Contact Dr Peter King

Areas of expertise

  • Renewable Energy
  • Sustainable Manufacturing

Background

Dr Peter King gained an MPhys from Oxford University and joined Cranfield on the MSc in Ultra Precision Technologies course. Following this course he continued at Cranfield working on his PhD in the field of Concentrating Solar Power. On completing his thesis, titled "Form Measurement and Durability of Mirror Surfaces for Concentrating Solar Power Applications", he was appointed as a Research Fellow in Concentrating Solar Thermal Manufacturing at Cranfield. He is now a Lecturer in Concentrating Solar and the Course Director for the Renewable Energy MSc.

Research opportunities

Dr King is currently accepting applications for PhD students who wish to undertake research relating to concentrating solar technologies and applications, as well as topics relating to solar energy in general.

Current activities

Dr King's current research focus is on Concentrating Solar collectors and applications. His research topics include characterising the form errors and optical properties of collector surfaces, and determining how these parameters change over time at CSP plants; methods for the collection and analysis of particles during sandstorms and use of such particles for simulated soiling, sand erosion and ageing testing of mirror surfaces; reducing the water used by CSP plants with the development and evaluation of dust barrier fencing and waterless cleaning technology. In addition, he also works on the development of solar collectors for off-grid/rural applications such as desalination and cooking. His latest research extends to other multi-disciplinary areas such as concentrating PV systems, floating solar, agri-voltaics and space-based solar.

His recent projects include:

FP7-ENERGY-2010-2, Project Number 268219, MATS - "Multipurpose applications by Thermodynamic Solar".

FP7-ENERGY-2013-IRP, Project Number 609837, STAGE STE - "Scientific and Technical Alliance for Guaranteeing the European Excellence in Concentrating Solar Thermal Energy"

H2020-LCE-02-2015, Project number 654479, WASCOP - "Water Saving for Solar Concentrated Power"

H2020-LCE-33-2016, Project number 731287, INSHIP - 'Integrating National Research Agendas on Solar Heat for Industrial Processes'

H2020-LCE-11-2017, Project number 792103, SOLWATT - 'Solving Water Issues for CSP Plants'

Publications

Articles In Journals

Conference Papers