This week's speaker is:

Claire Petersen, Ph.D. Candidate, Stanford University
"Demand Response to California Governor's Text Alert"

Abstract:

On September 6, 2022, a text alert was sent to millions of Californians urging them to reduce electricity use to prevent forced demand curtailment in the face of an unprecedented heatwave. CAISO reported that electricity demand fell almost immediately on the grid by roughly the capacity of the Diablo Canyon Powerplant, though limited information exists on who specifically responded. This research project uses interval meter data for millions of households, as well as millions of commercial and industrial meters, to better understand where this demand response originated. We examine non-residential demand response by sector, and explore what factors related to households, such as AC-adoption or EV-ownership, are correlated with demand response. We also contribute to the literature on electricity counterfactual modeling and demand response fatigue.

Bio:

Claire Petersen is a 3rd-year PhD in E-IPER studying energy systems and economic policy. Her background is in both engineering and economics, with masters in Energy Technology (Cambridge MPhil) and Carbon Management (Edinburgh MSc). Claire works part-time for the California Energy Commission as a data analyst, helping the state use interval meter data to design and evaluate energy policy, with a focus currently on heat pump adoption and data center load integration. Claire's research at Stanford is focused on electricity demand response, both voluntary and economically driven.

The topics of this seminar are broad but typically fall under technologies’ scaling potential and impact on (the system of) people, the environment and the economy. A particular focus is placed on the interaction potential of technologies with the energy, water, and material systems. Our goal is to create an intimate, collaborative space for students, postdocs, scientists, and PIs within Stanford across micro-level (material and technology) to macro-level (system) interests. These seminars will provide an opportunity to disseminate insights from your studies, connect with fellow researchers, and strengthen bonds across the community.