Dr Phil Coker
- Module Convenor, Sustainable Urban Systems, Carbon Management & Analysis (postgraduate taught)(CEM233)
- Lecturer
- UoR Environment and Sustainability Committee - academic representative.
Areas of interest
Phil's core research examines the variability of renewable energy supplies and the challenges for the energy industry in moving towards a low carbon energy system. His work seeks to evaluate solutions that can help maintain secure and affordable energy supplies, drawing on three intertwined themes:
- characterising the factors that lead to patterns in energy supply availability
- analysing areas of critical concern for energy systems, including extreme, coincident and unforeseen events
- exploring technical and market-based options for aligning supply and demand, including demand response, energy storage and alternatives such as hydrogen applications.
Much of this work has involved a close collaboration with meteorological experts and an emphasis on application to industry. Industry partners to date have included National Grid, AES, SSE, Marks & Spencer, Costain, the National Physical Laboratory and DriveElectric.
Teaching
Teaching contributions to the following modules:
- Carbon Management (postgraduate taught) (CEM224)
- Energy in Buildings (postgraduate taught) (CEM221)
- Urban Sustainability (postgraduate taught) (CEM220)
- Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) (CEM219)
- Renewable Energy Systems (CEM160)
Research centres and groups
University of Reading Energy and Environmental Engineering Research Group
Background
Dr Phil Coker transitioned to academic research following 15 years as an operational engineer, manager and consultant in the UK energy industry. After joining British Gas as a graduate engineer, he gained in-depth practical experience of system planning and gas pressure control and storage. He was accredited as Competent Person and Authorising Engineer for operations on the high pressure gas network.
Following management and competence assurance, he progressed to a consultancy role providing technical expertise to the energy industry.
Now established at the University of Reading, Dr Coker's teaching and research draws on the engineering experience, broad industry knowledge and interdisciplinary approach developed in his earlier career. His research into the management of variability within energy systems has progressed from detailed characterisation of renewable energy variability, through system impact assessment to a current focus on mitigation.
Recent projects address mitigation measures including demand response and energy storage applications. Most of this work is applied in nature, and includes a strong industry liaison component. Research partners include National Grid, SSE, Marks and Spencer, AES, Reading Borough Council, Costain, DriveElectric and the National Physical Laboratory.
Academic qualifications
- Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice, 2013
- PhD, University of Reading, 2011
- BEng, University of Bath, 1992.
Professional bodies/affiliations
- Member (CEng), Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- Affiliate member, Energy Institute
- Fellow, Higher Education Academy
- Honorary Research Associate, UCL Energy Institute
- Energy Forum Steering Group, Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Science Board member, Energy Superstore, Research Councils UK energy storage research hub.
Publications
-
Shariati, O.
,
Coker, P.
,
Smith, S.
ORCID: 0000-0002-5053-4639
,
Potter, B.
(2022)
Semi-stochastic load model for heavy goods electric vehicles depot charging considering the potential for demand side management.
2022 International Conference on Communications, Information, Electronic and Energy Systems (CIEES)
|
doi:
https://dx.doi.org/10.1109/CIEES55704.2022.9990821
(9781665491495)
- Coker, P. , Bloomfield, H. , Drew, D. , Brayshaw, D. (2020) Interannual weather variability and the challenges for Great Britain’s electricity market design. Renewable Energy , 150 pp. 509-522. ISSN: 0960-1481 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.12.082
- Drew, D. , Coker, P. , Bloomfield, H. , Brayshaw, D. , Barlow, J. , Richards, A. (2019) Sunny windy Sundays. Renewable Energy , 138 pp. 870-875. ISSN: 0960-1481 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2019.02.029
- Drew, D. , Barlow, J. , Coker, P. (2018) Identifying and characterising large ramps in power output of offshore wind farms. Renewable Energy , 127 pp. 195-203. ISSN: 0960-1481 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2018.04.064
- Bloomfield, H. , Brayshaw, D. , Shaffrey, L. , Coker, P. , Thornton, H. (2018) The changing sensitivity of power systems to meteorological drivers: a case study of Great Britain. Environmental Research Letters , 13 (5). ISSN: 1748-9326 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aabff9
