Dr Xin Zhang

CEng, SMIEEE, MIET

Senior Lecturer in Energy Systems (Future Grid)

Centre for Energy Systems and Strategy

Contact Dr Xin Zhang

Tel: +44 (0) 1234 754779
Email: Xin.Zhang@cranfield.ac.uk
LinkedIn
ORCID

Areas of expertise

Electric and Hybrid Vehicles
Electric Power Machines
Energy Asset Management
Power Systems & Turbines
Renewable Energy

Background

Dr Xin Zhang is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Energy Systems at Cranfield University since 2019. His research experience covers power system planning and operation with renewable energy, and grid interaction with land-air transport electrification (electric vehicles, electric aircraft). He is currently supervising 6 PhD students (as primary supervisor) and researching on a few projects (as PI) funded by EPSRC and Department for Transport.

Dr Zhang worked at National Grid UK for 8 years before joining Cranfield, Chartered Engineer since 2017, where he undertook power system planning and real-time operation, mainly in the UK Electricity National Control Centre. He has also initiated and managed several National Grid’s network innovation projects with UK universities.

Education and Qualification:

- PhD in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Manchester
- MSc (distinction) in Electrical Power Engineering, The University of Manchester
- B.Eng. degree in Control Systems, Shandong University

Professional membership and Services:

- Senior Member of IEEE
- Chartered Engineer (CEng) with the UK Engineering Council
- Committee member of the IET Registration & Standards Committee (R&SC) for Fellowship assessment and academic accreditation
- Leader of Supergen Architectures Working Group, EPSRC Supergen Energy Networks Hub

Research opportunities

***Full PhD Scholarship Opportunity***:

2020.10 - 2023.10, EPSRC DTP Doctoral Training Partnership, "Smart energy infrastructure for future power networks", UK/EU Tuition fee cover + £18,000 Stipend per year for 3 years, UK / EU only due to the EPSRC funding eligibility.

https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/research/phd/smart-energy-infrastructure

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I am accepting PhD / MSc research students with a research interest in:

- Power system planning, operation and control (distribution, transmission, generation dispatch, smart metering)
- Power system with renewable and distributed energy resources (wind, solar, energy storage)
- Smart grid / Smart city with electrified transport systems (transport electrification, urban air mobility, EV, electric aircraft)

Current activities

Research Grants:

PI, 2021.1 - 2021.7: Department for Transport, Technology Research Innovation Grants (T-TRIG2020), "Solar-Hydrogen-Storage Integrated Electric Vehicle Charging Station in Future Cities", £30,000

PI, 2020.9 - 2023.9: EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP), "Smart energy infrastructure for future power networks", partnership with HVSS Ltd and National Grid, £99,721

PI, 2020.2 - 2020.6: East West Railway Company, Industry-funded project "Solar East-West Rail", £20,000

PI, 2019.12 - 2020.7: Department for Transport, Technology Research Innovation Grants (T-TRIG2019), "Aircraft to Grid (A2G): Hybrid and Smart Charging for Electric Aircraft", £30,000

PI, 2019.9 - 2020.12: EPSRC (through Supergen Energy Networks), "GRid flexibility by Electrifying Energy Networks for Airport (GREEN Airport)" (SENFC1 - 023), £50,000

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PhD Students (Primary Supervision):

Mr Zekun Guo, Oct 2019 - , BEng from Shandong University, MSc by Research from University of Edinburgh. Research topic: Electrifying Energy Networks for Green Airports.

Mr Emmanuel Agbaje, Feb 2020 - , BEng from University of Port Harcourt, MSc from University of Salford (Distinction), 5 years’ industrial experience in electrical engineering, PTDF Scholarship. Research topic: Smart Grid and Control and Operation for Urban Air Mobility.

Ms Yuan Tian, Sep 2020 - , MSc by Research in Energy and Power at Cranfield University. Research topic: Multi-energy Systems in Future Electrified Airport.

Ms Lijia Duan, Sep 2020 - , BSc from University of Delaware (United States), MSc Renewable Energy from Cranfield University. Research topic: Solar-Hydrogen-Storage Integrated Electric Vehicle Charging Station.

Mr Al Husien Dabashi, Sep 2020 - , BEng (First-Class Hons) in Electronic & Communications Engineering from The University of Leeds. Research topic: Smart energy infrastructure for future power networks - EPSRC DTP Studentship.

Ms Susan Adedokun, Sep 2020 - , BEng (Hons) in Computer and Information Engineering, MBA from Kingston Business School, CEng, Research topic: Self-sufficient and sustainable energy systems to enhance electricity supply and resilience in developing countries.

Perspective Research Students:

BoZheng Li, Sep 2021 - , BEng in Electronic Information Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Research topic: Optimization of Charging Grids for Electric Vertical Take-off and Landing Aircrafts (eVTOLs).