Smart energy systems

Spurred by the recent and ongoing growth of renewable generation in the electricity system there is much current interest in ‘smart’ electricity distribution grids. System smartness will allow for time-shifting of electricity demand and in the future will better incorporate electricity and other energy storage systems.

In this way a smart and renewables-based electricity system promises to deliver low-carbon electricity. What, however, will these changes imply for electricity system reliability? How will society adjust to, and accept these new realities? How will these innovations roll out around the world and what are the prospects for development and deployment in less developed countries? Such questions are of concern to researchers at The Open University.

The Open University is concerned with electricity futures at a range of system sizes and time scales. We have researched electricity futures on island systems over time periods of decades and grid stability in large systems over timescales of minutes. We have considered systems as large as continents and electricity management in individual homes.

Entry requirements

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree in a technical discipline (previously, students have been sought with a mathematical or an electrical power system engineering background). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English.

Current/recent research projects

• George Matthew, Research methods: system dynamics modelling of smart grid development and utilization, PhD awarded 2018.
• OU researchers played a part in editing and contributed chapters to a recent book published by ICE Publishing entitled: Energy and Mobility in Smart Cities 

Potential supervisors

• Professor Matthew Cook – School of Engineering and Innovation
• Professor Laurence Dooley – School of Computing and Communications
• Dr Ben Mestel – School of Mathematics and Statistics
• Professor William J. Nuttall – School of Engineering and Innovation
• Dr Sotiria Psoma – School of Mathematics and Statistics
• Dr Dimitar Valchev – School of Engineering and Innovation

Fees and funding

For detailed information about fees and funding, visit Fees and studentships.

To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see Current studentships.

Links

• Open University Energy Research
• Smart Milton Keynes – Smart Cities in the Making: Learning from Milton Keynes