About the Presentation

The state of Hawai'i plans to obtain 40% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030. Balancing intermittent wind with fossil fuel plants can be expensive, slowing adoption. A social and technical infrastructure for temporary reductions in load (demand response) enables 4% greater wind harvesting at 10% less operating cost. This webinar will focus on an investigation that applied a stochastic unit commitment optimization to account for uncertain wind forecasts. Fast-responding demand enabled existing thermal generators to run more efficiently, increased the grid's reliability margins, and infrequently impacted customers. The demand response modeled here could put Hawai'i on a pragmatic path to achieving its energy independence goals and will provide lessons for renewable energy integration on the mainland.

About the Speaker

Karl Critz (SDM '10) is a clean energy innovator. The research presented in this talk is the result of a forthcoming publication with the National Renewable Energy Lab. As a developer and product manager, Critz has launched successful products in the controls software and medical device spaces. He is currently working on smart grid technologies to speed integration of practical residential solar power.

About the Series

The MIT System Design and Management Program Systems Thinking Webinar Series features research conducted by SDM faculty, alumni, students, and industry partners. The series is designed to disseminate information on how to employ systems thinking to address engineering, management, and socio-political components of complex challenges.