PhD in Operations Research

Data centres are among the most energy‐intensive infrastructures in modern economies, with their demand projected to rise sharply as digitalisation, artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud computing expand. This growth presents both challenges and opportunities for achieving net‐zero carbon targets. While AI data centres are often perceived as passive electricity consumers, they could act as active participants in integrated energy systems by providing flexibility, utilising waste heat, and supporting local renewable production. However, there is currently no holistic framework for planning their integration into future energy networks. This project aims to develop a strategic planning framework that supports the efficient, low‐carbon, and resilient integration of AI data centres into evolving energy systems. The overarching research aim is to understand and optimise the interactions between data centres and multi‐vector energy networks.