Decarbonising global supply chains: tools for trade-off decision-making

Description

Context

The energy transition for a low carbon future requires a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel usage along global supply chains (GSCs). GSCs are influenced by, and need to respond to, complex tensions between regulatory, logistics, economic, and geopolitical factors. Optimisation of GSCs therefore needs solving using modelling that is well-constrained and can navigate multi-objective, conflicting issues, with regularly updated assumptions and re-calibration. GSCs will hugely benefit from a dynamic decision support system (DDSS) that can guide stakeholders in informed trade-off decision making.

Aims

This project will develop and validate a conceptual decision intelligence framework and an operational DDSS, to guide stakeholders in making their dynamic trade-off decisions while they are in the process of reconfiguring GSCs (Table 1, Study 1). The developed DDSS will be validated through its application to the critical raw materials (strategic raw materials that are at critical risk of short supply) at the minerals-energy nexus, and to the petrochemical industries GSCs, which have significant scope for reconfiguring to decarbonise by making dynamic trade-off decisions (Table 1, Studies 2 and 3).

Outline

Table 1 – Project Outline (ESG = Environmental, social, governance)

Study

Context

Objectives

Methods

Deliverables

1

Conceptual (based on secondary sources – Partner: Prof Matt Reed, MIF).

Construct a decision intelligence framework; Develop a DDSS

Review of publicly available macro information/data sources; Input data in conceptual models and computational tools;

Develop DDSS platform.

DDSS Platform;

New open source code (e.g. shared in Github).

2

Mining industries (& linkage to petrochemical industries).

Partner: Mining ESG Consultant Ben Lepley (SLR)

Validation of DDSS 1

Mapping of material interactions along GSCs for selected product streams & materiality (ESG) assessment; Analysis of responsible mining.

Systems approach identification of vulnerabilities in GSCs scenario for trade-off understanding

3

Petrochemical industries (Partner: Prof Matt Reed, MIF)

Validation of DDSS 2

Field case study involving interviews, participant observations, and document analysis

Impact of GSC reconfiguration on greenhouse gas emissions & generalisability of DDSS

Eligibility and requirements

We seek a highly motivated geo/environmental science, business studies (specialising in operations and supply chain management), or environmental engineering graduate with excellent data management, numerical, analytical and communication skills. The successful candidate will: gather extensive datasets from a variety of sources; use computational tools; develop new conceptual models to shape an open source DDSS platform; test the new DDSS by mapping materials interactions in critical mineral and petrochemical supply chains through field observations, document analysis and interviews. This scholarship is available to UK students who are eligible for home fees status OR to international students who hold an additional scholarship or funding to cover for oversea fees. Applicants should have at least a 2.1 honours degree in geoscience, geo/environmental engineering or business/management.

Start date: January 2024

Impact

The successful applicant, supported by all team members, will feed their expertise into devising overarching solutions to accelerate decarbonisation, building strong long-term partnerships in the process. Novel DDSS platforms validated against two case studies will be published in high impact, peer-reviewed international journals. The project outcomes will lead to consulting requests and follow-on projects, opening excellent career opportunities.

Applications

To make a formal application, please create an account using the link provided below: 

https://app.askadmissions.co.uk/AYApplicantLogin/fl_ApplicantLogin.asp?id=liv 

When applying please ensure you quote the supervisors & project title you wish to apply for and note ‘EPSRC Prosperity Partnership’ when asked for details of how plan to finance your studies (‘Other Information – Finance and Publicity’ section of the online application form). 

If you have any questions regarding the online application process, please refer to the "How to apply for a PhD programme" webpage below: 

https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/how-to-apply/ 

 

Availability

Open to UK applicants

Funding information

Funded studentship

This studentship is fully funded by the Faculty of Science and Engineering at the University of Liverpool within the Cleaner Futures EPSRC Prosperity Partnership framework.

UK home student fee rates apply, and Research Training Support Grant (RTSG) and annual stipend are granted for 3.5 years for full-time study.

To be classed as a home student, candidates must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a UK National (meeting residency requirements), OR
  • Have settled status, OR
  • Have pre-settled status (meeting residency requirements), OR
  • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student.

International students are eligible if they hold an additional scholarship or funding to cover for oversea fees.

Supervisors

References