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This fully funded PhD project is open to Home fee applicants only

Deadline for applications: 16 June 2026 11:59pm

Unified Power Micro-grid Optimisation Strategies for Data Centres (UPMOST)

About the project

ReNU⁺ is a unique and ambitious programme that will train the next-generation of doctoral carbon champions who are renowned for research excellence and interdisciplinary systemic thinking for Net Zero. The ReNU⁺ vision is that they will become living examples of a highly skilled workforce delivering an equitable energy transition so that Net Zero is inclusive for all.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is powerful. But it depends on data centres who shouldn’t be too much power-hungry. Did you know a single large-scale data centre consumes as much energy as 50,000 households? If you think that’s a problem worth solving, we want you for our PhD program. Work at the cutting edge of green AI and help us build a smarter, leaner digital future. This UPMOST PhD project seeks to develop new unified methodologies and advanced tools to optimise the design and operation of microgrids, specifically tailored to meet the rapidly growing electricity demands of modern data centres. Background: In support of the UK’s ambitions to advance artificial intelligence (AI), the government plans to deploy an additional 100 data centres, supplementing the existing ~500 facilities nationwide. However, power grid infrastructure development is not keeping pace with this accelerated deployment. According to National Energy System Operator (NESO) Transmission Entry Capacity (TEC) data as of January 2026, around 600 energy projects are seeking grid connections, with 150 still awaiting approval. Compounding this challenge, renewable energy projects often entail protracted timelines, for instance, the Hornsea 2 offshore wind farm required nearly six years from planning consent in 2016 to full commissioning in 2022, and nuclear generation projects typically take even longer. These systemic delays underscore the urgent need for innovative, unified solutions such as those proposed by the UPMOST. The UPMOST project will focus on two core research themes: Unified Approach for Optimising Renewable Energy & Storage Integration with Data Centres: Develop a cohesive framework and software tools for infrastructure planning involving renewables and energy storage. The approach will prioritise minimising the Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) while ensuring data centres’ operations and maximising renewable energy sources’ self-consumption. Predictive Control of Microgrid Operation: Design predictive control strategies and data-driven operational frameworks that dynamically coordinate on-site generation and energy storage. By performing scenario-based analysis, the project aims to reduce peak demand by ~30% and identify new opportunities for microgrid design and data centre’s optimal operations. More information about ReNU+ and our approach to competency assessment on our website.

For informal enquiries please contact Professor Hongjian Sun : hongjian.sun@durham.ac.uk

More information about ReNU⁺ and our approach to competency assessment on our website.

Eligibility Requirements: 

• A minimum of 60% in an MEng degree (or International equivalent Regional Pages - Durham University) in Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field.

• Appropriate English Language qualifications (Direct Entry Band B - Durham University), if required.

• Applicants cannot apply if they are already a PhD holder or if currently engaged in Doctoral study at Durham or elsewhere. 

• Must be able to commit to campus-based full-time or part-time study. 
• Home fee student. 

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must: 

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have settled status, or 
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or 
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter. 

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.   

Modes of study 

Full time or Part Time at 0.6 Full Time Equivalent at Durham.  

How to apply 

For further details on how to apply, and the link to Durham’s Postgraduate Application portal, see https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

In the Postgraduate Application portal apply for the H1A601 PhD Renewable Energy Northeast Universities (EPSRC RENU CDT) Course.  When completing the form on the application portal:  

•  In the funding tab select ‘yes’ you are applying for a scholarship, select ‘Other’, write RENU/SUN in the name of the scholarship, and select 1st October 2026 as the start date.  No scholarship documents are required. 
• On the project course details tab write RENU/SUN in Field of Study. 

In addition to completing the form on the Postgraduate Application portal, ensure you upload the following additional documents to the portal: 

1. A completed ReNU Plus Competency Assessment in the place of a proposal.  Please read further instructions within the form.  

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV). 

3. Two satisfactory academic references.  

4.  Any other required documentation as listed on https://www.durham.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

Please ensure you follow all these steps to ensure your application is considered. 

By submitting your application to ReNU⁺ you are agreeing for your data to be used as described in the ReNU⁺ privacy notice. 

Funding notes 

The studentship is available to Home only students and includes a full stipend at UKRI rates (for 2026/27 full-time study this is £21,805 per year) and full tuition fees.    

Deadline for applications: 15 June 2026 11:59pm 

Start date of course: 1 October 2026 

Why do a PhD?

