Decarbonisation of Campus Energy Use​

As per the UK government’s net-zero and heat and buildings strategies, in order to achieve the core goal of a 75% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2037 and ultimately, 100% decarbonisation by 2050, we need to decarbonise the energy used by our campus buildings.

​Ulster University, with its large campus sites, has the opportunity to deliver a plan to decarbonise its campuses that consist of a mixture of individual historic buildings to near state of the art modern high-rise developments. The campuses range from an out-of-town campus, a multi-building town centre campus and a town centre constrained campus site.

​Such campuses exhibit both common and unique approaches to energy decarbonisation namely energy efficiency first in what that they can achieve, what renewable energy is deployed and can be deployed in each campus, what local energy sources can be used e.g., adjacent waste heat and so forth. The lesser boundary constrained sites can also explore being energy centres for the whole university and their surrounding communities, and have possibilities for geothermal and other renewable energy onsite deployment and therefore, in terms of electricity generated, identifying how electricity generated on these sites can be passed to other campuses.

​Therefore, the potential methodology would address the current energy use of the campuses and how that is achieved, where the University lies in terms of decarbonisation targets and its decarbonisation of its energy, what approaches can the University take that are a) site specific and b) university wide to reach decarbonisation targets. However, such plans must be cost effective, so what are the levelized costs of the energy produced and the savings that can be made be cost-effective. Ultimately, an investment plan for the University will be developed, leading to decarbonisation, as well as reducing the University’s reliance on fossil fuels and their increasing price volatility.

​Finally, using HESA Estate Management Data, the observations made at Ulster can be extrapolated to other university campuses.

​Therefore, we are seeking an engineering related graduate with a strong interest and energy related expertise. The skills that you will develop include energy management, data analysis, renewable energy integration, energy policy and impacts of behavioural change.​

Applicants should hold, or expect to obtain, a First or Upper Second Class Honours Degree in a subject relevant to the proposed area of study.

We may also consider applications from those who hold equivalent qualifications, for example, a Lower Second Class Honours Degree plus a Master’s Degree with Distinction.

In exceptional circumstances, the University may consider a portfolio of evidence from applicants who have appropriate professional experience which is equivalent to the learning outcomes of an Honours degree in lieu of academic qualifications.

• Research proposal of 2000 words detailing aims, objectives, milestones and methodology of the project

If the University receives a large number of applicants for the project, the following desirable criteria may be applied to shortlist applicants for interview.

• Masters at 65%
• Publications - peer-reviewed

The University offers the following levels of support:

The following scholarship options are available to applicants worldwide:

• Full Award: (full-time tuition fees + £19,000 (tbc))
• Part Award: (full-time tuition fees + £9,500)
• Fees Only Award: (full-time tuition fees)

These scholarships will cover full-time PhD tuition fees for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance) and will provide a £900 per annum research training support grant (RTSG) to help support the PhD researcher.

Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Please note: you will automatically be entered into the competition for the Full Award, unless you state otherwise in your application.

The scholarship will cover tuition fees at the Home rate and a maintenance allowance of £19,000 (tbc) per annum for three years (subject to satisfactory academic performance).

This scholarship also comes with £900 per annum for three years as a research training support grant (RTSG) allocation to help support the PhD researcher.

• Candidates with pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, who also satisfy a three year residency requirement in the UK prior to the start of the course for which a Studentship is held MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance.
• Republic of Ireland (ROI) nationals who satisfy three years’ residency in the UK prior to the start of the course MAY receive a Studentship covering fees and maintenance (ROI nationals don’t need to have pre-settled or settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to qualify).
• Other non-ROI EU applicants are ‘International’ are not eligible for this source of funding.
• Applicants who already hold a doctoral degree or who have been registered on a programme of research leading to the award of a doctoral degree on a full-time basis for more than one year (or part-time equivalent) are NOT eligible to apply for an award.

Due consideration should be given to financing your studies. Further information on cost of living

​​Strategies towards reducing carbon emission in university campuses: A comprehensive review of both global and local scales, Journal of Building Engineering, 24 June 2023, Reihaneh Aghamolaei and Marzieh Fallahpour

​Development and evaluation of a method to estimate the potential of decarbonisation technologies deployment at higher education campuses, Sustainable Cities and Society, May 2019, William Horan, Rachel Shawe and Bernadette O’Regan

​Scalable pathways to net zero carbon in the UK higher education sector: A systematic review of smart energy systems in university campuses, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 25 May 2021, Vasiliki Kourgiozou, Andrew Commin and Dejan Mumovic

​Performance analysis for the UK's first 5th generation heat network – The BEN case study at LSBU, Energy, 21 December 2021, Aaron Gillich, Julie Godefroy, Jonathan L'Hostis

​https://www.hesa.ac.uk/collection/c21042/introduction

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