New Energy Series

Fall 2023 Talks

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

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Renee Obringer
Renee Obringer

"Investigating the Impact of Climate Change on Electricity Demand Through Domain-informed Machine Learning."
Renee Obringer, Assistant Professor of Energy and Mineral Engineering, Penn State University
Moderator: Dr.
June Lukuyu, University of Washington

12:30 - 1:30 p.m. | Online
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About the Talk
Soaring temperatures and increased frequency of heatwaves have changed the way many people use electricity, often leading to higher consumption during the summer months. This trend is likely to continue as climate change progresses and temperatures increase. In order to ensure our electricity grid is prepared for these changes, it is important to develop accurate predictive models that account for climate-induced shifts in demand. Here, Dr. Obringer will present results from two studies that leverage state-of-the-art data analytics to investigate the impact of climate change on electricity demand. The first study focuses on city-wide demand, while the second aims to evaluate changes in household-level air conditioning use. Together, these studies demonstrate the impact climate change is likely to have on the larger electricity grid, as well as the implications for residents. Understanding these shifts is a critical step to improving the resilience of our electricity infrastructure in the face of climate change. 

About the Speaker
Dr. Renee Obringer is an interdisciplinary researcher primarily interested in socio-technical systems. In particular, she applies computational techniques ranging from machine learning to agent-based modeling to explore the relationship between people, climate, and infrastructure systems. Currently, she is an assistant professor in the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at Penn State University. Her primary research aims to better understand the impact of climate change on energy systems by leveraging data analytics and other computational techniques. At Penn State, she is also affiliated with the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute and the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences.

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

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Chell Lyons
Chell Lyons

"In the Vault: The Roles of Public Green Banks in the Transition to Net-zero Emissions. Case Studies of Australia, New Zealand, and the United States."
Chell Lyons, Sir Roland Wilson PhD Scholar at Australian National University
12 - 1 p.m. | Online

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About the Talk
Decarbonizing the global economy requires a significant increase in funding for low-carbon, climate-resilient infrastructure. It is widely recognized that current levels of investment are insufficient, and need to scale up rapidly to meet the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement. Green Banks, a relatively new form of  public financial institution, were developed to address this issue by accelerating investment and "crowding in" private finance. This presentation adopts a case study approach drawing on expert interviews, to elicit information on the investment governance and evaluation processes of four Green Banks; Australia's Clean Energy Finance Corporation, New Zealand Green Investment Finance, the New York Green Bank and the Montgomery County Green Bank. It concludes with lessons for other public financial institutions seeking to leverage private finance in the investment transition to net zero emissions.

About the Speaker
Chell Lyon's PhD research explores the role of public investment in the transition to net zero emissions. She examines how public banks, particularly green banks, evaluate investment decisions, with a focus on implications for Australian policymakers.

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

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Camillo Stubenberg
Camillo Stubenberg, Cornell University

"Does Grid Collapse Accelerate the Energy Transition? Lessons from Lebanon's Electricity Crisis."
Camillo Stubenberg, PhD Student, Cornell University
12-1 p.m. | Online
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About the Talk

In June 2022, a staggering 150,000 tons of solar panels arrived at the port of Beirut—equating to more solar capacity than Lebanon had imported over the preceding decade. Once lagging behind Mediterranean counterparts, Lebanon's energy landscape transformed rapidly due to the 2021 economic crisis and subsequent severe fuel shortages. The nation's established power entities, including the state utility Electricité du Liban and the infamous generator mafia, found themselves incapacitated without fossil fuels. Drawing from recent dissertation fieldwork, Cornell's Camillo Stubenberg will explore this swift transition to off-grid solar energy. Lebanon's experience serves as a compelling case study in a world where fossil fuel supply chains and centralized grids are increasingly fragile.

About the Speaker

Camillo Stubenberg is a PhD candidate in the Department of Global Development at Cornell University. His dissertation research examines the social aspects of the rushed transition towards off-grid solar energy in Lebanon. For his project "Under the Patronage of the Sun? the techno-politics of Lebanon's solar energy boom" he recently completed 11 month of ethnographic field research. Prior to coming to Cornell, Camillo worked worked as a consultant in rural development and impact research in the tri-border region of Austria, Switzerland and Germany. He earned a B.Sc. in environmental resource management from the University of Applied life Sciences in Vienna, as well as a BA+MA degree in International Development at the University of Vienna.

About the Series

New Energy: Conversations with Early-Career Energy Researchers is an online series featuring graduate, post-doctoral, and other early-career researchers sharing their discoveries and perspectives on energy-related topics. From policy to analysis to emerging technology, this series will give anyone interested in energy the opportunity to learn from the rising stars in the field. 

All events in this series take place via Zoom.