Thomas MorstynBEng, PhD, FHEA, SMIEEE
Source: https://eng.ox.ac.uk/people/thomas-morstyn Parent: https://aims.robots.ox.ac.uk/academics
Thomas Morstyn BEng, PhD, FHEA, SMIEEE
Professor
Associate Professor in Power Systems
Tutorial Fellow at Hertford College
EMAIL: thomas.morstyn@eng.ox.ac.uk
COLLEGE: Hertford College
Biography
Research
Publications
Opportunities
Biography
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.
Most Recent Publications
Independent aggregators securing end user Wasserstein distributionally robust flexibility through bilevel incentives
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Multiscale Grid Intelligence to Fight Artificial Intelligence Data Center Grid Defection: Unlocking a Faster, Cheaper, and Cleaner On-Grid AI Rollout
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Modeling and Control of Hybrid Distribution Transformers for Simultaneous Grid Services
Modeling and Control of Hybrid Distribution Transformers for Simultaneous Grid Services
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Optimising flexibility procurement in local flexibility markets under stochastic availability of participants
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### Modelling and Mitigating Wildfire Impacts on Power Grids
Modelling and Mitigating Wildfire Impacts on Power Grids
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Research Interests
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.
Google Scholar ResearchGate Github
Research Group
Power Systems Architecture Lab
Current Projects
- FleXEdge: Data-Driven Cloud-to-Edge Computing for Scalable Near Real-Time Local Flexibility Markets (EPSRC EP/Z536283/1) - FleXEdge is focused on unlocking demand flexibility at scale from grid-edge devices including electric vehicles, electric heating, and smart appliances, through the design and national integration of local flexibility markets, crossing disciplinary boundaries between distributed AI-based coordination, market mechanism design, and cloud-to-edge computing. The project is a collaboration with Professor Pierre Pinson at Imperial College London, Mr Davy Virdee at the Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre (EPCC) and Dr Jun Cao and Dr Pedro Rodriguez at the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST).
- SAGEflex: Safegaurded AI Agents for Grid-Edge Flexibility (part of the ARIA Safegaurded AI Programme) - SAGEflex aims to develop software tools enabling the implementation and scale up of ARIA’s gatekeeper AI workflow for multi-agent AI-based coordination of grid-edge flexibility. This project is being completed in collaboration with Professor Jakob Foerster.
- 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.
Data & Code
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.
Most Recent Publications
Independent aggregators securing end user Wasserstein distributionally robust flexibility through bilevel incentives
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Multiscale Grid Intelligence to Fight Artificial Intelligence Data Center Grid Defection: Unlocking a Faster, Cheaper, and Cleaner On-Grid AI Rollout
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Modeling and Control of Hybrid Distribution Transformers for Simultaneous Grid Services
Modeling and Control of Hybrid Distribution Transformers for Simultaneous Grid Services
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Optimising flexibility procurement in local flexibility markets under stochastic availability of participants
Altmetric score is
### Modelling and Mitigating Wildfire Impacts on Power Grids
Modelling and Mitigating Wildfire Impacts on Power Grids
Altmetric score is
Publications
Please see Google Scholar for a full list of publications.
Most Recent Publications
Independent aggregators securing end user Wasserstein distributionally robust flexibility through bilevel incentives
Altmetric score is
Multiscale Grid Intelligence to Fight Artificial Intelligence Data Center Grid Defection: Unlocking a Faster, Cheaper, and Cleaner On-Grid AI Rollout
Altmetric score is
Modeling and Control of Hybrid Distribution Transformers for Simultaneous Grid Services
Modeling and Control of Hybrid Distribution Transformers for Simultaneous Grid Services
Altmetric score is
Optimising flexibility procurement in local flexibility markets under stochastic availability of participants
Altmetric score is
### Modelling and Mitigating Wildfire Impacts on Power Grids
Modelling and Mitigating Wildfire Impacts on Power Grids
Altmetric score is
DPhil Opportunities
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.
DPhil Studentship in Generative AI Co-Pilots for Renewable Developers
The aim of this fully-funded research project is be to investigate the opportunity for specialised generative AI co-pilots to help renewable developers take projects from conception to implementation. The project is supported by EDF Renewables.
Apply by March 3rd at 12pm.
DPhil Studentship in Power Electronics Rich Distribution Network Design
This project will investigate how power electronics can be best incorporated as a core design component for future distribution networks using multiscale modelling and optimisation approaches. The project is supported by SP Energy Networks.
Apply by March 3rd at 12pm.
Postdoctoral Opportunities
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.
Most Recent Publications
Independent aggregators securing end user Wasserstein distributionally robust flexibility through bilevel incentives
Altmetric score is
Multiscale Grid Intelligence to Fight Artificial Intelligence Data Center Grid Defection: Unlocking a Faster, Cheaper, and Cleaner On-Grid AI Rollout
Altmetric score is
Modeling and Control of Hybrid Distribution Transformers for Simultaneous Grid Services
Modeling and Control of Hybrid Distribution Transformers for Simultaneous Grid Services
Altmetric score is
Optimising flexibility procurement in local flexibility markets under stochastic availability of participants
Altmetric score is
### Modelling and Mitigating Wildfire Impacts on Power Grids
Modelling and Mitigating Wildfire Impacts on Power Grids
Altmetric score is
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[13 Mar 2026
EPSRC Open Fellowship awarded for brain stimulation research](https://eng.ox.ac.uk/news/epsrc-open-fellowship-awarded-for-brain-stimulation-research)