PhD: Facilitating the city energy system transition - local flexibility

Information about the research
Historically, the majority of the electricity requested in cities has been imported. However, due to urbanization and electrification, the city electricity demand is increasing while the construction of new power lines in the urban setting is challenging. Local electricity production and flexibility measures can be an option or complement to new power lines. By planning for new energy infrastructure (such as electric vehicles, electrification of industry and varying renewable electricity generation) in a strategic manner, preconditions for collaboration between different parts of the city energy system can potentially be improved. Gothenburg Energy have joined forces with the division of Energy Technology at Chalmers to investigate cost and resource efficient transitions of the city energy system.

The successful PhD candidate will, supervised by researchers at Energy Technology and in close collaboration with researchers at Chalmers and Gothenburg Energy, investigate how local electricity production, sector coupling, demand-side management, energy storage and planning of the city infrastructure can be used to enable a continued urbanisation and electrification while creating a city energy system that meets the Swedish and international climate targets.

The work will be carried out using tecno-economic models of the city energy system. Purpose-built energy system models are developed within the research group at Energy Technology and the existing toolbox address the energy system transition on many different geographical levels. Existing tools can be further developed for the purpose of this work.

Major responsibilities
Your major responsibilities as PhD student are to pursue your own doctoral studies. You are expected to develop your own scientific concepts and communicate the results of your research verbally and in writing. The position also includes teaching on Chalmers' undergraduate level or performing other duties corresponding to 20 per cent of working hours. You are expected to write a licentiate thesis within 2-3 years and defend your doctoral thesis within 4-5 years.

Qualifications
To qualify for this PhD student position, you must have a master's level degree corresponding to at least 240 higher education (ECTS) credits in Electrical Engineering, Energy systems engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil or Environmental Engineering, Engineering Physics or equivalent. Excellent writing and communication skills in English are required. Writing and communication skills in Swedish are meritorious.

Contract terms
Full-time temporary employment. The position is limited to a maximum of five years.

We offer
Chalmers offers a cultivating and inspiring working environment in the coastal city of Gothenburg. 
Read more about working at Chalmers and our benefits for employees.

Chalmers aims to actively improve our gender balance. We work broadly with equality projects, for example the GENIE Initiative on gender equality for excellence. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at Chalmers.

Application procedure
The application should be marked with Ref 20210401 and written in English. The application should be sent electronically and be attached as pdf-files, as below:

CV: (Please name the document: CV, Family name, Ref. number)
• CV
• Other, for example previous employments or leadership qualifications and positions of trust.
• Two references that we can contact.

Personal letter: (Please name the document as: Personal letter, Family name, Ref. number)
1-3 pages where you:
• Introduce yourself
• Describe your previous experience of relevance for the position (e.g. education, thesis work and, if applicable, any other research activities)
• Describe your future goals and future research focus

Other documents:
• Copies of bachelor and/or master’s thesis.
• Attested copies and transcripts of completed education, grades and other certificates, e.g. TOEFL test results.

Please use the button at the foot of the page to reach the application form. The files may be compressed (zipped).

Application deadline: 30 September, 2021

For questions, please contact:
Assistant professor, Lisa Göransson, Division of Energy Technology
E-mail: lisa.goransson@chalmers.se
Phone: +46 31 772 1452

*** Chalmers declines to consider all offers of further announcement publishing or other types of support for the recruiting process in connection with this position. *** 
   



Chalmers University of Technology conducts research and education in engineering sciences, architecture, technology-related mathematical sciences, natural and nautical sciences, working in close collaboration with industry and society. The strategy for scientific excellence focuses on our six Areas of Advance; Energy, Health Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Materials Science, Production and Transport. The aim is to make an active contribution to a sustainable future using the basic sciences as a foundation and innovation and entrepreneurship as the central driving forces. Chalmers has around 11,000 students and 3,000 employees. New knowledge and improved technology have characterised Chalmers since its foundation in 1829, completely in accordance with the will of William Chalmers and his motto: Avancez!