Dr. Shukla Poddar

Post-doctoral Researcher

University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney

My work focuses on understanding complex climate processes and projecting future solar and wind generation. I study weather induced variability on the energy generation systems and provide efficient grid management strategies. My work involves running global and regional climate model projections with detailed microscale weather process to simulate accurate future weather regimes and extreme weather events that have impact on renewable energy generation. I develop resource-to-energy generation models and tools to predict the future renewable energy droughts, their frequency and duration. These are complex models which comprises of minute details like technology specifications, invertor specifications, grid integration, regional weather and climate. One of my major focus areas is understanding optimum battery sizing for regions prone to intermittent weather conditions. I understand the demand profile and regional solar and wind energy generation to determine effective battery charging/discharging times to reduce dependency on fossil-fuel generated electricity. My research also involves predicting future degradation of the renewable technologies, selecting future climate resilient technologies, and designing hybrid solar and wind plants.

My research is crucial for effectively integrating renewable energy into the power grid, optimizing energy production, and ensuring grid stability. By improving our understanding of renewable energy variability, stakeholders can make informed decisions regarding investment, policy development, and energy management strategies, ultimately facilitating the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient energy system.