- Coker, P. and Torriti, J. (2018) Energy interactions: the growing interplay between buildings and energy networks. In: Dixon, T. , Connaughton, J. , Green, S. , (eds.) Sustainable Futures in the Built Environment to 2050: A Foresight Approach to Construction and Development. Wiley , Hoboken, USA. pp. 287-309. ISBN: 9781119063810
- Drew, D. , Cannon, D. , Barlow, J. , Coker, P. , Frame, T. (2017) The importance of forecasting regional wind power ramping: a case study for the UK. Renewable Energy , 114 pp. 1201-1208. ISSN: 0960-1481 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2017.07.069
- Bloomfield, H. , Brayshaw, D. , Shaffrey, L. , Coker, P. , Thornton, H. (2016) Quantifying the increasing sensitivity of power systems to climate variability. Environmental Research Letters , 11 (12). ISSN: 1748-9326 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/11/12/124025
- Daniels, L. , Coker, P. , Potter, B. (2016) Embodied carbon dioxide of network assets in a decarbonised electricity grid. Applied Energy , 180 pp. 142 - 154. ISSN: 0306-2619 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.07.044
- Daniels, L. , Coker, P. , Gunn, A. , Potter, B. (2016) Using proxies to calculate the carbon impact of investment into electricity network assets. Applied Energy , 162 pp. 551-560. ISSN: 0306-2619 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.10.111
- Kubik, M. , Coker, P. , Barlow, J. (2015) Increasing thermal plant flexibility in a high renewables power system. Applied Energy , 154 pp. 102-111. ISSN: 0306-2619 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.04.063
- Poonyth, A. , Coker, P. , Torriti, J. (2015) A comparative value of electricity storage within GB market mechanisms.
- Drew, D. , Cannon, D. , Brayshaw, D. , Barlow, J. , Coker, P. (2015) The impact of future offshore wind farms on wind power generation in Great Britain. Resources , 4 (1). pp. 155-171. ISSN: 2079-9276 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/resources4010155
- Saker, D. , Vahdati, M. , Coker, P. , Millward, S. (2015) Assessing the benefits of domestic hot fill washing appliances. Energy and Buildings , 93 pp. 282-294. ISSN: 0378-7788 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2015.02.027
- Cannon, D. , Brayshaw, D. , Methven, J. , Coker, P. , Lenaghan, D. (2015) Using reanalysis data to quantify extreme wind power generation statistics: a 33 year case study in Great Britain. Renewable Energy , 75 pp. 767-778. ISSN: 0960-1481 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2014.10.024
- Daniels, L. , Potter, B. , Coker, P. (2014) Exploring methods to evaluate the carbon impact of network investment deferral. pp. 1-6.
- Daniels, L. , Walton, P. , Potter, B. , Coker, P. (2014) Using standby generators in support of an electricity network: logistics and experience.
- Lee, T. , Yao, R. , Coker, P. (2014) An analysis of UK policies for domestic energy reduction using an agent based tool. Energy Policy , 66 pp. 267-279. ISSN: 0301-4215 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2013.11.004
- Rawlings, J. , Coker, P. , Doak, J. , Burfoot, B. (2014) Do smart grids offer a new incentive for SME carbon reduction?. Sustainable Cities and Society , 10 pp. 245-250. ISSN: 2210-6707 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2013.04.003
- Daniels, L. , Potter, B. , Coker, P. (2013) Financial implications for companies running standby generators in support of a smart grid. pp. 727-732.
- Kubik, M. , Brayshaw, D. , Coker, P. , Barlow, J. (2013) Exploring the role of reanalysis data in simulating regional wind generation variability over Northern Ireland. Renewable Energy , 57 pp. 558-561. ISSN: 0960-1481 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2013.02.012
- Coker, P. , Barlow, J. , Cockerill, T. , Shipworth, D. (2013) Measuring significant variability characteristics: An assessment of three UK renewables. Renewable Energy , 53 pp. 111-120. ISSN: 0960-1481 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2012.11.013
- Kubik, M. , Coker, P. , Barlow, J. , Hunt, C. (2013) A study into the accuracy of using meteorological wind data to estimate turbine generation output. Renewable Energy , 51 pp. 153-158. ISSN: 0960-1481 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2012.08.084
- Kubik, M. , Coker, P. , Hunt, C. (2012) The role of conventional generation in managing variability. Energy Policy , 50 pp. 253-261. ISSN: 0301-4215 | doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2012.07.010 (Special section: Past and prospective energy transitions - insights from history)
- Kubik, M. , Coker, P. , Hunt, C. (2011) Using meteorological wind data to estimate turbine generation output: a sensitivity analysis. pp. 4074-4081.
- Kubik, M. , Coker, P. , Hunt, C. (2010) An overview of the current status of research into adopting high levels of renewables in Ireland .