The convergence of networking and information technology with engineered physical systems is enabling a new generation of “smart systems” that are transforming the way that companies across the energy supply chain conduct business, collaborate, and compete. The increasing pervasiveness of embedded systems, sensors, and wireless communication technologies is also presenting new challenges and questions around data ownership, privacy, and cybersecurity. Georgia Tech’s expertise in several critical disciplines, including data sciences and informatics, engineering, cybersecurity, policy, economics, and supply chain design, uniquely positions the university to play a pivotal role in advancing innovation and addressing the challenges in this rapidly evolving area.

The Strategic Energy Institute (SEI) recently convened a half-day workshop, focused around the theme “Energy in an Information Age,”  to begin shaping an energy research and development strategy for Georgia Tech that builds on the university’s strengths and sets a general direction for key strategic priorities and decisions over the next decade.

The workshop brought together researchers from the Schools of Computational Science & Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial & Systems Engineering, International Affairs, Mechanical Engineering, and GTRI to identify and prioritize key research challenges and the associated R&D needs, as well as potential Georgia Tech initiatives, and federal opportunities for large-scale proposal development. The goal of the workshop was to facilitate discussion and information sharing amongst core disciplines and to identify intersections of core capabilities between research in electricity systems and power generation and crosscutting areas that do not necessarily work in energy (e.g., computing, supply chain, cybersecurity, etc.).        

Energy in an Information Age is the first in a series of roundtable discussions SEI will be hosting to hone both near-and-long-term strategic priorities and activities for the university’s energy research community. SEI will host two more theme-based workshops that will touch on other cross-cutting energy challenges including, “Energy in a Carbon-Constrained World” and “Manufacturing Enabling Energy Innovations.” Additional details will be coming in the weeks ahead.