PhD Studentship: Efficient Electrolysis Coupling with Variable Renewable Electricity

Theme: Energy and Sustainability 

Project P number: P25303 

Start date: 29/09/2025  

Studentship funding

Sponsored by Sponsored by EPSRC and Hydrogen Waves Ltd., this DTP studentship will provide a bursary of up to £20,780 (tax free) plus fees* for four years. 

Type of opportunity 

Eligibility & Related Project Details  

Type of studentship: Self-funded / DTP / CDT / ICASE / Department / Other (please state): CDT

Fee status of eligible applicants: UK and International

Duration of Award if full time preferred*: 4 years

1^st Supervisor: Jerry Luo   

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Introductory Paragraph

A fully funded four-year PhD scholarship is available in CDT of Engineering Hydrogen Net Zero at Cranfield University. The scholarship is sponsored by EPSRC and the industrial partner (Hydrogen Waves Ltd.), including full fees and bursary.

Main Copy (advised structure)

Green hydrogen has been presented as an important aspect of the renewable energy future not only to decarbonise many industries including steel production, fertiliser production, and aviation, but also as a mean of energy storage to support grid stability and variable renewable energy curtailment. Despite its potential, current challenges for water electrolysis include slow responsiveness to varying renewable energy, high cost of balance of plants and power electronics systems and low energy efficiency, and limited lifespan of electrolysers.

The main hypothesis of the proposed research is by use of intelligent and integrated control of the input power electronics, fluid handling, and thermal control in a holistic approach, current efficiency and lifespan of electrolysis process in green hydrogen production can be improved therefore ultimately lower LCoH, contributing to net zero by generating zero carbon emissions and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Cranfield is also part of a new centre, the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Engineering Hydrogen Net Zero. This will develop the necessary networking, training and skills to enable rapid growth in hydrogen-related technology. The EnerHy CDT aims to address the challenging aspects of rapid growth in hydrogen production and usage such as cost, supply and waste chain development, scalability, new technologies and social acceptance.

This research will develop an efficient variable renewable energy (wind and solar) input system architecture to produce, store, and distribute variable power output (electrical and hydrogen). Efficient and durable power electronics hardware will be developed for reconfiguration of electrolysers to effectively MPPT the dynamic power inputs from variable renewable energies. System control will be optimised to operate efficiently (at system level including balance of plant) and safely under variable load with adequate flexibility to be coupled with variable renewable energy, including testing and validation of the hardware control and energy storage system in the 50kW pilot scale system at Cranfield University. In addition, system design of offshore hydrogen production system coupling with offshore renewable energy inputs (offshore wind and floating PVs), and options for utilising by-product oxygen and waste heat, will also be explored.

Entry requirements

Applicants should have first or second class UK honours degree and/or a Master’s degree in a related discipline.

How to apply

For further information please contact:
Name: Dr Jerry Luo
Email: z.luo@cranfield.ac.uk

Application closing date: 25/06/2025

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