Projects

Overview

This comprehensive computational model represents months of research into renewable energy integration patterns across regional electrical grids. The project emerged from my coursework in Energy Science & Engineering and my internship experience at SLAC National Laboratory.

Technical Approach

I developed the model using Python, implementing machine learning algorithms including:

• Random Forest regression for energy demand prediction
• K-means clustering for grid segmentation analysis
• Optimization algorithms for distribution efficiency

Key Findings

The model successfully identified optimal renewable energy integration points that could improve grid efficiency by up to 23% while maintaining stability during peak demand periods. The analysis revealed that distributed solar installations, when properly coordinated, could significantly reduce transmission losses.

Impact & Applications

This research contributes to understanding how regional grids can better accommodate renewable energy sources while maintaining reliability. The model framework could be adapted for use by utility companies planning renewable energy investments.

Research Question

How effective have federal climate legislation initiatives been in reducing regional carbon emissions, and what factors contribute to varying success rates across different geographic areas?

Methodology

Using R and econometric modeling techniques, I analyzed emissions data from the EPA alongside policy implementation timelines across 12 states. The study employed:

• Difference-in-differences analysis to isolate policy effects
• Panel data regression with fixed effects
• Robustness testing with alternative model specifications

Key Results

The analysis revealed that federal climate policies showed a 15-18% greater impact in states with complementary state-level regulations. Regional economic factors, particularly industrial composition, significantly influenced policy effectiveness.

Policy Implications

The findings suggest that federal climate policy success depends heavily on coordinated state-level implementation and consideration of regional economic structures. This has important implications for designing future climate legislation.