Research and expertise
My current research aims to quantify the potential and make use of demand-side flexibility in specific Distribution Network Operator (DNO) regions by utilising the increasing amount of distributed energy resources (DER), such as electric vehicles, heat pumps and solar photovoltaics, on an aggregated scale. This work aims to address and mitigate the impact of mass electrification, particularly of domestic heating and transport, and the bi-directional requirements of feeding self-generated (PV) or stored (vehicle-to-grid) electricity back into the national grid, in terms of voltage and reactive power constraints.
The current changing role of the DNOs to distribution system operators (DSOs), means the DSOs will now be responsible for managing an active distribution system, not only comprising of the traditional generation, demand and networks, but also additional flexible distributed energy resources. Combining this transition, with the future planned electricity market reform (REMA), enables a new and timely niche where distributed energy resources are anticipated to make a quick and impactful assent into the distribution networks and participating in the electricity market structure through local flexibility markets and ancillary services.
Current research activity
- PhD project: Quantification of flexibility from aggregated distributed energy resources.
Profile
I completed an undergraduate degree in Mathematics and Physics, graduating in 2020 from the University of Warwick.
After my studies, I undertook a placement in industry which involved creating a model for battery degradation, utilising historic data of various assets operating in the FFR market and for energy arbitrage services, using Python. This led me to ultimately undertake a master’s degree in Sustainable Energy Engineering from the University of Nottingham, graduating in 2021. Following on from this, I worked in Building Physics for a year in a M&E company, specifically in building energy modelling for compliance with Building Regulations such as Part L and O, before joining the Energy Resilience and the Built Environment (ERBE) Centre for Doctoral Training for the 2022 cohort.
Professional affiliations
- Energy Institute (student)
- CIBSE (student)
Key collaborators
My research and enterprise activities are conducted with a range of academic and stakeholder partners, including:
- Supervisors for my PhD research: Dr Steven Firth, Dr Stephen Watson