Fellow researchers should please suggest any suitable PhD research topics on renewable energy please.
Please see this paper, you can get an idea for PhD research:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319684243_MIL_and_SIL_and_PIL_tests_for_MPPT_algorithm
Article MIL and SIL and PIL tests for MPPT algorithm
Please see this paper, you can get an idea for PhD research:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319684243_MIL_and_SIL_and_PIL_tests_for_MPPT_algorithm
Article MIL and SIL and PIL tests for MPPT algorithm
Dear Tijjani,
Here are some main themes:
- Earth Observation for Energy
- Evaluation of renewable energy resources (solar, wind, ...)
- Solar radiation
- Lifecycle analysis (LCA) of energy chains
- Environmental Impacts of Energy Uses
- Web Services for Energy
- Geographic and Spatial Data Infrastructure for Energy
- Energy Efficiency of Buildings, Neighborhoods and Cities
- Sustainable Energy
With my best regards
Prof. Bachir ACHOUR
I have enclosed the preface of my new book - Energy Investments: An adaptive approach to profiting from uncertainties. You may get some ideas from the preface.
Good luck in your PhD.
Data Preface: Energy Investments: An adaptive approach to profiti...
SOLAR ENERGY
S-501 Applying Behavioral Insights to Solar Soft Cost Reduction
Possible Disciplines: Behavioral Economics, Applied Economics, Computer Science, Social Science
In 2016, more than 50 cents of every dollar spent on residential solar went to soft costs - the aggregated costs for customer acquisition, system installation, commissioning, and interconnection to the grid. Soft cost reduction is distinct from hardware innovation because it deals directly with people and processes - such as strategies for identification, simplification, replication and scaling of best practices for solar deployment and grid integration for local government officials, and the basis for decision makers at state energy offices and regulatory bodies. Reduction of soft costs can result from the application of insights derived from social and behavioral science to refine the ways that solar energy systems are bought, sold, designed, valued and monitored.
SunShot is seeking to support postdoctoral researchers to apply and advance cutting-edge social and behavioral science to drive toward the national solar cost reduction goals
.Areas of interest include:
Design, implementation, and evaluation of randomized control trials in partnership with institutions piloting new solar policies and programs (such as electric utilities and municipal governments);
Using behavioral economics to understand consumer preferences and the effectiveness of messaging and framing related to solar adoption strategies;
Study of decision making patterns in large organizations related to energy use and investment (e.g. electric utility investment decisions or corporate energy investment strategies);
Analysis of energy consumption patterns (e.g. using Green Button smart meter data) and energy efficiency upgrade decisions before and after solar adoption at residential- and commercial-scales; and
Human-interface design for solar monitoring devices.
S-502 Applying Data Science to Solar Cost Reduction
Possible Disciplines: Behavioral Economics, Applied Economics, Computer Science, Social Science
The emergence of new big data tools can revolutionize how solar technologies are researched, developed, demonstrated, and deployed. From computational chemistry and inverse material design to adoption, reliability, and correlation of insolation forecasts with load use patterns, data scientists have opportunities to dramatically impact the future scaling of solar energy.
SunShot is seeking to support postdoctoral researchers to apply and advance cutting-edge data science to drive toward the national solar cost reduction goals
Areas of interest include:
Computational methods for revealing insights about diffusion of solar technologies at the residential, commercial, and utility scales that ingest large administrative, geospatial, economic, and financial datasets;
Novel analysis of Green Button (smart meter) and PV performance data with the Durable Module Materials (DuraMat) Consortium;
Modeling to determine the impact of distributed solar assets on the performance of the grid (in terms of both reliability as well as infrastructure cost avoidance);
Quantification of direct and external cost and benefits of distributed energy generation and storage;
Numerical prediction methods for fully optimizing electrical grid operations and planning such as solar insolation forecasting as well as PV system performance;
Data tools for advancing photovoltaic and concentrating solar power technologies in the context of soft cost reduction.
