PhD Scholarship: Multi-terminal HVDC Control and Operation Strategies for Offshore Wind Farms

This PhD scholarship is offered by the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Offshore Wind Energy Sustainability and Resilience, a partnership between the Universities of Durham, Hull, Loughborough and Sheffield. The scholarship focuses on developing robust control and operation strategies for multi-vendor, transnational multi-terminal HVDC (MT-HVDC) networks for offshore wind integration. The project addresses critical challenges of system interoperability and compatibility between different vendor technologies, with solutions validated using advanced hardware-in-the-loop test facilities at the National HVDC Centre. The successful applicant will undertake six months of training with the CDT cohort at the University of Hull before continuing their PhD research at Loughborough University. The project includes industry supervision from the National HVDC Centre and offers a one-year secondment opportunity to gain hands-on experience with MT-HVDC real-time digital EMT simulation facilities. The research aims to support the deployment of resilient and scalable MT-HVDC technology, accelerating offshore wind energy integration at transnational level while reducing supply chain risks and enhancing energy flexibility and security. The program provides comprehensive training including an intensive six-month taught programme covering offshore wind fundamentals, power systems, HVDC, power electronics, and MATLAB simulation. Additional training is available through the National HVDC Centre on RTDS basics and real-time digital EMT simulation systems. The scholarship includes full fees coverage plus an annual stipend of £20,780 (2025/26 rates) for four years of research study.