Research: Building integrated energy systems

>> green, reliable, and affordable energy for All

Sustainable development as the centerpiece of the 21st century can only be achieved with deep decarbonization, electrification, and equitable access. The scientific community is equipped with the necessary tools to achieve these goals: innovation, collaboration, and research at the leading edge. Our work centers around clean energy systems and achieving a low-carbon future grid. Getting to 100% clean energy requires an unprecedented decarbonization effort that will transform our present-day grid to one exclusively transporting electrons generated from renewable energy. The energy transition presents an unparalleled opportunity to redesign the grid, a complex large-scale network of systems to meet green, resilience, and equity goals. 

Electric systems are an extreme example of the just-in-time principle: when you turn on a device, the electricity you are using is being produced in real time. To keep the lights on in such a system, today’s power grid relies on the fine control of generation resources and unidirectional power flow from generators to end-use customers. However, a carbon-free grid presents challenges to this paradigm. Renewable energy sources are uncontrollable and intermittent, and customer adoption of rooftop solar produces bidirectional power flow. These emerging features are already presenting challenges to power systems operators, even at today’s low renewable penetration levels of <25%. The ageing grid infrastructure must be adapted to support new devices and modes of operation, and ubiquitous sensing provides an opportunity to optimize systems at massive scales using data. 

In our group, we designing algorithms that enable the operational flexibility and distributed intelligence needed in the future grid, and frameworks for planning and operating low-carbon systems. Our research engages with key stakeholders including system operators, utilities, and communities, to ensure our algorithms are deployable in real systems and that our frameworks meet the needs of communities and society. Our research lies at the intersection of energy systems, machine learning, controls, and energy economics. We are also engaged with energy researchers outside of engineering disciplines, including social scientists, policy-makers, and economists. Our research doesn't stop in the lab: tech transfer from lab to industry, science-backed policy and regulatory changes, and education through student engagement and public outreach programs are vital to our success.

Browse some of our projects below. 

More to come, especially in the space of new and open projects...