New Energy Research Scholarships

Energy management for smart homes with solar PVs and electric vehicles

With the increasing penetration of distributed energy sources (e.g., renewable source, energy storage system, distributed generation unit) associated with power electronics and information communication technologies, modern buildings are becoming autonomous energy systems. In these scenarios, advanced energy management systems are highly desired to enhance the energy efficiency of buildings. In particular, home energy management systems (HEMSs) have attracted in recent years significant attention in both academia and industry. This project will develop effective energy management systems for future smart homes with solar photovoltaics and electric vehicles. The operations of the generation and electric appliances are controlled in response to dynamic price to reduce the consumers’ electricity bill while minimising power loss. This project requires PhD candidates to have fundamental knowledge of renewable energies, energy systems, and control.

Supervisors

Jiefeng Hu is currently an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator of Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy at Federation University Australia. He is also the stream leader of Centre for New Energy Transition Research (CfNETR). His research interests include power electronics, renewable energy, and smart microgrids. He is an IEEE Senior Member, and Editor of IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion. He has led several research and industry projects to develop advanced renewable energy technologies for smart grids and smart cities. He has extensive supervisory experience. Up to now, he has supervised 5 PhD students, one postdoctoral fellow and 7 research associates to completion.

Nima Amjady is currently working as Professor, Renewable Energy Technologies and Director Centre for New Energy Transition Research. His research interests include power system operation and planning, microgrid operation and planning, forecast processes of power systems and microgrids, renewable energies. He is a Senior member of IEEE, PES liaison editor for IEEE Press, Editor of IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, Editor of IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy and Editor of IEEE Power Engineering Letters. He has extensive supervisory experience of more than 20 research staff/students.

Syed Islam is currently the Associate Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research and Innovation) and previously the Executive Dean for the Institute of Innovation Science and Sustainability at Federation University Australia. He was the John Curtin Distinguished Professor in Electrical Power Engineering and the Director of Centre for Smart Grid and Sustainable Power Systems at Curtin University, Perth, Australia. He is a Fellow of the Engineers Australia, a Fellow of the IEEE and IEEE PES and a Fellow of the IET. He has supervised more than 20 research staff/students to completion.

Scholarship applicants must be eligible to undertake a PhD. Applicants must verify that they meet the eligibility requirements outlined on the Graduate Research School website before they apply.

If you are making a case for Honours equivalence, in order to demonstrate your eligibility, please ensure that you provide detailed information to support your case.

Applications are open to Australian residents, Australian permanent residents and international applicants.

• Students are expected to commit to full-time study for the duration of their candidature.
• Scholarships are for a period of three years and extension to scholarships will not be granted.
• The successful scholarship applicant must study on campus in Ballarat.
• The successful scholarship applicant must participate in an internship period.
• The successful scholarship applicant must formally assign, in advance, all rights, title and interest they may have in any IP developed to the University prior to commencing a project.

View the general conditions for Federation University HDR scholarships on the Graduate Research School website. Where these conditions differ to those on this form, the conditions outlined for this specific scholarship take precedence.

Applicants who do not complete all steps will not be considered.

Step 1: Follow the application process outlined at: How to apply

Step 2: Provide a copy of your CV and a 1000-word statement covering the following areas:

• Discuss your motivations for applying for this PhD scholarship, and your intended research outcomes (both for yourself and for the center)
• Discuss some of the key existing research literature which impacts this topic area
• Discuss your relevant research background, experience and outcomes as they are relevant to the project
• Discuss your plan/proposal to run the project along with the required facilities (hardware, software, etc.)
• Discuss potential challenges and how you might overcome them

Applicants are not required to provide a 250 Project Summary.

Step 3: Complete the Scholarship Expression of Interest Form