S-503 Solar Systems Integration
Possible Disciplines: Power Systems Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science
The Systems Integration (SI) program of the SunShot Initiative aims to enable high penetrations of solar energy onto the electricity grid by addressing the associated technical and regulatory challenges. In order to enable 100’s of GW of solar to be interconnected on the nation’s electricity grid, we seek postdoctoral research projects that will help us address significant challenges in the following thrust areas:
Solar Forecasting
Solar forecasting can help utilities and grid operators better predict solar generation levels and make it easier to meet consumer electricity demand for power and reliability.
Power System Planning and Operation
Planning and operation models and software tools are essential to the safe and reliable operation of the interconnected transmission and distribution grid with diverse generation sources, especially in the case of solar with time of day and locational value considerations.
Power Electronics
Power electronic devices, such as PV inverters, are critical links between solar panels and the electric grid, ensuring reliable and efficient power flows from solar generation.
Integrating Energy Storage with Solar
Energy storage is a key enabler to a flexible grid and provides operators more control options to balance electricity generation and demand, while increasing resiliency.
Sensors, Communications, and Data Analytics
Sensors and cybersecurity communication infrastructures and big data analytics enable visibility and situational awareness for grid operators and customers to better manage generation, transmission and distribution, and consumption of energy.
Techno-Economic Solar Integration Studies
Rigorous and comprehensive integration studies inform diverse stakeholder groups about the technical feasibility, major barriers, and solutions for large-scale solar deployment across local, regional and the national level.
S-504 Concentrating Solar Power Materials and Systems
Possible Disciplines: Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science
Concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies use mirrors or other light collecting elements to concentrate and direct sunlight onto receivers1. These receivers absorb the solar flux and convert it to heat. The heat energy may then be used to generate electricity, synthesize chemicals, or produce fuels, among other things. By virtue of converting the sun’s energy to heat, CSP may be readily utilized with multiple sources of generation. The complementary nature derives from the relative ease and cost effectiveness of storing heat for later use, for example, when the sun does not shine or when customer demand increases or time value premiums warrant. Heat and/or extreme UV intensities from sunlight may also be used to synthesize chemicals or produce fuels. It is envisioned that such processes may occur at a competitive cost compared to traditional synthetic routes. Careful analysis to determine if a chemical plant would benefit from part or full operation on solar thermal input will be required because, while solar thermal power plants of 100’s of MW scale exist today, there is insufficient information on large-scale use of solar thermal in the production of chemical products. If the process were technically feasible would it be economically viable? This question is especially important given the very thin margins in commodity markets.
Electricity Generation.
The ability to produce heat for chemical processes without the added cost of fuel and to shift electricity production to times of peak demand could, in theory, provide benefits. To realize these benefits operations must be efficient and cost effective.
Along these lines topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
Novel concepts for using solar thermal heat to produce value-added chemicals, such as ammonia, or any other chemical for which there is a sizeable market.
The sulfur thermochemical cycle – i.e. solar thermal activation of sulfuric acid, or another oxidized sulfur compound, to generate easily-stored elemental sulfur. Of particular interest would be innovative catalysts, materials, and reactor designs to enhance the reaction rate of the desired SO3→ SO2 conversion process.
Novel thermochemical materials or cycles for high volumetric energy density storage systems (> 3000 MJ/m3), including self-healing systems, or other design strategies capable of cost effective, simple, periodic regeneration.
The development of Pickering emulsions to increase the stability and volumetric energy density of sensible and latent TES material systems, including the use of such materials to reduce the corrosive nature of molten chloride heat transfer fluids.
High-temperature (≥ 650°C), low-cost (≤ $15/kWhth) thermal storage for production of power, chemicals, or fuels.
This is a broad call and postdoctoral applicants interested in using heat from solar installations to create value-added products at a national scale are encouraged to apply.
1Stekli, J.; Irwin, L.; Pitchumani, R. “Technical Challenges and Opportunities for Concentrating Solar Power With Thermal Energy Storage,” ASME Journal of Thermal Science Engineering and Applications; Vol. 5, No. 2; Article 021011; 2013; http://dx.doi.org/10.1115/1.4024143
S-505 Photovoltaic Materials, Devices, and Modules
Possible Disciplines: Materials Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Applied Physics, Physics, Chemistry
In photovoltaic hardware, substantial materials and system challenges remain in many commercial and near-commercial technologies. Research projects are sought in applied and interdisciplinary science and engineering to improve performance and drive down costs of photovoltaic materials, devices, modules, and systems. Areas of interest include:
New module architectures, module components, and innovative cell designs that enable higher module efficiency, lower cost, improved reliability, increased integrated energy output throughout the day, modules compatible with higher system voltage, and improved shading tolerance especially in monolithically integrated thin-film modules.
