Thomas Morstyn BEng, PhD, FHEA, SMIEEE

I received the BEng (Hon.) degree from the University of Melbourne in 2011, and the PhD degree from the University of New South Wales in 2016, both in electrical engineering. Previously, I was a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh and an EPSRC research fellow at the University of Oxford. Prior to undertaking my PhD, I also worked as an electrical engineer in Rio Tinto’s Technology and Innovation group.

I am Associate Professor in Power Systems with the Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford and I lead the Power Systems Architecture Lab. I am also a Tutorial Fellow at Hertford College, an Honorary Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Power Systems and Co-Chair of the IEEE Power & Energy Society Taskforce on Power System Operations and Control with Quantum Computing. My research is focused on power system digitalisation and market design as key interlinked enablers of the net-zero transition.

Power systems are undergoing a fundamental transition due to the rapid adoption of distributed renewable generation, the electrification of heating and transport, and the new availability of customer-level sensing, communications and control. My research focuses on the design of control systems and markets which can manage this transition by integrating new sources of flexibility at scale into power system operation and design. This is underpinned by work in systems modelling, multi-agent control, optimisation and mechanism design.

I also collaborate with economists, computer scientists and social scientists to incorporate new advances from areas including game theory, machine learning and quantum computing, and to study the wider impacts and policy implications of new power system technologies.

• An AI-Powered Software Platform for Smart Hybrid Distribution Systems (Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership 13777 with IONATE) - This project aims to develop an AI-powered software platform for optimisation and control of IONATE’s hybrid intelligent transformers to enable their widespread integration into distribution systems.
• Oxford Martin Programme on Battery Circular Economies (Oxford Martin School programme) - This programme will examine whether and how ‘second-life’ battery redeployment can be technically viable, as well as economically, socially, and environmentally beneficial, particularly for expanding clean energy access in Global South communities. The programme is an interdisciplinary collaboration with Professor Paul Shearing, Professor David Howey, Dr Anupama Sen, Professor Charles Monroe and Professor Radhika Khosla.
• DIGEST: Data-Driven Exploration of the Carbon Emissions Impact of Grid Energy Storage Deployment and Dispatch (EPSRC project EP/W027321/1) - This project is investigating the potential value for system cost and carbon emissions that optimal grid energy storage deployment and operation could unlock in Great Britain. The project is a collaboration with Professor David Howey at Oxford, Professor Tim Green at Imperial College London and Dr Marko Aunedi at Brunel University London.
• Benchmarking Quantum Advantage (EPSRC project EP/Y004418/1) - This project aims to develop easy to deploy quantum advantage benchmarking techniques. Power system optimisation is being investigated as a high value application. The project is a collaboration with Dr Raul Garcia-Patron Sanchez and Dr Heng Guo at the University of Edinburgh.

My research group's open source datasets and codebases are available at our Github page. These include:

• The Open Platform for Local Energy Markets (OPLEM) is an open-source Python software platform for integrated modelling, design and simulation of local energy markets. Developed with Dr Chaimaa Essayeh.
• The Open Platform for Energy Networks (OPEN) is an open-source Python software platform for integrated modelling, optimisation and simulation of smart local energy systems. Developed in collaboration with Professor Malcolm McCulloch.
• The Home Energy Data Generator (HEDGE) tool for GAN-based synthetic data generation for domestic PV generation, electricity consumption, and electric vehicle consumption/availability based on UK historical datasets. Developed with Dr Flora Charbonnier and Professor Malcolm McCulloch.
• A tool for calculating the amount of different grid flexibility services data centres can provide and the cost of delivery. Developed with Yihong Zhou, Dr Ángel Paredes and Dr Chaimaa Essayeh.
• A high fidelity 1900-node model for Great Britain's transmission network and Balancing Mechanism combining data from the National Grid Electricity 10 Year Statement and market data from Elexon. Developed with Dr Iacopo Savelli.
• A dataset for Great Britain primary distribution substations and linked household heating data. For all GB primary substations (33/11 kV), the dataset provides the firm capacity, peak demand, location, upstream grid supply point and the number of connected homes using different types of heating. Developed with Yihong Zhou and Dr Chaimaa Essayeh.

Please see Google Scholar for a full list of publications.

I am always happy to discuss DPhil supervision with students who share my research interests in power systems and energy markets. Please email me at thomas.morstyn@eng.ox.ac.uk with your CV, latest academic transcript and topic areas you find interesting.

Information on applying for a DPhil with the Department of Engineering Science is available here. Information on funding and scholarships is available here.

Research Studentship in Generative AI for Renewable Development

We are offering a funded DPhil studentship which will investigate the opportunity for specialised generative AI co-pilots to help renewable developers take projects from conception to implementation. As part of the UK’s net-zero transition, £10bn+ is being invested per year in renewable generation. Project planning is critical for success, but it is also highly complex and requires significant time from expert analysts. To address this, we will leverage the new opportunity created by interactive AI co-pilots that can assist human experts with analysis and decision-making. The studentship will involve close collaboration with the EDF R&D UK Centre, which is supporting the project through an EPSRC Industrial Doctoral Landscape Award. Apply by 12pm (UK time) on the 16th of May 2025.

Job openings for postdoctoral researchers on specific projects will be posted here when available. A full list of job openings in the Department of Engineering Science is available here.

I am also happy to discuss supporting postdoctoral fellowship applications on topics aligned with my research interests in power systems and energy markets. Please email me at thomas.morstyn@eng.ox.ac.uk with your CV, proposed research topic and details of the fellowship scheme. Information on fellowships is available here.