Sustainable Smart Energy Solutions for Maritime Ports (STREAM Project)

Ireland’s maritime sector faces significant decarbonisation challenges due to forthcoming EU regulations requiring major ports to provide on‑shore power supply (OPS) to vessels by 2030. The STREAM project addresses these challenges by developing off‑grid, renewable‑powered energy and charging systems that improve port energy independence while reducing investment risk and long‑term costs. The project combines power systems engineering, smart grid technologies, energy storage, and data‑driven control approaches to support a secure and cost‑effective energy transition for ports. The PhD research will focus on one or more of the following areas: Design and operation of off‑grid and hybrid renewable energy systems for ports ; Smart grids and microgrids incorporating energy storage and flexible loads ; Advanced control strategies for port electrification and on‑shore power supply;Real‑time simulation, hardware‑in‑the‑loop (HIL), and system validation;Application of machine learning and data‑driven techniques for energy management, forecasting, and optimisation

Applicants should be highly motivated, of good conduct and cooperative, interested in interdisciplinary research at the interface of power systems, renewable energy, and intelligent control. BE and ME degrees (or equivalent) in Electrical Engineering, Energy Systems, Power Engineering, or a closely related discipline

First‑class honours (or equivalent) in both undergraduate and master’s degrees ,
Highly Recommended Experience in the following-
Strong fundamentals in power systems engineering ,
Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills,
Strong written and verbal communication skills in English,
Renewable energy systems (wind, solar, hybrid systems)
Smart grids and microgrids
Energy storage technologies
Control systems and optimisation
OPAL‑RT / real‑time digital simulation (RTDS) / HIL platforms
Machine learning or data‑driven methods, particularly for energy systems
MATLAB/Simulink, Python, or similar scientific computing tools
Power system simulation tools (e.g. PSCAD, DIgSILENT PowerFactory, OpenDSS)

Funding Agency: SEAI

Student Stipend per annum: €25,000

Fees covered by the funding per annum: € 6,000

Materials & Travel Budget per annum: € 3,000

Duration of Funding: 48 Months

Deadline to submit an application: Friday 15^th June 2026 

If you are interested in submitting an application for this project, please complete an Expression of Interest.

 https://forms.office.com/e/0hCcrv2Gkp