Network operator and academia partner to progress the energy transition

UTS Associate Professor Li Li, who has studied, researched and lectured at prominent universities both internationally and in Australia, has joined Transgrid as the NSW and ACT grid operator deliversa modern power system to support a modern economy.

“Transgrid is honoured to work alongside such a learned academic and researcher as we face unprecedented change during NSW’s deep transition to a power system operating at 90% renewable energy in 2035,” Executive General Manager of Network Jason Krstanoski said.

“As one of our long-standing partners, UTS is well placed to work alongside us on helping to solve some of the most important challenges facing Australia’s energy future, with the rapid growth of geographically-disperse renewable generation, the need for new sources of system strength, and as demand increases to accommodate electrification of transportation, industry and the emergence of data centres.”

Dr Li’s research spans power systems, microgrids, distributed energy resources and smart grid technologies, with a focus on how increasingly inverter-based, renewable-rich grids can operate reliably and flexibly.

Dr Li said he will gain a distinct vantage point during his six-month placement in Transgrid’s Network Transition Planning and System Resilience teams under the UTS Professional Experience Program. During the placement, he will contribute to areas including renewable integration, accommodating emerging large-demand customers, and system flexibility and resilience.

“Transgrid sits at the centre of many of the most important challenges associated with Australia’s energy transition,” Dr Li said.

“For an academic researcher, this provides a valuable opportunity to understand how the problems we study are experienced in practice and how research can contribute to real-world outcomes.”

Transgrid’s Hassan Haes Alhelou, Acting Manager, Network Transition Planning, said it is clear to see the benefit of having academic expertise support the business.

“One of the greatest benefits of having an academic embedded within an industry team is the ability to look at complex challenges through a different lens,” Mr Alhelou said.

“Researchers are often well positioned to explore emerging concepts, challenge established assumptions and think creatively about potential future solutions.”

Dr Li expects to gain a deeper understanding of how planning, operational, regulatory and strategic considerations converge in real decisions – experience he says is difficult to gain from universities alone.

“This placement will help me become a better translator between the two worlds,” Dr Li said.

“Bringing research thinking into practice where it is useful and bringing industry realities back into the university context in a way that strengthens curriculum, examples and student learning.”

It is a gap Dr Alhelou knows from both sides, having conducted research in Australia and internationally, including at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Monash University, before moving into industry.

“Moving into industry highlighted just how large the gap can sometimes be between academic research and real-world implementation,” Transgrid’s Dr Alhelou said.

To find out more about Transgrid’s leading role in the renewable energy transition, visit:

https://www.transgrid.com.au/about-us/network/network-planning/system-security-roadmap/

Media contact: Jaryd Ramsey - 0421 859 889