About the project
This project will propose mathematical decision-support tools to assist an operator in making the UK electrical grid more resilient against unforeseen attacks and develop algorithms that enable us to solve such models both efficiently and quickly.
The UK electrical grid is vulnerable to malicious (e.g., terrorism) or act-of-god (e.g., lightning) attacks that have low chances of occurrence yet can cause extremely large-scale damage. In August 2019, lightning struck a transmission circuit of the National Grid — causing UK’s largest blackout in a decade — leaving a million customers without power supply. In February 2022, the UK’s Secretary of State for Business and Trade proposed discussions with the National Grid warning of increasing possibilities of foreign malicious attacks on critical energy infrastructure.
Electrical operators consequently seek to design a secure and resilient power grid by installing sophisticated technologies safeguarding critical power infrastructure. However, due to logistical challenges and/or prohibitive costs, not all national infrastructure is reliably protected. Neither, can such low-likelihood events be precisely forecast.
This project will propose mathematical decision-support tools to assist an operator in making the UK electrical grid more resilient against unforeseen attacks, and develop algorithms that enable us to solve such models both efficiently and quickly.
Funding for this project is offered by the Centre for Doctoral Training in Complex Integrated Systems for Defence & Security (CISDnS), which will recruit motivated and inquisitive candidates across the themes of digital, physical and biological systems to provide a diverse and interconnected cohort training environment. You can read more about the Centre and the training programme.
CISDnS is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusivity. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break or are transitioning into a new role. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance.
