specialists in future grid technologies to ensure Australia can smoothly manage the transition required in decarbonising its electricity sector. More information about the ITTC is at https://www.uow.edu.au/engineering-information-sciences/research/arc-training-centre-in-energy-technologies-for-future-grids/. The ARC Future Grids Training Centre is hosting a major event – 2023 IEEE International Conference in Energy Technologies for Future Grids (IEEE ETFG 2023) to be held at Wollongong, Australia on 3 – 6 December 2023 (https://attend.ieee.org/etfg-2023/).

This research project will investigate matching the demand from EV charging with renewable generation to ensure distribution networks can be dynamically operated in real-time and within their technical limits, while maximizing the potential hosting capability of the existing network for both EV charging and Distributed Energy Resources (DER).  The project will identify suitable EV charging station locations such that their placement reduces their negative impact on the network, and develop and evaluate a range of DER orchestration methods and strategies (including integrated energy storage systems and new tariffs) to maximise the potential dynamic hosting capability for EV and DER infrastructure.  As part of this project you will be supported and mentored by TasNetworks, and will spend time embedded within TasNetworks as part of the PhD program.

Primary Supervisor

Meet Dr Sarah Lyden

Funding

The successful applicant will receive a scholarship which provides:

  • a living allowance stipend of $36,161 per annum (2023 rate, indexed annually) for 3.5 years
  • a relocation allowance of up to $2,000
  • a tuition fees offset covering the cost of tuition fees for up to four years (domestic applicants only)

If successful, international applicants will receive a University of Tasmania Fees Offset for up to four years.

As part of the application process you may indicate if you do not wish to be considered for scholarship funding.

Eligibility

Applicants should review the Higher Degree by Research minimum entry requirements.

Additional eligibility criteria specific to this project/scholarship:

  • Applicants must be able to undertake the project on-campus

Selection Criteria

The project is competitively assessed and awarded.  Selection is based on academic merit and suitability to the project as determined by the College.

Application process

There is a three-step application process:

  1. Select your project, and check you meet the eligibility and selection criteria;
  2. Contact the Primary Supervisor, Dr Sarah Lyden to discuss your suitability and the project's requirements; and
  3. Submit an application by the closing date listed above.
    • Copy and paste the title of the project from this advertisement into your application. If you don’t correctly do this your application may be rejected.
    • As part of your application, you will be required to submit a covering letter, a CV including 2 x referees and your project research proposal.

Following the application closing date applications will be assessed within the College. Applicants should expect to receive notification of the outcome by email by the advertised outcome date.

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