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A few weeks ago the INTEGRATE team together with a few colleagues from related projects actively participated in the Engage Public Engagement Training academy at Dynamic Earth. At the start of the day we got a very warm welcome from Dr Hermione Cockburn the Scientific Director of Dyanamic Earth. She gave us an overview of the Dynamic Earth including its Mission and Vision before handing us over into the hands of Conor Ellis and Chris George who were our hosts and coaches for the day.
Over the course of the full day we covered a lot of ground ranging from the more theoretical such as the importance of public engagement and modern theories of learning to the practical aspects of designing and running a public engagement event. All activities were designed in an activity based and collaborative manner so that all of us were actively engaged throughout the day and had a lot of fun.
We have learned a lot during the Engage Public Engagement Training academy and are looking forward to use these skills to develop public engagement activities in the areas of thermal energy storage and system integration.Group foto after the training in front of Dynamic Earth
From June 20 to June 24 2022 the INTEGRATE project took part in the EPSRC net zero engineering week. The event gave researchers the opportunity to exchange ideas and plans both with each other and with stakeholders.
The event also included keynote presentations from – among others – Dr Chris Stark, Chief Executive at the Committee on Climate Change, and Professor Dame Lynn Gladden, Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. These talks were particularly interesting and helped to emphasize how the funded projects contribute towards the overall goal of achieving net zero.
The majority of time was spent engaging in discussions in the presentation area with colleagues from range of UK universities. From our side, these discussions featured both the team from the University of Glasgow, made up of Dr Isa Kolo, Dr Christopher Brown, and headed by Prof Gioia Falcone and the team from the University of Edinburgh, consisting of Dr Andrew Lyden, Lukas Franken, and lead by Prof Daniel Friedrich.
For the whole of the INTEGRATE team, I would like to express our gratitude to the EPSRC for this great event. We are looking forward to similar opportunities in the future!
(Prof Gioia Falcone and Dr Andrew Lyden at the INTEGRATE stand)
On Wednesday the 9th of June we had a successful virtual Launch Event of the EPSRC funded INTEGRATE project. Over 50 participants joined us for an introduction and an overview of the work to date on this project.
The first hour of the event was dedicated to short presentations from the four research groups. These presentations covered a general project overview and how the different work packages fit together as well as introductions from the individual groups. The presentation slides used by the speakers can be found at the bottom of this post.
During the second hour, our industrial and international partners gave a brief pitch about their interest in the project and how they can support the work of the academic teams. It was great to hear that they are as excited about the project as we are. We thank them for their enthusiasm and support and we are looking forward to explore this timely and important research area with them over the next years.
Finally, we would like to thank the EPSRC for supporting this ambitious project in the area of smart integration of seasonal thermal energy storage for the decarbonisation of the energy system.
Prof. Gioia Falcone from the University of Glasgow is looking for a highly motivated researcher for a post-doctoral research positions in the INTEGRATE project (Integrating seasonal Thermal storage with multiple energy sources to decarbonise Thermal Energy) which is a collaboration between the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Hull. The successful candidates will work alongside a multi-disciplinary team to combine efforts and provide solutions towards the decarbonisation of heating and cooling. The project is supported by nine industrial partners, which cover every aspect of the proposed work, and two leading, international research institutions which are at the forefront of renewable heating research. The successful candidate will work with Prof. Gioia Falcone and Dr. Rob Westaway and their research team at the University of Glasgow.
The main essential qualifications and experiences are:
Theoretical or practical knowledge of the potential of conventional and unconventional geothermal energy resources or of underground thermal energy storage systems
A comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge of the field of subsurface thermal energy storage
Experience of analytic or numerical modelling of geo-energy systems
In addition, to the two RA positions (one closes today and the other on Friday) we have now also a funded PhD position open in
Machine learning methods to manage the integration of heating systems into the wider energy system
Heat demand which has large seasonal variations and high morning peak ramp-up rates, is responsible for 44% of the total energy demand in the UK and mainly supplied through the natural gas grid. District energy systems with Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage (STES) can be affordable and more sustainable alternatives that can handle the high ramp-up rates and seasonal variations. However, existing systems are designed and operated independently from the wider energy system (electricity, cooling, industry and transport sectors), while the best solution (in terms of emissions reduction and cost) can only be found if all energy sectors are combined and coordinated. This multi-sector integration is an open challenge due to the nonlinear interactions between the different sectors as well as the significant computational complexity due to required spatial and temporal resolutions and model complexity.
In this project, the successful candidate will develop, implement and apply machine learning methods for the design and optimisation of district heating system with STES as part of the wider energy system. While the main focus is on using machine learning based surrogate models to link detailed CFD simulations with whole system models, there is scope to investigate other areas such as system control and demand/supply predictions.
The candidate will develop a wide range of skills in heating systems with STES design and machine learning methods which will be widely applicable to the candidate’s future career. The project is linked to the EPSRC funded INTEGRATE project and the PhD student will be jointly supervised by Dr Daniel Friedrich at the School of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh and Prof Ben Hughes at the University of Hull.
