PostDoc Position in Wind and Solar Energy Siting Optimization

Advisers

MacDonald, Alexander E

Description

This opportunity involves assisting with an ongoing research project to optimize the siting of wind and solar energy projects using high-resolution numerical weather model data over multiple years. The literature contains work on relatively low penetration wind and/or solar power integration into the US grid. However, analysis and optimization of high penetration levels of renewable energy in the United States is lacking. This research has the potential to lead to multiple journal publications. In addition to the physical parameters of wind and solar radiation, this study will also optimize based on project economics. Computational work for this project is being done using a NOAA owned supercomputer, and the Associate will be working at the NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder, CO. This project spans several disciplines and technical areas: mathematical optimization, coding (Python, FORTRAN, Linux), supercomputing, meteorology, renewable energy generation, electricity transmission, large-scale energy storage, GIS, and project finance/economics. Applicants are not expected to be expert, or even experienced in all of these areas, but having academic training or practical experience in many of these areas will be beneficial to the project and increase likelihood of success.

Reference
MacDonald AE: Monthly Weather Review 137: 1422, 2009

Keywords:

Optimization; Renewable energy; Meteorology; Numerical weather model;