Grid Edge Evolution: what can we do
locally?

Electricity demand is projected to double by 2050, driven by deep electrification and the rapid adoption of AI-driven technologies. Most of this demand will occur at the grid edge, especially in the urban areas, making the urban power grid a critical factor in achieving the nation’s net-zero energy goals. Urban areas currently account for about 75% of global energy consumption and 70% of greenhouse gas emissions, while also contributing over 80% of the global GDP. As the grid edge is evolving, the fundamental challenge is how to integrate the grid edge assets and also enable them to help the grid. This talk will examine this major evolution trend and discuss ways to optimize and control grid edge assets such as electric vehicles, solar panels, building equipment, etc. This talk will also cover how the grid edge may impact and change the rest of the power and energy systems and how we may measure our progress towards our net-zero energy future.

Zhenyu (Henry) Huang, Argonne National Lab

Dr. Zhenyu (Henry) Huang is Division Director of Energy Systems and Infrastructure Analysis at Argonne National Laboratory. He leads an organization devoted to developing and using analytical tools and technologies to help decision makers lead the transition to efficient, clean, renewable energy and ensure a robust and secure U.S. grid. He formerly served as a distinguished Laboratory Fellow at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and research professor at Washington State University. Huang’s expertise extends to policy advising, particularly as a Policy Advisor for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Undersecretary for Science and Innovation, where he led significant initiatives such as the DOE’s Grid Modernization Initiative and the White House’s Net Zero Grid and Electrification Game Changers Initiative. Within PNNL, Dr. Huang led key portfolios in power electronics and renewable integration and served as the Deputy Sector Manager for grid research. His research interests encompass high-performance computing, data analytics, and optimization and control for power and energy systems dominated by inverters and renewables. Before joining PNNL in 2003, Dr. Huang conducted extensive research in power system stability and harmonic analysis at various academic institutions, including the University of Alberta, McGill University, and the University of Hong Kong. He has over 200 peer-reviewed publications. He is a Fellow of IEEE. He received his B. Eng. from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China, in 1994 and Ph.D. degree from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, in 1999.

Date/Time

Sep 11, 2024 @ 12pm-1pm Central Time

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