PhD Studentship in Chemical Engineering

School/Department: Engineering
Location: University of Nottingham
Reference: ENG291
Closing Date: Tuesday 24 February 2026

Background

The transition to renewable energy brings the critical challenge of reliable and robust energy storage . Conventional battery storage solutions require high capital investment and rely on lithium, a heavily mined resource.

This project explores an innovative alternative : using land at the base of wind or solar farms to store energy. By pumping water into a sealed flexible membrane beneath a mass of soil , solar energy can be converted into pressure potential energy, mimicking traditional pumped hydro storage but without large elevation differences.

While conceptually promising, this approach poses geotechnical challenges , including cyclical loading and soil–membrane interface effects. The project will use one of the UK’s leading geotechnical c...