The Electrical Power and Control Systems group is an internationally recognised multidisciplinary group, undertaking cutting edge research in renewable energy, power electronics, electric vehicles, battery charging, electric machine and drive, power system management and optimisation, advanced control theory and methods, autonomous driving, robotic systems, and artificial intelligence for engineering applications.
Recent research efforts include:
- Condition monitoring, diagnosis, and prognosis for offshore wind turbine systems
- Smart, clean energy and electric vehicles and prototype smart EV charger
- Power converters for renewable energy systems
- Next generation wide bandgap power modules and wireless power transfer techniques
- Grid integration of renewable energy sources (wind/PV) and electric vehicles
- Information and communication technologies for smart grid
- Energy storage, management, and optimisation
- Electric machines and drive techniques
- Advanced control theory and applications
- Control for power converters in marine energy systems
- Control applications for aerospace systems
- Monitoring and control for cyber physical systems
- Dynamics and control for vehicular systems and autonomous driving
- Real-time control for robotic systems
- Machine learning and data-driven techniques for complex industrial processes
- Precise time synchronisation in wireless sensor network and synchronized data acquisition for time-critical systems
- Bioinformatics and health care system
We also have expertise in electronic system design and verification using hardware description languages, integrated circuit design (VLSI), analogue and digital electronics, microprocessors and embedded systems, microcontrollers, and digital electronics.
Our recent research activities are supported by various funding bodies such as
- Development of a smart micro-grid with high penetration of PV generation and electric vehicles, funded by UKIERI and DST-British Council
- Smart, clean energy and electric vehicles for the city (SEEV4-City), funded by EU
- An intelligent battery charger for electric vehicles applications, funded by Innovate UK
- Stability and performance of photovoltaics (STAPP), funded by DST-EPSRC, UK-India collaboration
- Testing and evaluating sophisticated information and communication technologies for enabling scalable smart grid deployment, funded by EU H2020 Marie Curie Research
- Current distribution measurement of press-pack power module, Industrial project funded by Dynex.
Group leadership and contacts
Research relationships
This group is a part of the University’s multi-disciplinary research into the theme of Energy Futures.
Research from this group has been submitted to REF2028 under UoA 12: Engineering.
To view research papers emanating from this group, please click here to view Northumbria Research Link, our open access repository of research output from Northumbria University.
PhD opportunities
Electrical Power and Control
Systems Research Group welcome applications from excellent and motivated students and
researchers. There are the following research opportunities:
- Fully-funded
PhD studentships: pre-defined projects, advertised usually in December
every year. You can feel free to apply following the information in the
advertisement.
- Collaborative doctoral research studentship (CDRS)
programme: co-funds, typically 50% of the total project cost, with
external partners/organisations.
- Self-sponsored
PhD students: researching your own idea with an academic supervisor. You
are welcome to discuss your projects before submitting your application.
- China
scholarship council (CSC) PhD students and visiting scholars: You are
welcome to contact the head of the research group for discussion.
Successful
applicants will benefit from joining a vibrant and diverse environment, working
with world leading experts at the forefront of electrical and electronic
engineering. A wide range of projects are available covering important topics
in renewable energy (offshore wind/wave, and PV), power electronics, power
systems, smart grids, electric machines, electric vehicles, control
engineering, intelligent manufacturing, smart transportation/cities, complex
systems and dynamics, robotic systems, and health care systems.
