PhD Position – Negative emissions through cost-optimal Direct Air Capture and Storage plant design

Your Job:

One essential step towards the ramp-up is the identification of site-specific optimal design of DACS plants, which will be the focus of the advertised PhD. To identify optimal DACS plant designs in terms of their techno-economic characteristics an optimization model is to be developed in the institutes’ inhouse modelling framework FINE (https://github.com/FZJ-IEK3-VSA/FINE) in addition to technical models allowing to assess technical scaling and an optimal operation. The optimal plant design is identified by considering the energy supply system, the choice of capture technology, the DAC-plant’s technical design, the DAC-plant’s operational concept and the positioning of the DAC-plant with regards to the storage site and needed transportation effort. Your tasks in detail:

• Development of a modelling structure for representing the DACS-system in the FINE-Framework
• Detailed model of DAC technologies including their technical design and scaling effects
• Parameterization and design of the energy supply system for providing electricity (and heat/cooling) for the DAC plant
• Detailed model for DAC operation with respect to fluctuating energy supply and climatic conditions
• Model for assessing the positioning of the DAC-plant with regards to the storage site and needed transportation
• Development of appropriate scenarios to test the DACS-plant design and to obtain robust recommendations regarding the overall design

Your Profile:

• Master’s degree in the field of natural sciences, engineering, or a related field of study
• Knowledge of energy process engineering is an advantage
• Huge interest in energy technology and economics
• Experience in energy system modeling is beneficial
• First programming skills, ideally in Python
• Independent and analytical way of working
• Reliable and conscientious working style
• Fluent written and spoken English; German language skills are advantageous

Please feel free to apply for the position even if you do not have all the required skills and knowledge. We may be able to teach you missing skills during your induction.

Our Offer:

We work on the very latest issues that impact our society and are offering you the chance to actively help in shaping the change! We offer ideal conditions for you to complete your doctoral degree:

• A highly motivated working group as well as an international and interdisciplinary working environment in one of the largest research institutions in Europe
• Participation in an exciting consortium project with top-class partner institutions
• Excellent training, interdisciplinary collaboration, and practical insights in questions regarding negative emission technologies within the `Helmholtz Research School for Negative Emission Technologies`
• The opportunity to complete a doctoral thesis within 3 years through professional supervision and internal support services; time taken to submit the final thesis for the last 16 doctoral students at IEK-3: 2.7 – 3.4 years
• Excellent scientific and technical infrastructure
• Opportunity to participate in (international) conferences and project meetings
• Continuous professional support by your scientific supervisor(s)
• Best conditions for successful work in home office
• 30 days of annual leave and provision for days off between public holidays and weekends (e.g. between Christmas and New Year)
• Further development of your personal strengths, e.g. through an extensive range of training courses; a structured program of continuing education and networking opportunities specifically for doctoral researchers via JuDocS, the Jülich Center for Doctoral Researchers and Supervisors: https://www.fz-juelich.de/en/judocs
• Targeted services for international employees, e.g. through our International Advisory Service

In addition to exciting tasks and a collaborative working atmosphere at Jülich, we have a lot more to offer: https://go.fzj.de/benefits

The position is for a fixed term of 3 years. Pay in line with 75% of pay group 13 of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service (TVöD-Bund) and additionally 60 % of a monthly salary as special payment („Christmas bonus“). Further information on doctoral degrees at Forschungszentrum Jülich including our other locations is available at: https://www.fz-juelich.de/gp/Careers_Docs

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, e.g. in terms of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation / identity, and social, ethnic and religious origin. A diverse and inclusive working environment with equal opportunities in which everyone can realize their potential is important to us.