Research News and Updates

Title: Planning and Operational Strategies for Resilient Infrastructure Networks

Venue and Time: S0.20 (Social Sciences Building), Thursday (26/06/2025) - 2pm - 3pm

Abstract: Power system planners have considered the impacts of weather and climate from the design of the first electricity networks. However, this task is growing more complex as power systems become increasingly weather dependent with growing electrification and renewable generation. As a result, the energy sector must evolve to meet the challenge of re-imagining future electricity network operation and planning. This presentation will discuss the importance of embedding consideration of weather and climate throughout planning and operations process. A particular emphasis will be placed on climactic hazards such as wildfires and storms and the implications for researchers.

Short Bio: Daniel Donaldson is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering at the University of Birmingham, and Deputy Head of the Resilient Systems and Climate Action research group. His main research interests include electricity distribution system planning, forecasting, power system resilience, and climate adaptation of interdependent critical infrastructure. He received a Ph.D. degree from the University of Birmingham, U.K., with a focus on resilience of electric power systems. Previously, he spent seven years working at Southern California Edison in a variety of roles across distribution engineering, transmission planning, and forecasting and he is a licensed Professional Engineer in the state of California. He is also Chair of the UK and Ireland IEEE PES Chapter, and joint chair of the IEEE working group on Modern and Future Distribution System Planning.