Scott Duncan leads the microgrid initiative at the Georgia Tech Strategic Energy Institute, principally facilitating access to the Tech Square Microgrid for Georgia Tech students and researchers. He is a senior research engineer within the School of Aerospace Engineering, where he is a member of the Digital Engineering Division of the Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory (ASDL).

In his current position, Duncan leads and manages multidisciplinary research teams in projects relating to terrestrial infrastructure systems, including community energy systems comprising grid-interactive efficient buildings, electrified loads, district thermal systems, distributed energy resources (DERs), and microgrids. The teams assess and support the design of these systems by applying techniques from data analysis, modeling and simulation, design space exploration, visualization, optimization, digital twinning, and model-based systems engineering. Duncan also supports the long-running Smart Campus Initiative between ASDL and Georgia Tech Infrastructure & Sustainability (I&S), where researchers analyze and model campus utility systems.

Duncan is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), serving on its Terrestrial Energy Systems (TES) Technical Committee, as well as a member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Below is a brief Q&A with Duncan, where he discusses his research and how it influences the microgrids initiative at Georgia Tech.

• What is your field of expertise and at what point in your life did you first become interested in this area?

My expertise lies in systems engineering for managing energy infrastructure, with a recent focus on the “grid edge,” where demand-side systems like buildings and community-scale projects intersect with distributed energy resources (DERs) and wider utility grids. Initially, as a research engineer, I worked on optimizing combined cycle power plant design. Over the last decade, my research has shifted towardThank the increasing complexity of energy systems on the demand side, including electrified buildings and vehicle charging. Systems engineering involves techniques to understand, design, and manage large-scale systems, evaluating trade-offs and multi-objective goals. It is a privilege to work in this field, especially within the built environment, which is a burgeoning area for these techniques. Overall, I am passionate about orchestrating large systems rather than focusing on specific disciplinary sciences or smaller mechanical aspects.

• What questions or challenges sparked your current energy research? What are the big issues facing your research area right now?

Since my graduate studies at Georgia Tech, where I completed my Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and was affiliated with a sustainable design and manufacturing research group, I have been deeply interested in sustainability. My research on systems design and life cycle management led me to recognize energy as a critical element in sustainability. The conversation around climate impacts has shifted from avoidance to adaptation, highlighting the need for resilient energy systems. As a systems engineer, I find the complexity of managing interconnected energy systems fascinating. Understanding and co-managing these systems is crucial, as is demonstrating their effectiveness beyond simulations. Over the past few years, I have shifted toward more applied, infrastructure-as-a-laboratory experiments to address these challenges.

• What interests you the most leading SEI’s research initiative on microgrids? Why is your initiative important to the development of Georgia Tech’s energy research strategy?

I manage research operations for the Tech Square Microgrid (TSMG), which was established in partnership with Georgia Power and Southern Company. This urban microgrid serves as a resiliency resource for part of the data center on the Coda block and as a test bed for innovative experiments. Although the TSMG project predates my involvement, I have the privilege of coordinating its broader use by the Georgia Tech community. My work focuses on creating a living lab for microgrids, balancing the operation of a real system with accessibility for research and education. This involves managing the complexity of interconnected systems and ensuring their components are understood and effectively deployed. U.S. national labs and funding agencies are interested in such dual-purpose systems that demonstrate real-world applications while pushing the boundaries of current performance. Over the past few years, I have shifted toward more applied, infrastructure-as-a-laboratory experiments to address these challenges.

We have been collecting several years of streaming data from approximately 800 different parameters of the microgrid. This data is stored in a historian and made accessible to the Georgia Tech community, allowing us to observe the grid while Georgia Power maintains its operations. We have accumulated valuable data on operations, status, and faults, which is available to certain parts of the Georgia Tech community. Our goal is to expand access and build a collective understanding and knowledge around this data. We are especially interested in finding data scientists to help maximize the use of data in understanding TSMG behaviors.

• What are the broader global and social benefits of the research you and your team conduct on microgrids?

The research conducted by my team on microgrids offers significant global and social benefits, particularly in the realm of decarbonization. By integrating non-dispatchable renewable energy sources such as solar and wind with dispatchable storage solutions, fuel cells, and reciprocating engines, we aim to create a resilient and stable energy grid. This microgrid not only supports high-performance computing assets at Georgia Tech but also serves as a demonstrator for backup alternatives and their interoperability. Our work provides valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of different energy sources and storage options, contributing to the broader goal of increasing renewable energy use while supporting grid stability. 

• What are your plans for engaging a wider Georgia Tech faculty pool with the broader energy community?

To engage a wider Georgia Tech faculty pool with the broader energy community, we are building a community around the Tech Square Microgrid. This initiative fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing among Georgia Tech faculty, Georgia Power, and Southern Company. We have set up a Microsoft Teams site for collaboration and understanding of the microgrid, allowing users to access documents, models, and data. This platform encourages innovative experiments and supports both educational and research purposes. Interested Georgia Tech members can contact me or use this Microsoft Forms link to gain access, ask questions, and share knowledge. We are continuously refining this approach and seeking more participants to expand our community.

• What are your hobbies? 

These days, my hobbies revolve around spending time with my family, including hiking and traveling. My kids are developing interests in chess, sports, and engineering, which has rekindled my own passion for technical pursuits and outdoor activities. I also enjoy music and tinkering with new technologies like devices, 3D printing, and software engineering.

• Who has influenced you the most?

I realize my outlook on life is shaped by a mosaic of influences. As a systems engineer, I appreciate the interconnectedness of various elements. But I’d say that my parents, both psychology professors, have been particularly influential. Their academic lifestyle and mode of inquiry inspired me, and their approach to engaging with students and fostering curiosity has been a primary influence in my life.