Postdoctoral Position: Cost-Efficient Renewable Hydrogen Production Through System Integration

This postdoctoral position focuses on cost-efficient renewable hydrogen production through system integration.

Job description

Producing carbon-neutral hydrogen at scale and low cost is essential for a sustainable energy and materials system. Cost reduction will come from cheaper electricity, innovation, market growth, scaling, standardisation, and supply chain development. Multiple hydrogen production technologies from electricity are under development, with varying maturity and applications.

This research project focuses on mid-term cost reduction and long-term innovation of various hydrogen generation technologies: water electrolysis (different types, alkaline, PEM, SOEC, AEM), methane pyrolysis (plasma) and system integration. The focus is on system integration, taking into account the different characteristics of the technologies in play (hydrogen generation plants), their location (integration optimisation at plant and cluster level, sector coupling), and their integration with the electricity grid.

To address these issues, you will develop state-of-the-art optimisation models to:

• Identify synergies and integration opportunities within hydrogen production processes (e.g., feedstock preparation and product separation).
• Minimise energy and resource use through efficient heat exchange, waste heat recovery, and optimised process conditions.
• Assess and reduce environmental impacts, such as greenhouse gas emissions and waste.
• Validate models with literature and consortium data and in case studies defined by the consortium.

This postdoctoral position is funded by the "Nationaal Groeifonds", through the HyPRO project: "Towards flexible, durable, and high-performance Hydrogen Production Technology".

This position will sit at the Energy and Industry section of the Technology, Policy and Management Faculty of TU Delft, with Dr. Mar Pérez-Fortes, and will be co-supervised by Dr. Ana Somoza-Tornos from the Process Systems Engineering section of the Applied Sciences Faculty of TU Delft. The candidate will join both teams, with a focus on the production of hydrogen (and green chemicals), and the electrification of industry and renewables-based energy storage via integration of electrolysis processes.

Job requirements

We are looking for a researcher who has:

• A PhD degree in science, engineering or economics (must have been awarded by the agreed-upon starting date).
• Prior research experience in electrolysis-based plant modelling, techno-economic assessment and heat management, and/or multi-objective optimisation.
• Experience modelling flexible operation of electrolysers, interacting with the electricity grid.
• Very good written and spoken communication skills in English (Dutch is not required).
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• A result-oriented attitude and enjoys working in an interdisciplinary group.

The following will make you stand out:

• Programming experience in Python, GAMS or a similar language.
• Process modelling in Aspen Plus, gPROMS or similar.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world-class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society.

Faculty Technology, Policy and Management

The Faculty of TPM contributes to solving complex technical-social issues, such as energy transition, mobility, digitalisation, water management and (cyber) security. TPM does this with education and research at the intersection of technology, society and policy. The faculty combines insights from engineering, social sciences and the humanities, develops robust models and designs, is internationally oriented and has an extensive network of knowledge institutions, companies, social organisations and governments.

Conditions of employment

• Duration of contract is 2 years Temporary external finance.
• Salary and benefits are in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
• An excellent pension scheme via the ABP.
• The possibility to compile an individual employment package every year.
• Discount with health insurers on supplemental packages.
• Flexible working week.
• Every year, 232 leave hours (at 38 hours). You can also sell or buy additional leave hours via the individual choice budget.
• Plenty of opportunities for education, training and courses.
• Partially paid parental leave.
• Attention for working healthy and energetically with the vitality program.