Dr Chao Long PhD, SMIEE, MIET

Research Overview

Chao is a Power Engineer and has 15 years’ experience in Electrical & Electronic Engineering. Chao’s research focuses on modelling, analysis and optimisation of smart power distribution networks and community energy systems. These include management of local energy from solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, batteries and electric vehicles using a combination of novel concepts and techniques, including peer to peer (P2P) energy trading, V2G/V2X technologies, AI/machine learning and Blockchain distributed ledger technology. Chao is the PI and Co-I of 14 research projects funded by EPSRC, EU, Innovate UK, Department for Transport, Royal Academy Engineering, Royal Society, with a total portfolio of ~£1.3M.

Detailed area of interests include:
1) Machine Learning for smart electric vehicles charging
2) Vehicle-to-grid applications and ancillary services
3) Peer to peer energy trading between electric vehicles
4) Machine learning for community energy management
5) Blockchain smart contract for low carbon technologies

Research Grants:
Current Research Projects:
2024-26 Co-I (University PI), EU Eureka Eurogia 2030 “Decarbonization project management platform for industries and businesses (DECARBIZ)”, €173,000
2023-24 PI, Innovate UK “DECODE-Corby", with Electric Corby CIC, 10089414 £80,000
2023-25 PI (Academic Lead), Innovate UK KTP “Event sustainability platform” with Julia Charles Event Management Ltd (JCEM), 10077876 £174,461
2023-24 PI, Innovate UK "Using AI to optimise energy flow management in urban electric vehicle charging", with Lesla Ltd, 10078489 £15,000
2021-24 Co-I, EPSRC “Mobility as a service: MAnaging Cyber-security Risks across Consumers, Organisations and Sectors (MACRO)”, EP/V039164/1 £ 550,218
2021-24 PI, Royal Society Sino-British Fellowship Trust International Exchanges Award “Smart Contract for Distributed Energy Management in Hybrid DC and AC Distribution Networks”, IES\R3\203114 £ 12,000

Completed Research Projects:
2023 PI, JCEM Ltd “Framework for Greenhouse Gas environmental reporting in the event sector” £8,000
2022 PI, Community Renewal Fund, “North Northamptonshire to Net Zero (NN2NZ)”, with Electric Corby CIC £59,000
2020-21 PI, Innovate UK “Smart home EV charger based on Entrust Smart Home Management”, with Entrust Smart Grid Microgrid Ltd, 90768 £48,000
2020-21 PI, Innovate UK “Second life batteries for commercial energy use”, with Brill Power Ltd, 78920 £100,000
2020-21 PI, Innovate UK “Advanced grid services provided by optimised EV community and fleet charging”, with SNG Ltd and Electric Corby CIC, 81425 £60,000
2020-21 Co-I, University Grand Challenge (UGC): Smart Living, “Peer-to-peer smart charging for electric autonomous vehicles” £7,000
2020-23 Co-I (University PI), Royal Academy of Engineering “South Africa energy infrastructure planning for rural urbanisation on optimal P2P energy sharing”, with University of Pretoria, £27,200
2020-20 PI, Depart for Transport (DfT) Innovation Grants 2019 “App for P2P energy trading with Electric Vehicles” £30,000
2019-20 PI, UKRI via Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF), “Application of peer to peer energy trading in a residential community”. £16,075

PhD students supervision:
Current PhD students:
Mr Lin Zheng (XJTLU, Liverpool supervisor)

Completed PhD students:
Dr Rilwan Usman (primary supervisor, completed in Feb 2024)