Starting My PhD at the University of Adelaide: Smarter Batteries for a Smarter Grid
Published:
⚡ I am excited to share that I have officially started my PhD at the University of Adelaide, supported through a National Industry PhD Project in collaboration with OptiGrid Pty Ltd.
🔋 Research Focus
My PhD aims to develop a unified, end-to-end machine learning framework that:
- Integrates domain expertise from the Australian energy sector
- Optimizes BESS operation under real-world NEM conditions
- Demonstrates how ML-driven approaches can improve both battery revenues and grid reliability
🌱 Why This Matters
A smart, integrated approach to BESS operation can unlock:
- Stronger business cases for new utility-scale battery projects
- Better returns from existing storage assets
- Faster and more cost-effective progress toward Australia’s net-zero goals
- A more efficient NEM and potentially lower electricity costs for consumers
This research sits at the intersection of machine learning, energy economics, and power systems engineering — fields that must converge to support the future of Australia’s clean energy transition.
🤝 Project Collaborators
This project brings together an incredible interdisciplinary team:
- Dr Ali Pourmousavi Kani – Senior Lecturer, School of Electrical & Mechanical Engineering, The University of Adelaide
- Dr Wen Soong – Associate Professor, School of Electrical & Mechanical Engineering, The University of Adelaide
- Dr Nam Dinh – Co-Founder & Data Science Lead, OptiGrid Pty Ltd
- Dr Owen Lamont – Senior Software Engineer, OptiGrid Pty Ltd
- Sepehr Karimi – PhD Researcher, School of Electrical & Mechanical Engineering, The University of Adelaide
Stay tuned — I’ll be sharing updates as this journey continues!