New electricity market mechanism for electric vehicles to address the duck curve problem

Due to the recent surge in rooftop solar installations in Australia, daytime electricity demand from the grid has dropped because of the surplus energy produced by these systems. However, as the sun sets and people return home, the demand on the network peaks. This creates a challenge for electricity network operators and service providers, known as the "duck curve problem," as they must efficiently and cost-effectively manage generators during periods of low demand. Sometimes, this even requires generator operators to pay customers to stay online. Addressing this issue is crucial for maintaining a reliable and cost-effective energy supply.

This PhD project aims to design theoretical frameworks for a novel market mechanism that enables households with rooftop solar and batteries, and electric vehicle owners, to interact to flatten the duck curve. The successful PhD candidate will apply theories from electrical engineering, economics and optimization to solve the problem.

The School of EECS boasts world-class research facilities in renewable energy integration, featuring numerous renewable energy generators, a Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the industry 4.0 UQ Energy TestLab. This includes hardware-in-loop experimental setups on both RTDS and Opal-RT platforms, along with cutting-edge industry-based software tools.

This project is supported by the Research project scholarship.

Learn more about the Research project scholarship.

You must contact the principal supervisor for this project to discuss your interest. You should only complete the online application after you have reached agreement on supervision.

Always make sure you are approaching your potential supervisor in a professional way. We have provided some guidelines for you on how to contact a supervisor.

Your application will be assessed on a competitive basis.

We take into account your:

• previous academic record
• publication record
• honours and awards
• employment history.

A working knowledge of electricity market modelling would be of benefit to someone working on this project.

You will demonstrate academic achievement in the field(s) of mathematical modelling and optimisation and the potential for scholastic success.

A background or knowledge of the electricity market, economic theory and optimisation is highly desirable.

Before you apply

Before submitting an application you should:

1. check your eligibility for a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
2. prepare your documentation
3. contact Dr Wayes Tushar (w.tushar@uq.edu.au) to discuss your interest and suitability
4. submit your application by 30 June, 2024 30 June, 2024.

When you apply

You apply for this scholarship when you submit an application for your program. You don’t need to submit a separate scholarship application.

In your application ensure that under the ‘Scholarships and collaborative study’ section you select:

• ‘My higher degree is not collaborative’
• ‘I am applying for, or have been awarded a scholarship or sponsorship'
• ‘Other’, then ‘Research Project Scholarship’ and in the ‘Name of scholarship’ field enter ELECTRIC-TUSHAR.

Apply now