EngD Studentship: Flexible bulge wave energy converter design integration

DoS Deborah Greaves (Deborah.greaves@plymouth.ac.uk)

2^nd Supervisor Tamer Kamel (tamer.kamel@plymouth.ac.uk)

3^rd Supervisor Martyn Hann (martyn.hann@plymouth.ac.uk)

4^th Supervisor Scott Brown (scott.brown@plymouth.ac.uk)

Applications are invited for a 4-year EPSRC funded UDLA EngD studentship.

The studentship will start 1^st October 2025.

The University is leading a new Doctoral Landscape Award designed to foster a new generation of researchers in offshore renewable energy and health and medical technologies. Funded through a grant of over £1.7million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the initiative will build on existing areas of research excellence spearheaded by the University’s Centre for Decarbonisation and Offshore Renewable Energy and Centre for Health Technology.

Project Description

Despite the huge potential resource globally, the development of wave energy has not progressed to commercialisation, and the cost of electricity from wave energy conversion are still too expensive compared with other sources. Wave energy is a valuable component of our future Net Zero renewable energy mix that can fill gaps of low generation from other sources and reduce balancing and storage costs.

Wave energy converters based on deformable materials may offer improved performance, survivability, reliability, and reduced cost compared with steel or concrete alternatives. Flexibility opens up the possibility to use a range of power take off technologies, such as novel distributed embedded energy converters and electro active polymers amongst others.

The Anaconda bulge wave energy converter is a novel attenuator flexible wave energy converter concept developed by Checkmate Seaenergy. A significant design update in 2020 resulted in the Lobe-Tendon Anaconda which maintains the power capture capabilities of the original concept while introducing significant improvements in maintainability, manufacturability, and affordability of the device.

Using hydrodynamics experiments and computational modelling, this project will contribute to further improvement of the Lobe-Tendon Anaconda technology performance level. The current state of the art in flexible WECs and PTO systems will be reviewed and assessed for integration with the Anaconda device with the overall aim of developing a cost effective and survivable WEC suitable for the island market and with future potential for utility scale applications.

Eligibility

Applicants should have a first or upper second class honours degree in an appropriate subject and preferably a relevant Masters qualification. Applications from both UK and overseas students are welcome.

The studentship is supported for 4 years (1 year taught element + 3 year industry research project) and includes full Home tuition fees, Bench fee plus a stipend of £20,780 per annum 2025/26 rate. The studentship will only fully fund those applicants who are eligible for Home fees with relevant qualifications.  Applicants normally required to cover International fees will have to cover the difference between the Home and the International tuition fee rates.  The international component of the fee may be waived for outstanding international applicants.

There is no additional funding available to cover NHS Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) costs, visa costs, flights etc.

If you wish to discuss this project further informally, please contact:

Deborah Greaves, Deborah.greaves@plymouth.ac.uk

To apply for this position please click on the Apply button above

Please clearly state the name of the studentship that you are applying for on your personal statement.

For more information on the admissions process, please contact: 

research.degree.admissions@plymouth.ac.uk

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on 28^th March 2025.

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