Job description

Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) is emerging as a key enabler for balancing renewable energy supply and demand. Yet many regions lack the suitable geology needed for conventional UHS. HyCavern responds to this gap by developing costeffective, safe, and standardized solutions for H2 storage in mined, lined rock caverns (LRC). By tackling key technical, economic, and geological challenges, in this project (HyCavern) we unlock scalable hydrogen infrastructure in areas previously considered unsuitable and increase the lifespan of storage caverns. Among the 15 partners in this unique EU project, at TU Delft we will conduct multiscale simulation for mechanics safety analyses of hydorgen storage in these lined-rock caverns. We will utilize our expertise in elstic/plastic modeling of various porous and non-porous materials to realize the stress and strain developments and evolution in time, during the storage of hydorgen in the caverns. This will scale up the utilization of the LRC as a feasible technology for energy storage.

Our work is integrated within the entire consortium work, in order to maximize the effectiveness of the research outcomes. Our research focus will include

1. Development and extension of an open-source simulator (SafeInCave) with public video-lecture for modelling hydrogen storage in Lined-Rock-Caverns (LRC).
2. Reliable model construction and parameter calibration against laboratory tests and
3. Sensitivity analyses for LRC performance and identification of the key processes in LRC performance and safety.

High level of communication skills and rigorous modeling and simulation analyses are key factors in achieveing our goals successfully.
Currently in our department of Geoscience and Engineering, we are conducting several research on underground hydrogen storage in porous media and salt caverns. This project, i.e., HyCavern, will be the first in the department related to the hydrogen storage in lined-rock caverns.

As a postdoc, you will contribute to the development of the SafeInCave simulator, as highlighted above, so to address the societally challenging energy storage topic by designing a safe operational conditions for utilization of LRC.

Beside the technical work, the postdoc is expected to dessiminate the research effectively through short courses, seminars and conferences, as well as the consortium ggatherings related to the HyCavern project.

The postdoc will be hosted in the Section of Reservoir Engineering of Geoscience and Engineering Department of TU Delft, which is at the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences. In the Reservoir Engineering Section various experimental, modeling and simulation projects are undergoing on different energy storage applications including hydrogen. For more effective scientific development, we will collaborate with the Engineering Structure Departmet within our Faculty too. We also expect the postdoc to contribute in mentoring activities related to our undergraduate and graduate students, for their thesis projects related to the lined-rock caverns. This also helps the professional career of the posdtco, as well as the content of the research.

Job requirements

With an innate curiosity, we are seeking a creative researcher who can plan, execute, deliver and communicate their research effectively in a diverse groups of talents. The ideal candidate is a team player who thrives working with people in different organisations (academia and industry) with different (technical and non-technical) skill sets. Having a good command of English (both writing and spoken) is crucial. Successful candidate needs to have obtained their PhD in broad Engineering Domain (including but not limited to geoscience and engineering) with special focus on numerical simulation. It is highly advantagous to have background on computational mechanics.

TU Delft (Delft University of Technology)

Delft University of Technology is built on strong foundations. As creators of the world-famous Dutch waterworks and pioneers in biotech, TU Delft is a top international university combining science, engineering and design. It delivers world class results in education, research and innovation to address challenges in the areas of energy, climate, mobility, health and digital society. For generations, our engineers have proven to be entrepreneurial problem-solvers, both in business and in a social context.

At TU Delft we embrace diversity as one of our core values and we actively engage to be a university where you feel at home and can flourish. We value different perspectives and qualities. We believe this makes our work more innovative, the TU Delft community more vibrant and the world more just. Together, we imagine, invent and create solutions using technology to have a positive impact on a global scale. That is why we invite you to apply. Your application will receive fair consideration.

Challenge. Change. Impact!

Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences

The Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences (CEG) is committed to outstanding international research and education in the field of civil engineering, applied earth sciences, traffic and transport, water technology, and delta technology. Our research feeds into our educational programmes and covers societal challenges such as climate change, energy transition, resource availability, urbanisation and clean water. Our research projects are conducted in close cooperation with a wide range of research institutions. CEG is convinced of the importance of open science and supports its scientists in integrating open science in their research practice. The Faculty of CEG comprises 28 research groups in the following seven departments: Materials Mechanics Management & Design, Engineering Structures, Geoscience and Engineering, Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Transport & Planning, Hydraulic Engineering and Water Management.

Click here to go to the website of the Faculty of Civil Engineering & Geosciences.