CSIRO Industry PhD Scholarship: Development of Wind and Solar Electrolyser Technologies - CSIRO - GreenCareer

First listed on: 30 November 2022

CSIRO Industry PhD Scholarship: Development of Wind and Solar Electrolyser Technologies

 

Acknowledgement of Country 
CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation. 

The Opportunity

  • Gain experience working with industry to solve real-world problems while you earn your PhD 
  • Develop transferable professional skills 
  • Get access to specialised expertise, equipment and training 

The CSIRO Industry PhD Scholarship (iPhD) Program is an industry-focused, applied research scholarship and training program that brings together an industry partner, the university and CSIRO. 

You will undertake a co-designed research project that will develop your ability to translate research into commercial outcomes.  

You will get real-world experience and access to specialised expertise, equipment and training.

Our graduates develop transferable professional skills and are well positioned to work at the cutting edge of industry focussed research.  

Scholarship details 

The Program includes:

  • admission to the university PhD program  
  • a four-year scholarship package of approx. $45,000 per annum  
  • a four-year Project Expense and Development package of up to $13,000 per annum  
  • an in-business component with an industry partner of at least 3 months 
  • professional development training to enhance your applied research skills  
  • supervision by CSIRO, the industry partner, and the university  

Project Title:   Development of Wind and Solar Electrolyser Technologies for Green Hydrogen and Ammonia Production

Project Description:   Renewable energy penetration is increasing to the grid globally. New challenges arise due to its variable supply of power. Hydrogen can fulfil the role of energy storage and carrier, since it has a much higher energetic density based on mass. Considering that the onshore and offshore wind sectors are facing significant growth and technical advances, hydrogen has the potential to be combined with wind and solar energy. It may reduce overall cost by reducing the need for electrical transmission systems resulting in lowering transmission losses and with system integration. Green hydrogen and ammonia are provided as a new solution for decarbonising economy if this can be produced from renewable sources and to be supplied cost effectively to consumers. Although the transport sector is the key focus for the utilisation of hydrogen as a clean fuel, various industrial applications such a green chemicals and fertilisers are also being increasingly looked at. Separate onshore or off-shore with electrolysers in combination with on-shore or off-shore wind turbines are proposed. 

In this project, an attempt will be made for a combination of wind turbine and solar panels fitted with an electrolyser (either proton-exchange membrane (PEM) type or other type). A saline and wastewater treatment plant will be evaluated as part of integrated flowsheet. To evaluate this quantitatively, a mathematical simulation model-based technology will be developed. This technology and evaluation will combine techno-economic and life cycle assessment models based on process engineering principles and methodology applied in previous studies (Norgate and Haque, 2010). The outcome would enable to produce outputs will be the various scenarios and models to generate capital cost, operating cost, primary embodied energy, carbon, water, waste footprints of the levelized unit of green hydrogen, ammonia, urea production from wind and solar energy sources.

Project supervisors:   

CSIRO
    CSIRO supervisor: Nawshad Haque
    Business Unit: Energy
    Research program: Energy Technologies 
    Email address: Nawshad.Haque@csiro.au

University
    University supervisor: Firoz Alam  
    Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)
    Email address: firoz.alam@rmit.edu.au
    Faculty: STEM
    School: School of Engineering 

Industry
    Company name: Ozee Energy Pty Ltd
    Website: https://www.ozeeenergy.com

Location:     

  • Primary location of the student: RMIT University – Bundoora Campus (VIC) 
  • In-business component with Industry partner: Ozee Energy offices

Overview of who we are looking for 

The ideal student will have:

  •  Engineering Degree, preferably Chemical Engineering with flowsheeting experience; and
  •  an interest in Renewable Energy and/or Hydrogen

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply you must:

  •     be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen 
  •     meet host university PhD admission requirements 
  •     meet university English language requirements 
  •     not have previously completed a PhD 
  •     be able to commence the program in the year of the offer 
  •     enrol as a full-time PhD student 

Applications will be assessed on:

  1. Experience relevant to the field of research, including any research experience
  2. Suitability for the project
  3. Academic excellence
  4. Motivation for undertaking an Industry PhD project

About CSIRO
At CSIRO Australia's national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact. 

Further information about the CSIRO Industry PhD Program can be found at:  www.csiro.au/iphd  

How to Apply:

Applicants are required to submit an expression of interest (EOI) to the     Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT).

For full details on how to apply, please see website at:  Development of Wind and Solar Electrolyser Technologies for Green Hydrogen and Ammonia Production - RMIT University 

Applications close: 13 January 2023, 5:00pm AEDT