PhD Studentship - Stability and Control Interaction of Multi-terminal HVDC Systems

Research theme: HVDC, renewable energy, power networks, modelling

How to apply: uom.link/pgr-apply-2425

This 3.5-year PhD studentship is open to Home (UK) applicants. The successful candidate will receive an annual tax-free stipend set at the UKRI rate (£20,780 for 2025/26; subject to annual uplift), plus a company top up of £5000/annum plus funding for travel and consumables. Tuition fees will also be paid. We expect the stipend to increase each year. The start date is January 2026.

We recommend that you apply early as the advert may be removed before the deadline.

In order to meet global Net Zero commitments, generation from renewables will form a key part of the electrical energy generation mix. Much of this generation will be located offshore and will need to be transported to shore using High Voltage DC transmission (HVDC). So far, such links have predominantly been directly from a wind farm to shore (point-to-point). However, proposals are developing for multi-terminal grids for improved reliability and asset utilisation.

Proposals for future offshore electrical power grids will use multi-terminal High voltage DC transmission, a relatively new concept. This PhD will consider multi-terminal scheme configurations with various combinations of DC voltage controlling stations (including droop control, both single and multiple droop) and active power controlling stations. The multi-terminal configurations will be used to develop models in Matlab/SIMULINK of bipole converters with neutral current regulation. The research will then consider the potential interactions that may occur when all the converter stations are operating with AC grid-forming functionality. From this, the research will go on to investigate methodologies to determine stability criteria and local and/or global tuning methodologies to ensure power electronic devices interoperability, the DC system stability and ancillary services to support the AC system when needed.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to interact with GE Vernova’s engineering staff and will have the opportunity to work, for part of the time, in GE Vernova’s main HVDC design office, based in Stafford, UK. Here the candidate will have the opportunity to see, design, manufacturing and advanced testing of HVDC power electronics and control systems, as well as other key components such as large power converter transformers.

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2.1 honours degree or a master’s (or international equivalent) in a relevant science or engineering related discipline.

The position is open to UK (Home) applicants only.

To apply, please contact the supervisors: Prof Barnes - mike.barnes@manchester.ac.uk and Dr Mahdieh Sadabadi - mahdieh.sadabadi@manchester.ac.uk. Please include details of your current level of study, academic background and any relevant experience and include a paragraph about your motivation to study this PhD project.

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