Development or adaptation of new characterization techniques to evaluate defect types, levels and densities in absorber materials or interfaces. Projects should expand understanding of effective methods to control material quality in order to improve PV device efficiency and stability.
Scalable, low-cost measurement and characterization methods and tools for cells, modules, panels and systems.
Fundamental understanding of degradation mechanisms in PV devices, modules and systems. Development of models based on fundamental physics and material properties to predict PV device or module degradation and lifetime with material-based input parameters and stress conditions, in order to enable shorter testing time and high-confidence performance prediction.
Cost effective methods to recycle PV modules and related components that can be implemented into the current recycling infrastructure or module architectures designed for improved recyclability.
Stable, high performance photovoltaic absorber materials and cell architectures to enable module efficiencies above 25% with reduced capital expense appropriate for low-cost manufacturing.
Transparent electrodes and carrier selective contacts to enable low-cost production worthy cell and module architectures.
Low-cost materials and high throughput, low-capital processes for cell metallization.
I would say renewable energy integration and management would be challenging research field for now and the future.
where control for robust system, and flexibility in operation can be the ultimate outcomes .......of the research
Solar hydrogen generation via photocatalytic water splitting can be considered as a challenging PhD topic. Attached article may help you.
Article A review on H2 production through photocatalytic reactions u...
how i can write an effective research proposal for phd admission.
major is renewable energy but i have two topic further one is integration of renewable energy and the other one is storage of renewable energy whic one is better
and next how i can start a good research proposal.
You can conduct your research on storage of renewable energy because it is a very challenging issue in renewable energy. Your research may end up solving age-long problem of energy storage.
Hi,
There are several research groups already working on it, but I would suggest impact of climate change on a renewable energy, or on renewable energies in general, since there is much work to do that, particularly as the real consequences of climate change unfold.
Same thing for effect of complex terrains and urban environments in the wind resource, turbine micro-siting or wind farm lay-out optimization, optimization of hybrid solar-wind systems, etc .
Jose
I propose the following 15 questions and research problems regarding renewable energy sources:
1. What are the main determinants of the development of renewable energy sources?
In many countries, energy based on renewable energy sources is being developed. This development is determined by many economic, ecological and geographical factors. This development results from the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the scale of air pollution by exhaust from mechanical vehicles. The development of energy based on renewable energy sources is indispensable due to the faster global warming process. Therefore, energy based on renewable energy sources should be developed.
2. Why is there still traditional energy based on burning minerals in some countries?
The problem is when the economically weak, small domestic economy has only traditional energy minerals, such as hard coal or lignite, and there are no developed different forms of renewable energy sources. In such a situation, there is a lack of financial resources for switching energy to renewable energy sources so as to move towards sustainable development according to the philosophy of the new, green economy, in order to limit the emission of greenhouse gases. The warming of the Earth's climate is already a fact and is a serious growing problem. Therefore, renewable energy sources should be developed. Rich countries should support countries characterized by weaker economy, lower incomes and based on traditional energy technologies. It is therefore necessary to strengthen international cooperation in the area of promotion, support and financing of investment projects, thanks to which it will be possible to develop renewable energy sources in the future and aim at sustainable pro-ecological development.
3. Should richer countries support poorer countries in the development of environment-friendly technologies?
In my opinion, renewable energy sources should be developed on the basis of various pro-ecological technologies and ecological innovations. Which technological solutions will be developed in particular countries depends on many factors, ie determinants according to which individual countries differ in terms of production potential, development of specific industries, equipment in particular production factors and financial possibilities. Rich countries characterized by higher incomes should support the development of pro-ecological technologies in poorer countries characterized by lower incomes. International cooperation in this area should be resolved.
