The EARNEST Consortium, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is dedicated to identifying and advancing solutions for the future of the U.S. electricity system. As part of its public engagement efforts, EARNEST is hosting its first webinar series focused on “U.S. Grid Reliability and Resilience.” This sixth session will explore advances in macro-energy systems modeling, with a focus on new methods for capacity planning under deep uncertainty.

Modern energy systems are increasingly interdependent, spanning electricity, fuels, industrial inputs, and emerging technologies. How can we build planning models that meaningfully account for this complexity? How do we ensure these tools remain tractable at scale while still capturing the spatial and temporal detail needed to evaluate weather-driven renewables, extreme events, and evolving system needs?

This session will examine the evolving frontiers of capacity expansion modeling, especially under conditions of deep uncertainty and rapid transformation. Key challenges include how to overcome the computational limits of existing approaches, better represent cross-sectoral dynamics, and design robust strategies for long-term planning and investment.

Jesse D. Jenkins, Associate Professor at Princeton University, will present ongoing research from the ZERO Lab, focused on developing scalable and robust optimization methods for modeling interdependent energy and industrial systems. His talk will highlight new strategies to enhance model performance, manage uncertainty, and expand the reach of macro-energy planning frameworks.