The Role

The post holder will be part of an existing group responsible for developing innovative AI methods/tools for facilitating virtual power plants in smart grids and will be expected to support Professor Hongjian Sun for coordinating dissemination activities. The post holder will proactively engage with academic, postdoctoral research and technical support colleagues, as well as students, within and external to the Department, including industry, to ensure that activities are undertaken to an appropriate standard.

The post holder will be affiliated with The Durham Smart Grid Laboratory. Currently the laboratory has over 20 researchers and is a leading research facility that brings together advanced simulation tools, realistic emulators, and innovative testbeds to revolutionise smart grid research and development. The Laboratory is equipped with an extensive array of resources:

• Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) for real-time simulation and analysis of power systems enables complex grid interaction studies, validation of protection schemes, and control strategy development.
• Solar and wind emulators allow for the recreation and examination of various renewable energy generation scenarios, promoting the integration of green energy solutions into power grids.
• A versatile microgrid testbed provides an ideal environment for modelling, testing, and validating the performance of microgrids, energy management systems, and advanced control algorithms.
• OPAL-RT, a powerful real-time simulation tool, enhances hardware-in-the-loop testing capabilities and expands the lab's capacity to validate equipment and control algorithms before deployment.
• Smart meters and smart appliances, such as TVs, fridges, enable researchers to investigate demand-side management strategies, energy efficiency measures, and innovative energy-saving solutions.
• Specialised AI tools running on high-performance computing systems empower the development and refinement of advanced algorithms for optimal grid management, renewable energy forecasting, and adaptive decision-making.

The Laboratory is actively involved in multiple research areas, including:

• Development of advanced energy storage solutions and integration into the smart grid ecosystem.
• Implementation of machine learning techniques for predictive maintenance and fault detection in power systems.
• Exploration of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technologies and their potential impact on grid stability and energy management.
• Evaluation of communication protocols and cybersecurity measures for secure and reliable smart grid operation.
• Investigation of advanced demand response programs and their effectiveness in balancing energy supply and demand.
• Study of peer-to-peer energy trading schemes for enabling efficient renewable energy production and consumption.
• By collaborating with industrial partners, academic institutions, and government organisations, the Smart Grid Laboratory contributes to the development of efficient, reliable, and sustainable power systems worldwide. The cutting-edge technology and dedicated researchers at the facility position the lab at the forefront of smart grid innovation, shaping the future of energy management and making a lasting impact on the global community.

This post is fixed term to the 31st January 2026 owing to time limited funding.

The post-holder is employed to work on research/a research project which will be led by another colleague. Whilst this means that the post-holder will not be carrying out independent research in his/her own right, the expectation is that they will contribute to the advancement of the project, through the development of their own research ideas/adaptation and development of research protocols.

The successful applicant will, ideally, be in post by 4th November 2024, or as soon as possible