Closing date for applications: Position will remain open until filled.
Expected studentship start date: 1st October 2020 or as soon as possible thereafter.
We are currently looking for two highly motivated researchers for post-doctoral research positions in the INTEGRATE project (Integrating seasonal Thermal storage with multiple energy sources to decarbonise Thermal Energy). The roles are two of four RA positions in the EPSRC funded INTEGRATE project which is a collaboration between the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Hull. The successful candidates will work alongside a multi-disciplinary team to combine efforts and provide solutions towards the decarbonisation of heating and cooling. The project is supported by nine industrial partners, which cover every aspect of the proposed work, and two leading, international research institutions which are at the forefront of renewable heating research.
The researcher for the first position will investigate the policy, regulatory and commercial aspects of seasonal thermal energy storage (STES) systems in the UK. Drawing on case study evidence and an analysis of the UK energy market context, you will identify appropriate regulatory and market arrangements for different seasonal storage options and STES in particular. You will collaborate with engineering colleagues on the INTEGRATE project to identify key technological and market trends in relation to seasonal energy storage and evaluate the implications for UK and Scottish energy policy. You will also investigate the role of STES in key energy system modelling and scenarios studies related to the UK’s low carbon heat transition. This position is in the School of Social and Political Science and is supervised by Ronan Bolton and Mark Winskel.
The researcher for the second position will develop and implement a multi-vector energy system model for the design of Smart Thermal Grids (STG) with Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage (STES) as part of the wider energy system. Building on available electricity dispatch and network models, and thermal demand and distribution models you will develop a multi-vector, multiple stakeholder simulation and optimisation model for the integrated design of STG with STES that considers the interplay and coordination between energy supply and demand, seasonal thermal storage characteristics, and regulation and market frameworks. You will collaborate with engineering and social science colleagues on the EPSRC funded INTEGRATE project to combine the results from the individual work packages to develop representative case studies and guidelines for urban, suburban and campus thermal energy systems based around the smart integration of STES systems. This position is in the School of Engineering and is supervised by Daniel Friedrich and Gareth Harrison.
We will also shortly advertise for a PhD position in Machine learning methods to manage the integration of heating systems into the wider energy system.
This is the website for the ‘INTEGRATE: Integrating seasoNal Thermal storagE with multiple enerGy souRces to decArbonise Thermal Energy’ project which will evaluate the potential of Seasonal Thermal Energy Storage (STES) systems to facilitate the decarbonisation of heating and cooling while at the same time providing flexibility services for the future net-zero energy system. The project brings together researchers from the School of Engineering’s Institute for Energy Systems, the University of Edinburgh’s School of Social and Political Science, and the engineering departments of the universities of Glasgow and Hull.
We will consider STES systems as a vital part of a future zero carbon energy system. We will evaluate the interplay between regulation and market frameworks, heating/cooling demands, energy storage systems and different energy sources and will design integrated STES systems. This is a first step towards developing a truly low carbon heating and cooling system that provides affordable, flexible and reliable thermal energy for the customers while also improving the utilisation of the grid infrastructure and integration of renewable generation assets and other heat sources.
The challenge
It is estimated that around 44% of the total energy demand in the UK is due to heating at present. This demand fluctuates substantially between seasons, and is about six times higher in winter compared to summer. Heating demand also increases significantly in the morning, at a rate around 10 times faster than the demand for electricity.
Currently, around 80% of the nation’s heat is supplied through the natural gas grid which provides the flexibility and capacity to handle the large-scale, sudden variations, but also causes large greenhouse gas emissions.
While cooling demand is currently small in the UK, it is expected to increase significantly: the National Grid estimates that the demand for electricity during the summer peak may increase by 100% due to air conditioning by 2050.
Why might STES systems offer a solution?
STES systems could offer a potential solution to these challenges, if they can be integrated within the ‘district’ heating and cooling systems widely used in commercial and educational campuses and proposed for urban districts.
In simple terms, a seasonal or long-term thermal energy storage system can be imagined as a huge hot water storage tank which is charged during periods of surplus energy supply and discharged during periods of high energy demand.
Such a system can store the charged energy over several months and is about 100 times cheaper per unit of energy compared to battery storage, due to the large size of the storage system. One challenge is to integrate these systems with low carbon energy sources and district heating and cooling systems, to transfer the stored energy to consumers.
Integrating seasonal thermal energy storage
The research team will consider the interplay and coordination between energy supply and demand, seasonal thermal storage characteristics, and regulation and market frameworks. The insights gained will be used to develop a holistic and integrated whole system model for the design and operation of “smart” district energy systems with STES. The new model aims to provide sustainable and affordable thermal energy while also enabling the integration of renewable energy.
The research will be used to develop case studies and guidelines to help urban planners, policymakers, renewable project developers, and others to develop urban and campus thermal energy systems based around the smart integration of STES systems.
It will also enable the development and deployment of low carbon heating and cooling systems that provide affordable, flexible and reliable thermal energy for customers, improve use of the National Grid infrastructure and the integration of renewable generation assets alongside other heat sources.
