Cheshire East wants a brain

PhD opportunity to boost geothermal energy plans

The search is on for a talented graduate who can analyse the potential for Cheshire East to generate geothermal energy.

Cheshire East Council is contributing to a Natural Environmental Research Council-funded PhD studentship at Keele University. The student will work out the best way to release energy from deep beneath the earth's surface to heat homes and businesses.

The £88,000 project is the latest funding success for Cheshire East. In two earlier rounds of investment, the Department for Energy and Climate Change contributed £250,000 towards feasibility studies into plans for a heat network in Crewe and in rural areas of Cheshire East.

As one of only six areas in the UK with deep geothermal potential, Cheshire East Council is at the forefront of geothermal development and is in discussions with potential partners to develop a geothermal heat to provide long-term, renewable energy.

Geothermal Resources

It is estimated that geothermal reserves in the Cheshire Basin hold around 4.6M GWh of zero-carbon, low-cost energy, more than six times the national heat demand of Britain.

The first phase of the geothermal project will require a £37m investment to drill down 4.5km to bring hot water to the surface and serve customers in Leighton West, Crewe.

The collaboration between Keele and Cheshire East Council recognises the value of knowledge transfer opportunities to give students the opportunity to contribute solutions and learn from real world examples.

The Council is keen to encourage appropriately qualified residents and those working in the geothermal industry to consider the opportunity the PhD provides.

Qualifications

The successful applicant should have, or expect to have, an honours degree at 2.1 or above (or equivalent) in geology, geophysics, reservoir engineering or an aligned subject.

A master's degree in geoscience, geophysics or geotechnical engineering is highly desirable.

Enquiries

Formal applications can be completed online here (look for FNS GS 2015-02, near the bottom of the list). Supervisor (Dr Nigel Cassidy) must be quoted on the application form.

Informal enquiries can be made to the project supervisor, Dr Nigel Cassidy (n.j.cassidy@keele.ac.uk) with a CV and cover letter.

All general enquiries should be directed to Professor Trevor Greenhough (Director of Postgraduate Research), Faculty of Natural Science, by emailing t.j.greenhough@keele.ac.uk

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