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Ian Hiskens: News

Ian Hiskens paraglides into retirement

Hiskens is a renowned expert in power system dynamics, who made significant contributions to integrating renewable energy sources into the grid during his 15 years at Michigan.

Congrats ECE alumni who joined academia

Congratulations to these ECE graduates who have recently joined academia as faculty members!
Science: September 14, 2023

Off the Grid

Ian Hiskens comments on the problems energy companies are having incorporating wind and solar power into the grid, due to a lack of suitable computer models.

Research seeking to improve integration of renewable energy into the grid wins R&D 100 award

Led by Prof. Johanna Mathieu, the project utilizes strategic control of air conditioners to improve the overall efficiency and reliability of the power grid.
The Wall Street Journal: August 22, 2023

The U.S. Is Turning Away From Its Biggest Scientific Partner at a Precarious Time

Prof. Ian Hiskens comments on the potential impact on the research community if the U.S. and China sever ties.

Equity in the energy technology transition is new Institute’s goal

Prof. Johanna Mathieu is the new Associate Director of the Institute for Energy Solutions, which will continue U-M’s 75-year legacy of leadership in energy research.
FOX: March 1, 2023

Thousands of customers remain without power across Michigan following ice storm

Ian Hiskens, Vennema Professor of Engineering, talks to Fox Weather about why thousands of customers are still waking up to no power following last week’s ice storm.
WXYZ: August 15, 2022

Is DTE ready for the electric vehicle future in Michigan

DTE says it’s ready to handle 20% of the population having EVs right now. Others respond, including Prof. Ian Hiskens who describes a more nuanced reality

Task Force report on grid stability concepts receives IEEE PES Prize Paper Award

The rapid growth of renewable energy led to an international task force to study its impact on the stability of worldwide power systems.
WXYZ: June 15, 2022

Agency warns of power grid failures; DTE says it has ‘enough electricity’ in Michigan

Prof. Ian Hiskens comments on this story about potential energy grid disruptions this summer in Michigan during severe heat waves.
Detroit Free Press: June 13, 2022

It won’t be easy for DTE Energy to retire huge, coal-fired Monroe power plant

Prof. Ian Hiskens is interviewed in this feature by the Detroit Free Press.

Three members of ECE will represent U-M at the 2021 Rising Stars in EECS Workshop

PhD students Sijia Geng, Bahareh Hadidian, and Nasimeh Heydaribeni will participate in the intensive workshop that brings together outstanding women and gender minorities interested in pursuing academic careers in EECS.

Sijia Geng receives Barbour Scholarship to further her research in renewable energy systems

Sijia is working to ensure the safety, stability and cost effectiveness of future power systems that are dominated by renewable resources, through fundamental studies of system operation.

Optimizing energy

Postdoc Fellow Shunbo Lei, who works to improve the efficiency and function of the power grid, was honored by the IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid.

Ian Hiskens receives MA Sargent Medal for a career of excellence in electrical engineering

Ian Hiskens, Vennema Professor of Engineering, is a renowned expert in power system dynamics with a special focus on renewable energy and the grid.
The Washington Post: November 7, 2019

Elon Musk says he has the solution for California’s fire-related blackouts. It starts at $15,000.

Prof. Ian Hiskens comments on using rooftop-mounted solar and battery storage as a way to achieve energy independence.
The Washington Post: October 30, 2019

PG&E’s role in Sonoma fire questioned as power outage frustrations grow

Prof. Ian Hiskens serves as an expert-commentator in a Washington Post story about the potential role Pacific Gas & Electric equipment played in the wildfires ravaging Northern California.

Md Salman Nazir works to improve the power grid and research papers

EECS-ECE PhD student Md Salman Nazir is recognized by the IEEE Transactions on Power Systems for his outstanding reviews of recent papers. He works at the Michigan Power and Energy Lab.

New research for the future of sustainable power and energy

Take a look at some of the exciting new projects that will help define the next evolution of sustainable power and energy.

How air conditioners could advance a renewable power grid

In an approach that won’t disrupt consumers, researchers will tackle two of the biggest issues in the energy industry.

Sijia Geng awarded Towner Prize for Distinguished Academic Achievement

A PhD student in electrical engineering, Geng researches trajectory sensitivity and renewable energy in microgrids.

Game theory for electric vehicle charging

Using University of Michigan buildings as batteries

How a building’s thermal energy can help the power grid accommodate more renewable energy sources.

Lights Out

The power goes out. The aurorae stretch to the tropics. Could a major solar storm mean a year without electricity?

Keravnos Energy wants to make fast electric vehicle charging economical

The idea behind Keravnos Energy is for there to be an energy transfer between three entities: the building, a large stationary battery, and the car.

Students take a field trip to a wind farm

“The trip made me more aware of some of the practical things … like the sound of the turbines, and how they alter the look of the land.”

Daniel Molzhan will address sustainability challenges as a Dow Fellow

Molzhan’s primary concern is responding to society’s need for constant and reliable electrical energy.

2012 EECS Outstanding Achievement Awards

Congratulations to these amazing faculty members!

Modernizing the nation’s electric grid for alternative energy

“We are proposing an integrated solution that will combine the construction of well-positioned storage facilities that will route excess energy to where it needs to be.”

Ian Hiskens receives stim money for wind energy

The grant is to be used to develop new techniques for assessing the impact of wind generation on power system voltage control and transient stability.

Ian Hiskens named Vennema Professor

This professorship recognizes Prof. Hiskens’ excellent teaching, service, and research in the area of nonlinear (hybrid) systems.