Learn more about completing a PhD by listening to our academics, students and industry partners discuss the benefits of a PhD qualification via some short videos on our Programmes page.

What our ReNU⁺ CDT Director, Professor Neil Beattie says:

We need a supply of talented next-generation leaders who will drive getting towards Net Zero. Programs like ReNU and ReNU Plus really focus on making sure those people understand the wider context for energy, not just their individual research project, but also things like the energy system, energy policy, and also finance and economics associated with getting towards Net Zero.

What our current ReNU CDT students say:

Why did you choose to pursue a PhD?

"I'm a PhD scholar in Northumbria University funded by ReNU. I chose to pursue my PhD because of my passion in material science and engineering and to contribute towards the digital sustainable technologies. "

"I decided to pursue a PhD was because I really enjoyed my master's project and I realized that doing more research would probably be very interesting to me. The long answer is that I've always thought of research as one of the things I wanted to do so it made sense in terms of my future path."

Why did you choose to apply for the ReNU program specifically? 

"I chose to apply in the ReNU program specifically because it focuses on the interdisciplinary research and the renewable energy. ReNU is actually part of three universities that is Northumbria, Newcastle and Durham University. So this gives us more support from various experts in the field and the state of art that we are working on."

"The ReNU training program brings in a lot of support so there's to begin with very wide lectures on what kind of problems we're facing in terms of reaching net zero or just the energy problem. There's also a lot of help with careers advice and stuff like progression."

What would you say are the benefits of being part of a cohort of students?

"The benefits for being part of the cohort of students is that it creates a collaborative environment for everyone and we all can interact with each other and this creates a good support network and exchange of ideas and research which actually helps us in our research. And secondly, with the help of this, we can have access to various labs, be it Northumbria University, be it Durham University or Newcastle University, for example, in my research I need TEM for morphological studies of the films. And it's not in Northumbria University and I'm planning to use the one that is in Durham. So it actually helps to overcome the barriers."

"Being part of a cohort is really motivating for me because I can talk about what I'm facing and find someone with similar problems or find solace in the fact that we're all stuck in the same problems but also it's more than that it's sharing experiences and ways to deal with certain problems that a normal PhD student might not be able to have."

In terms of the ReNU Plus program specifically, what would your advice be to future students who might be interested in that?

"I would highly recommend that they join the ReNU Plus program. They're going to find access to a lot of different resources within the program spanning from biology, physics, electrical engineering and chemistry and they're going to have crossovers with industry partners to find job opportunities as they go further afield."

A key objective for ReNU⁺ CDT is to recruit more diverse and inclusive cohorts of Doctoral Carbon Champions (DCCs).

ReNU⁺ welcomes and encourages applications from candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences such as: 

• candidates from ethnic minorities  
• those from a disadvantaged socio-economic and alternative backgrounds, first generation in their family to go to university  
• those with caring responsibilities 
• those with disabilities (physical, neurodivergent etc…) 

Find out further information at the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion page.

Programme Duration: 4 years (Full Time). Studentships are also available for applicants who wish to study on a part-time basis (please check individual adverts for further details).   

Funding: Each studentship supports a full stipend, paid for four years at UKRI rates (for 2026/27 full-time study this is £21,805 per year) and full tuition fees and a Research Training Support Grant (for travel, consumables, and further training). Applications are open only to candidates eligible for Home fees. If you are unsure of your fee status, please refer to this UKCISA webpage to find out your fee status.

Please see individual adverts for details on entry requirements as these vary between university and project. 

If you do not hold the entry requirements but you feel you have evidence of relevant skills and expertise that is equivalent, please get in touch with both the project contact and relevant institution director.    

Please note: to be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), or
• have settled status, or
• have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), or
• have indefinite leave to remain or enter.

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student. Applicants will need to be in the UK and fully enrolled before stipend payments can commence, and be aware of the following additional costs that may be incurred, as these are not covered by the studentship.

Immigration Health Surcharge https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application

If you need to apply for a Student Visa to enter the UK, please refer to the information on https://www.gov.uk/student-visa. It is important that you read this information very carefully as it is your responsibility to ensure that you hold the correct funds required for your visa application otherwise your visa may be refused.

Costs associated with English Language requirements which may be required for students not having completed a first degree in English, will not be borne by the university. Please see individual adverts for further details of the English Language requirements for the university you are applying to.

Further guidance on how to apply can be found via our Application Resources webpage.

Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.