1 PhD position with focus on Renewable Gas in Denmark | Technical University of Denmark (DTU)

The 3-year PhD project in the Systems Analysis Division is part of the FutureGas project funded by Innovation Fund Denmark. The research project runs 4 years and examines how we distribute and use natural gas and renewable based gases in the future and how we can use the gas system in the Danish energy transition economically and efficiently. The PhD will be connected to work package 4 on integrated modelling of future energy systems - including the gas system. The candidate will work together with the FutureGas team including a PostDoc in the same work package, a second PhD student associated with advanced mathematical modelling and a third PhD associated with markets and regulation, as well as one other PhD student and three post docs.

Responsibilities and tasks

The research in this PhD project will focus on modelling and analysis of the gas system as part of an integrated energy system, including technical and economical modelling of production, conditioning, distribution and use of renewable gases today and in future energy scenarios. The PhD will work on topics such as:

• Conceptual modelling of the future gas system including production, conditioning, transmission, storage, trade and use.
• Developing future technical scenarios to align the research and analyses in the project
• Developing integrated modelling of the gas system (including the transport and industry sectors) with the electricity and district heating systems in large-scale energy system models facilitating socio economic analysis.
• Modelling of an elaborate representation of the gas markets and regulation both on local and international level in large-scale energy system models, facilitating private economic analyses in close collaboration with WP6 (Markets and regulation).
• System consequences of a closer coupling between markets for gas, heat and power in close collaboration with WP6 (Markets and regulation)
• Recommendations of future development of the gas system to promote independence of fossil fuels in an efficient and cost-effective way

Qualifications:

We are seeking candidates with a master degree in engineering, mathematics, economics or similar, preferably with experiences within energy system modelling. The research will encompass operation research, mathematical modelling and energy system analysis, as well as technical knowhow about energy technologies with focus on natural gas and renewable gases. In addition to the above, the following further qualifications will be considered in the assessment:

• Good writing and communication skills
• A good balance between having independent drive and being a team player - as the research is conducted in multidisciplinary teams
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary and international environment as well as in a Danish context
• Experiences with GAMS and energy system modelling, e.g. the Balmorel model, is an advantage