Birmingham PhD student wins Leslie H. Paddle Scholarship in 2024 IET Postgraduate Research Awards

Peiqian Guo is a Chartered Engineer and a PhD student in the Department of Electronic, Electrical, and Systems Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham. Dr Zhongbei Tian and Professor Xiao-Ping Zhang co-supervise his research on converter-based medium-voltage and multi-substation systems for distribution networks and railway power supply networks.

Peiqian's research is dedicated to accelerating the development of zero-carbon power systems for urban areas by advancing low-carbon technologies, integrating renewable energy sources, and incorporating high-power density electronic equipment. His proposal to use flexible interconnection devices (FIDs) is a crucial strategy to enhance the reliability and flexibility of distribution networks in load-centred cities and promote urban decarbonization.

Each year, a single award from the IET promotes excellence in engineering and technology research, favouring Electrical, Electronic, or Manufacturing Engineering projects.

Peiqian Guo comments:

"I am profoundly grateful to the IET Postgraduate and Travel Awards Panel for awarding me the Leslie H Paddle Scholarship. I also appreciate the School of Engineering, the Research Groups, Dr Tian, and Professor Zhang for providing a diverse research environment, international collaboration opportunities, and valuable supervision.

This award recognizes my previous achievements and serves as an important stepping stone towards achieving my future research. It also supports my ongoing commitment to the power, energy, and transport community.

The scholarship will enable me to expand my research through academic and industry collaborations, providing access to a broader network and more extensive resources. I am committed to using this opportunity to enhance my knowledge and contribute to the power system sector worldwide."