E-COMP Research Projects
The E-COMP Initiative is addressing critical challenges in transforming energy systems dominated by power electronics. For fiscal year 2025, E-COMP focuses on integrating advanced theoretical approaches, co-design optimization frameworks, and multi-entity simulations through a strategic portfolio of PNNL Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) projects across three thrust areas.
Thrust Area 1: Theory and Modeling
Thrust 1 develops fundamental theories and models to understand and improve the stability and dynamics of power electronics-dominated systems. FY25 projects include:
![]() Principal Investigator | Project 1a: Power Electronics Transient Stability TheoryCreating models to analyze and enhance the synchronization and stability of power electronics systems, including grid-forming inverters and modular multilevel converters. |
![]() Principal Investigator | Project 1b: HyGRID – Hybrid Decision and Control Methods for Multiscale Grid Resilience and Oscillation DampingDeveloping hybrid control methods to address grid resilience and mitigate oscillations in multiscale power electronics-dominated networks. |
![]() Principal Investigator | Project 1c: Control-Oriented Models for Co-DesignDeveloping parameterized models that balance accuracy and computational efficiency, aiding in dynamic system design. |
![]() Principal Investigator | Project 1d: Real-Time Test Bed for Co-DesignEstablishing a real-time platform to validate co-design models and theories. |
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Principal Investigators | Project 1e: Integrated Multi-Terminal Transmission Capacity PlanningAddressing design and operational challenges for multi-terminal DC systems, incorporating stability metrics and advanced control strategies. |
Thrust Area 2: Multiscale, Multi-Objective Co-Design
This thrust focuses on co-design frameworks that simultaneously optimize energy system design and operation across multiple objectives. Key projects include:
![]() Principal Investigator | Project 2a: Decentralized Multi-Objective Co-Optimization Based on Pareto-Set ProfilingLeveraging Pareto-set profiling for efficient optimization under uncertain conditions in black/gray-box systems. |
![]() Principal Investigator | Project 2b: CAMEO – Co-design Architecture for Multi-objective Energy System OptimizationDeveloping an extensible co-design architecture to assess trade-offs among cost, resilience, and emissions. |
![]() Principal Investigator | Project 2c: pyMOODS – Visual Analytics Framework for High-Dimensional Co-Design ProblemsCreating a visual analytics-driven environment for informed decision-making in high-dimensional optimization scenarios. |
![]() Principal Investigator | Project 2d: SCDC – Simulation-Based Co-Design for Community Energy PlanningDesigning and implementing co-optimization frameworks tailored for community-scale energy resilience. |
Thrust Area 3: Multi-Entity Simulation
Thrust 3 integrates localized optimization and system-wide simulation for better decision-making. Projects include:
![]() Principal Investigator | Project 3a: Simulation ExecutionDeveloping models and datasets and running system-wide studies on the multi-entity simulation platform. |
![]() Principal Investigator | Project 3b: Multi-Entity Simulation Platform Software ArchitectureDeveloping the foundational software architecture for scalable, multi-entity energy system simulations. |
![]() Principal Investigator | Project 3c: Market Models to Incentivize Zero Marginal Cost DispatchExploring policies and incentives for integrating power electronics technologies into grid operations. |
Cross-Thrust Projects
E-COMP's cross-thrust projects foster integration among thrusts to address overlapping challenges:
![]() Principal Investigator | Project C1: Use Case SpecificationAnchoring technical developments to real-world scenarios, such as large generation/load interconnection and energy community resilience. |
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![]() Principal Investigators
| Project C2: Stability Characterization for Co-Design of Power Electronics-Dominant Power SystemsLinking theoretical stability analysis to co-design frameworks for practical application. |
![]() Principal Investigator | Project C3: Game Theory Approaches for System-Level Incentive DesignExploring how incentives affect co-optimization at the system level. |