The University of Strathclyde’s Centre for Energy Policy (CEP) is offering an exciting opportunity for a 3-year full-time funded PhD project, which aligns with CEP’s current research investigating the emerging low carbon hydrogen economy and the potential impacts on the global economy and international trade.

This PhD project will add value to CEP’s current work exploring the green jobs market, the macroeconomic implications of decarbonisation and the emerging capital investment in hydrogen systems in the UK. Given the emerging plans to extend hydrogen pipelines across the UK and Europe, the UK and Scottish policy interest in becoming significant producers of hydrogen, and the developing industrial interest in hydrogen use for industrial, domestic and transport applications, this area is of increasing interest in the policy discourse of decarbonisation.

An understanding of the systems and macroeconomics dynamics is vital for informing these policy and decision-making debates with real evidence and analysis.  The Scottish government identify the need for action in this area in the Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan, which notes:

……the potential for Scotland to develop a hydrogen export economy, which we expect would further boost GVA from the low carbon and renewable energy section as a whole and help to reduce the impact of a decline in the export driven oil and gas sector

In this PhD project you will have the opportunity to train in evidence review methodologies, systems dynamics approaches, and policy analysis methods applied in a political economy context.  The PhD project will feed directly into the evidence need identified by emerging UK policy, providing significant policy impact, alongside the generation of world-class research output.

Further information

Why undertake a PhD at the University of Strathclyde’s Centre for Energy Policy?

Our Ethos is Working to ensure transitions to mid-century net zero targets deliver sustainable & equitable prosperity.

The Centre brings together a unique blend of economy-wide modelling, political economy and public policy analysis experience and expertise to understanding the wider economic and societal outcomes of a range of decarbonisation actions at local, regional, national, and international levels and how economically and politically feasible pathways to net zero can be identified and shaped.

As a CEP PhD researcher, you will be able to draw on this expertise as part of your PhD research and develop and apply your learning through live research projects that CEP leads, with focus on real and measurable impact with key policy decision makers within the UK and internationally. Read more about the Centre for Energy Policy.