4. What are the characteristics of a sustainable future smart city?
As part of sustainable and pro-ecological development, various concepts of modern urban development are created.
Futurological concepts of the development of cities of the future usually take into account specific aspects of sustainable, pro-ecological development and the use of modern information technologies in the development of urban agglomerations according to the smart city concept.
For example, what new, innovative building technologies, environmentally friendly material innovations, environmentally friendly renewable energy sources, information systems for autonomous cars, electric charging stations for cars and other electric vehicles, modern communication solutions and information systems, etc. should be used and installed in cities the future that meets the principles of sustainable, pro-ecological development and developed according to the smart city concept?
5. Probably the future of humanity in the 21st century depends probably on the next dozen or so years?
Probably the future of humanity depends on the next decade. If, over the next few years, renewable energy sources replacing traditional energy based on the burning of minerals are developed on a massive scale, it might be possible for humankind to avoid a climatic catastrophe in the 21st century. The international climate agreement that currently (December 2018) concluded in Katowice in Poland may be a late and insufficient agreement, because most countries do not intend to develop high-budget projects for the construction and development of power plants based on renewable energy sources. In addition, changes in the automotive industry, changes leading to the development of motorization in the direction of electromobility are too slow. The problem is serious because it concerns the future of all humanity in the perspective of the next two to three generations, yet the necessary changes and reforms in the implementation of economic principles of sustainable pro-ecological development are too slow. With the current pace of changes, there may be a shortage of time to implement the necessary pro-ecological undertakings, and then the problem of global warming will become an irreversible process and will constantly accelerate!
6. Should the state co-finance new pro-ecological investments in renewable energy sources?
How are investments in renewable energy sources financed in your country?
Are pro-ecologic investments financed in your country mainly by commercially operating enterprises or from the public finance system of the state?
Will the state co-finance new pro-ecological investments from the state budget funds in a situation of low-cost ecological projects developing renewable energy sources?
In my opinion, in the situation of low profitability of investments in pro-ecological undertakings, in the absence of pro-ecological projects financing by the private sector, the state should co-finance new pro-ecological projects from public funds, including primarily the development of energy based on renewable energy sources, infrastructure for development electromobility, etc.
7. Should the development of motoring in the 21st century be based on electromobility or on hydrogen-oxygen engines or other clean power technology?
In a few years, strategic classic energy raw materials, ie minerals contained in the Earth's crust, will be exhausted.
Extracting these minerals from deeper layers of the earth's crust may be unprofitable.
In addition, it may be unnecessary in a situation of global warming and the development of renewable, ecologically clean sources of energy.
However, which type of power supply for motor vehicles should be developed so that the economic, social and ecological effects are the most in line with the strategic goals of the balanced economic development of the world?
If it is electromobility it will be necessary to significantly increase the production of electricity.
8. Does nuclear power have a future or will new technologies of renewable energy be developed in the energy sector?
The nuclear power industry is also making significant technological progress in terms of security.
On the other hand, the earthquake recorded a dozen years ago in Japan and the unsealing of nuclear reactor coatings indicated the potential high risk of radioactive environmental contamination.
Therefore, in some countries, especially those without traditional energy minerals, new technological solutions are being developed in the field of renewable energy sources.
9. Will the man manage to switch the classic energy to renewable energy sources to slow down the global warming process?
Key questions for humanity in the 21st century:
- Will the man manage to switch the classic energy to renewable energy sources to slow down the global warming process and prevent global climate catastrophe and the destruction of most life forms at the end of the 21st century, if so little will be done on the issue of the implementation of the necessary proecological reforms?
- In the 21st century, will man be able to convert most of the classic energy into renewable energy sources to achieve a fully sustainable ecological economy based on the concept of green economy?
- In the 21st century, will man be able to switch most of the classic energy based on the burning of minerals by turning this source of environmental pollution and a source of global warming to renewable energy sources to achieve a fully sustainable ecological economy based on the concept of green economy?
- In the 21st century, will a man in the development of civilization manage to achieve a fully sustainable ecological economy based on the concept of green economy before the global climate catastrophe?
The ever-faster greenhouse effect on Earth has already been recognized by many research centers as fact.
