GIF CDT: Scaling industrial decarbonisation with data and finance

The Green Industrial Futures Centre for Doctoral Training (GIF CDT) is inviting applications for the following project, expected to commence in September 2024.

The CDT boasts an exciting and challenging programme specifically designed for top performing junior researchers, in addition to the main area of research, including:

• Residential taught training courses at each of the partner universities to contextualise your research within the wider net zero industrial landscape.
• An industry challenge project with one of our industrial partners.
• An international opportunity in year 2 or 3 of the degree, with the option for a second international visit in year 3.
• A bespoke ‘net-zero leadership programme’, including regular exchanges with cohort members from the other universities.

More information about the CDT can be found here.

Project

There are more than 5.5 million Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the UK, accounting for around half of business emissions. However, there is no common process for reporting emissions, and only a small proportion of SMEs (<10%) have ever calculated their carbon footprints. Lack of quality data prevents the effective management of carbon emissions amongst businesses. If data could be gathered at scale, they could generate insights to help businesses and financiers to make informed decisions about investments in energy efficiency measures and low-carbon technologies.

Project Perseus is a potential solution which would automate emissions reporting for every SME in the UK, building on the success of the Open Banking protocol. Project Perseus was recognised in the 2023 Green Finance Strategy and is now considered a key strategic framework for driving the decarbonisation of SMEs in the UK. At COP28, Bankers for Net Zero launched the demonstrator of Perseus as a core partner the UK Government in the UK Pavilion and ongoing work in 2024 will see the launch of the UK pilot.

Research is needed to understand how to encourage SMEs to report their emissions, how to develop the technical infrastructure for reporting, what legal and policy mechanisms can support wider adoption. This project will enable a Doctoral student to work at the cutting edge of industrial transformation, developing a variety of interdisciplinary skills and working alongside a diverse set of stakeholders at the interface of business and government. The student will develop a research project to suit their interests and skills, with opportunities to apply quantitative and qualitative methods focusing on the technical, financial, legal, political, or behavioural aspects of Project Perseus. The success of this initiative will depend on robust evidence spanning each of these domains, so this PhD project is best suited to candidates with interdisciplinary interests.

Candidate Requirements

As a minimum we require candidates to have a First-class or 2:1 MEng or and MSc with merit (over 60%) in a relevant area i.e. Chemical Engineering, Process Engineering, Chemistry, Materials Science, Geoscience. Candidates for socio-politico-economic research topics will also be considered with a relevant MA. Applicants who have a First-class BSc/BEng (Hons) and can demonstrate significant relevant industry/research experience may also be considered.

Non-UK applicants must meet our English language entry requirement.

Enquiries and Applications

Informal enquiries are encouraged! Direct these to Dr Sam Hampton – Sah53@bath.ac.uk

Please make a formal application via the University of Bath’s online application form for a PhD in Psychology

When completing the form, in the ‘Funding your studies’ section, please select ‘CDT’ from the first drop-down list and specify GIF CDT in the text box. In the ‘Your PhD project’ section, please state the project title and supervisor’s name in the appropriate boxes.

Failure to complete these steps will delay the processing of your application and may cause you to miss the deadline.

More information about applying for a PhD at Bath may be found on our website.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

We value a diverse research environment and strive to be an inclusive university, where difference is celebrated and respected. We encourage applications from under-represented groups.

If you have circumstances that you feel we should be aware of that have affected your educational attainment, then please feel free to tell us about it in your application form. The best way to do this is a short paragraph at the end of your personal statement.

The Disability Service ensures that individuals with disabilities are provided the support that they need. If you state if your application that you have a disability, the Disability Service will contact you as part of this process to discuss your needs.

Keywords: Finance for sustainability; SMEs and Net Zero; Bankers for Net Zero; Open Data; Industrial decarbonisation; business innovation; behaviour change; organisational decision-making