Evaluation and Enhancement of the Robustness of UK Supermarket CO₂ Refrigeration Systems
Kim Shen Seah
This project evaluates how UK supermarket CO₂ refrigeration systems perform during heatwaves and rising ambient temperatures using real-world telemetry and alarm data. Adaptive measures are proposed to mitigate heat stress and enhance operational robustness. Finally, a theoretical resilience framework is developed to provide comprehensive guidance for improving the reliability and future-proofing of CO₂ refrigeration systems in UK supermarkets.
Supervisor(s)
- Dr Salvador Acha (Chemical Engineering)
- Dr Emilio Jose Sarabia Escriva (Polytechnic University of Valencia)
Techno-Economic assessment of tidal stream energy for remote electrification in Indonesia
Léna Souami
Tidal stream energy is an emerging renewable technology gaining traction in Europe, especially in the UK, due to its predictability and low carbon footprint. However, its application for rural electrification remains largely untested. This project explores the use of tidal energy to displace diesel generation on remote islands in Eastern Indonesia. Reconstructed tidal velocities are used to model energy production and match it to local demand. A techno-economic analysis is performed using LCOE, and results are compared to other generation options to assess feasibility in a developing context.
Supervisor(s)
- Professor Tim Green (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
- Dr Sree Payyala (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
Techno-economic and resource assessment for tidal stream arrays in the UK
Leon Huebner
Tidal energy is a highly predictable and consistent source of renewable energy, offering distinct power system benefits compared to variable solar and wind generation. However, significant economic and environmental constraints have limited the large-scale deployment of tidal energy schemes to date. This project examines the global distribution of tidal energy using Python and ArcGIS and develops a model of the UK tidal stream resource. Techno-economic and multi-criteria analysis are performed to assess this resource in the context of existing and emerging tidal stream converter technologies, providing insights into the feasibility and strategic development of tidal stream arrays in the UK.
Supervisor(s)
- Professor Tim Green (Electrical and Electronic Engineering)
Modelling Offshore Wind Energy Potential and Energy Pricing within the UK: The Role of Interconnectors
Lina Efthymiadou
This project investigates the impact of offshore wind deployment on electricity prices and revenue stability in the UK, with a specific focus on the role of electricity interconnectors. It examines how interconnection influences market dynamics, including price volatility, curtailment, and cross-border electricity flows, using UK-specific data and machine learning techniques. By modelling future interconnection scenarios, the study assesses their potential to improve investment certainty, reduce revenue risks, and enhance system flexibility. It highlights the critical role of interconnectors in enabling a resilient and decarbonised UK energy system.
Supervisor(s)
- Dr Malte Jansen (University College London)
- Dr Ruslan Galimov (RWE Renewables)
- Professor Adam Hawkes (Chemical Engineering)
Residential heating transition towards low carbon technologies: analysis of UK household survey data
Musa Ning
The residential sector in the UK requires extensive decarbonisation, primarily through adopting low-carbon heating (LCH) technologies. However, increased electricity demand from heat pumps and EVs can place pressure on the grid. Relying solely on LCH supply-side solutions addresses only part of the challenge; the other must be tackled through consumer engagement in demand-side response (DSR). Using behavioural frameworks and structural equation modelling, this thesis analyses latent drivers, such as values, attitudes, and trust, that influence consumers’ intention to enrol in DSR, guiding effective policy action.
Supervisor(s)
- Professor Aruna Sivakumar (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
- Dr Jacek Pawlak (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
Optimising the Power Extraction Performance of a Generic Wind Farm Through Wake Steering
Onat Safaoglu
As Wind Farms (WFs) and Turbines (WTs) scale to meet urgent climate targets, wake-turbine interactions grow more complex. Layout optimisation, a passive wake mitigation strategy, yields effective power gains under a set of site-specific wind conditions, which remain uncertain despite powerful predictive algorithms. Hence, wake avoidance through active wake steering, intentionally yaw misaligning upstream WTs to deflect their wakes away from downstream turbines, has become central for existing WFs where repositioning WTs for shifting wind regimes is economically infeasible. Consequently, this paper assesses the effectiveness of wake steering on a generic 4x4 WF under realistic wind regimes.
Supervisor(s)
- Professor Sylvain Laizet (Aeronautics)
Corrosion-fatigue interaction in offshore wind turbines splash zones: Experimental wet-dry cycling and phase field modelling of structural steel life
Rastko Zeljkovic
Offshore wind turbine foundations operate in highly aggressive splash-zone environments, where seawater exposure and cyclic loading combine to accelerate structural degradation. This project examines the interaction of corrosion and fatigue in structural steels through experimental wet–dry cycling and phase field modelling. The experiments replicate splash-zone conditions to study rust formation and pit initiation, while the simulations capture crack initiation and growth under cyclic loads influenced by surface roughness. Together, these approaches advance understanding of corrosion–fatigue mechanisms and support more reliable life prediction and protection strategies for offshore wind infrastructure.
Supervisor(s)
- Dr Livia Cupertino Malheiros (Civil and Environmental Engineering)
- Dr Sara Jimenez Alfaro (Civil and Environmental Engineering)