Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, are key components of clean energy systems. These energy sources, however, are inherently unpredictable. Maintaining stable power generation and transmission despite uncertainties in energy generation will be a significant engineering challenge in coming decades. The future smart grid is envisioned to help ensure stability through real-time sensing and control, fundamentally shifting the paradigm of power system operation from open- to closed-loop control. The goal of my PhD study is to develop computationally efficient control techniques that are scalable to large power systems and provide provable guarantees on stability. In my preliminary work, I have investigated submodular optimization techniques for smart grid stability, including voltage, small-signal, and transient stability, which have been identified as key challenges by the North American Synchrophasor Initiative (NASPI). My initial results have appeared in top venues including IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, IEEE CDC, and Cyber-Physical Systems Week.
Advisor: Radha Poovendran – Electrical Engineering