QC

Quantum Computing and the Future of Power-System Optimisation: Promise, Hype, and the Road Ahead

Blog

Quantum computing has been marketed as the next great computational revolution. A technology capable of reshaping materials science, leading to drug discovery, disrupting cryptography, helping in discovering new batteries, climate mitigation strategies, optimizing global energy systems [1-6], or supposedly cracking optimization problems that have resisted decades of classical computing, if you believe the brochures. Quantum…

How Wildfire Smoke Disrupts Voltage Stability in PV-Rich Distribution Grids

Blog

Wildfire smoke is no longer just an air-quality concern; it’s becoming a real operational factor for modern electric grids. As photovoltaic (PV) systems continue to integrate into distribution networks, feeder performance becomes increasingly dependent on weather and environmental conditions. Under clear skies, PV panels inject substantial power into the grid and reshape how voltages behave…

Agents for Optimizing Power Distribution Systems – Is this the Future?

Agents for Optimizing Power Distribution Systems – Is this the Future? 

Blog, Journal article

The Optimal Power Flow (OPF), as an optimization problem, is indispensable for the economic and secure operation of power distribution networks. The OPF is crucial for achieving a multitude of operational objectives including:   Solution techniques for the OPF problem have traditionally gravitated around classical deterministic and stochastic mathematical programming methods. These methods allow practitioners to…

Solar panels, wind turbines, and an energy storage system under a bright sky, representing renewable generation and energy storage integration.

Emissions Response through Energy Storage System: A Path Toward Smarter, Cleaner Grid Operations

Blog

Across the energy sector, storage has long been recognized as a cornerstone of grid reliability and renewable integration. Yet, the conversation about its environmental role often overlooks how they can actively contribute to carbon reduction. Our recent research, accepted for presentation at the Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS) 2026, introduces a framework for…

Transmission Tower

Designing for Flexibility: Navigating Imperfections in Competitive Electricity Markets

Blog

Competitive electricity markets are inherently complex. They require the integration of technically feasible operations, grounded in physical laws, with economically viable solutions that incentivize investments. These interactions aim to ensure a reliable, efficient, and technologically flexible market design. However, the operation of these markets is neither trivial nor perfect. Over time, they are exposed to…

Beyond Ownership – Unlocking the Potential of Shared Battery Storage

Blog

The emergence of the sharing economy has fundamentally altered paradigms of resource utilization, shifting the emphasis from individual ownership to collective access. This transformation, evident across domains such as transportation, housing, and digital infrastructure, is increasingly penetrating the energy sector. In particular, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are being reconceptualized as shared assets capable of…

solar panels in a field

Beyond the Sunshine: How Real-World Conditions Shape Solar Panel Output

Blog

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are key to the transition toward clean energy, but their real-world performance is shaped by complex environmental interactions. For researchers working on the physics of solar energy systems, understanding how variables like temperature, humidity, aerosols, and wind impact panel efficiency provides a critical foundation for deeper modeling and analysis. This blog post…