At the IEK-3 future energy systems consisting of high shares of variable renewable energy sources (VRES) are consistently being modeled and analyzed. In order to ensure security of energy supply and reduce greenhouse gas emissions within such energy systems, hydrogen production from renewable energy sources is considered a viable option. On that note, the selection of suitable sites for installation of hydrogen production, storage and subsequent transport facilities is an integral part of the analysis for implementing a hydrogen infrastructure within an energy system. However, in order to optimize the operation and cost-effectiveness of a hydrogen infrastructure it is crucial to consider relevant location factors.
The siting of individual hydrogen generation and storage facilities is often influenced by multiple factors such as proximity to renewable electricity supply sources, proximity to demand centers etc. An integrated framework that combines multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods and geographical information systems (GIS) can aid in answering questions related to the siting of individual hydrogen infrastructure elements. The aim of the master thesis is therefore to support the development of such a framework that would inform stakeholder decisions in order to identify the most suitable locations for investment into a hydrogen infrastructure within the context of a future 100% renewable energy system.
Tasks
Your tasks include:
- Literature research on:
- multi-criteria decision-making methods (MCDM)
- key localization criteria and associated constraints
- Collecting and processing necessary geospatial datasets e.g. on water bodies, rivers, dams, roads, railways, power lines, land use, risk areas etc.
- Combining multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods with geographical information systems (GIS) and evaluating land suitability for hydrogen production from renewable energy
- Analyzing the sensitivity of suitability to weighting of criteria
- Developing suitability layers for hydrogen infrastructure placement
Requirements
- Very good academic record in engineering (energy technology, mechanical engineering, industrial engineering), infrastructure/urban planning, geospatial sciences or a related field of study
- Interest in topics and issues related to energy technology and energy policy
- Ability to work independently and analytically within a project team
- Familiarity with land suitability analysis and experience with handling geospatial datasets is advantageous
- Experience in modelling and programming (especially in Python) is advantageous
Our Offer
- You will be part of a highly motivated international working group in one of the largest research institutions in Europe
- You will receive access to excellent scientific and technical infrastructure
- You will receive close supervision through web-meetings and in-person meetings (when permitted)
- Your work will be remunerated
Start date
As soon as possible
Application
If you are interested in the position, kindly send your application documents (a motivation letter, CV and academic transcript of records) as a single PDF document via email to the respective contact person.
Contact Person
Shitab Ishmam
E-Mail: s.ishmam@fz-juelich.de
Forschungszentrum Jülich
Institute of Energy and Climate Research
Techno-economic Systems Analysis (IEK-3)