If the global warming process is not stopped by introducing environmentally-friendly economic policy reforms, the development of ecological and innovative technologies, primarily in the field of renewable energy, electromobility, waste segregation, recycling, etc. Earth at the end of the 21st century is threatened by global climate disaster related to global warming and rising frequency and scale of emerging weather anomalies and climatic cataclysms.
10. Should the dimension and scope of ecological knowledge in contemporary education and schooling systems be increased in the context of the growing problems of the modern world?
Contemporary XXI century is, among other things, the age of national and globally recognized growing problems regarding environmental protection, ecology, protection of ecosystems and species of various life threatened by extinction, growing risk of climatic cataclysms associated with the progressing greenhouse effect on Earth, exhausting some categories of resources necessary for development modern industries, the need for energy transformation, conversion of classic sources of energy based on minerals to renewable, ecological energy sources.
11. How would you design energy if you had unlimited financial resources?
How would you design a similar or different futurological energy and civilization project, containing renewable energy sources of renewable energy and recreation of natural conditions, referring to natural ecosystems, which after years would gain the possibility of self-recreating?
For example, whether with unlimited investment funds or whether it would be possible to achieve a sustainable economic ecosystem from scratch to achieve economic efficiency at least at the zero growth level as follows: Can a large solar power plant be developed in the desert and water obtained from energy to develop agricultural production and plant ecosystems, including forest ecosystems, which, after several dozen years, could almost function themselves? An important factor would be the possible progressive climate change in a given area and the geographical scope of the area covered by this investment project.
12. Smart city + Green engineering = Green Smart city?
Will modern urban agglomerations built in the future be planned and will be built according to the concept of smart city and green engineering?
Is the technological revolution Industry 4.0 is and will be in the following years the main determinant of changes in smart home technology, smart home systems security and the possibility of combining smart home technologies with the implementation of sustainable economic development principles to the development processes of the construction sector, including construction of housing estates and modern urban agglomerations?
Will modern urban agglomerations built in the future be planned and will be built according to the concept of smart city and green engineering?
13. What are the examples of energy ecological innovations that reduce pollution of the natural environment? As regards the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, it is necessary to reform the energy sector in such a way as to switch from the production of electricity based on the classic energy based on the combustion of minerals to technologies based on the development of renewable energy sources. In addition, it is also important to develop electromobility in the automotive industry and other types of transport. In addition, one of the main types of eco-innovations includes innovative technologies for building zero-energy houses and residential buildings. The special design and materials used ensure low energy consumption and closure of the energy cycle in a cycle in which household power plants generating heat and electricity based on renewable energy sources are an integral part, primarily through the use of photovoltaic panels and wind farms.
14. How to diversify energy sources as part of the development of energy based on renewable energy sources?
In my opinion, in the situation of having large financial resources, renewable energy sources should be developed, for which a particular country has a comparative advantage (such as the construction of wind farms where appropriate geographic and climatic conditions are met) and those that generate the least negative external aspects from the local community's point of view and specific innovative technologies are considered to be developmental, for example solar energy, ie the construction of power plants based on photovoltaic panels. In addition, renewable energy sources that do not need special climatic, natural and geographical conditions, such as nuclear power, should be developed. However, for example, the electromobility of motor vehicles should be developed in the supranational and global dimension. this is often determined by the transnational character of car operations.
15. Why is there still traditional energy based on burning minerals in some countries?
The problem is when the economically weak, small domestic economy has only traditional energy minerals, such as hard coal or lignite, and there are no developed different forms of renewable energy sources. In such a situation, there is a lack of financial resources for switching energy to renewable energy sources so as to move towards sustainable development according to the philosophy of the new, green economy, in order to limit the emission of greenhouse gases. The warming of the Earth's climate is already a fact and is a serious growing problem. Therefore, renewable energy sources should be developed. Rich countries should support countries characterized by weaker economy, lower incomes and based on traditional energy technologies. It is therefore necessary to strengthen international cooperation in the area of promotion, support and financing of investment projects, thanks to which it will be possible to develop renewable energy sources in the future and aim at sustainable pro-ecological development.
Best wishes
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