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Energy and Environment Directorate

Abhishek Somani

Abhishek Somani

(509) 375-6407

Biography

Dr. Abhishek Somani received Ph.D. in Economics from Iowa State University with specialization in the analysis of electric power systems. He is currently a Senior Economist and Team Leader at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. His research interests include design and analysis of electric power markets, both in USA and internationally. Over the years Dr. Somani has developed tools, models, and methodologies for economic valuation of energy systems and technologies, based on prevailing regulatory, policy, and market conditions. He also oversees PNNL's involvement in the DOE's HydroWIRES initiative, which is investigating role of hydropower in ensuring reliable and resilient operations of the power systems. Dr. Somani is the alternate US delegate for International Energy Agency's (IEA) Hydropower and Energy Storage Technology Collaboration Programmes (TCP). He is presently PNNL's lab-lead for the Net Zero World Initiative (NZWI).

Research Interests

  • Economics and Policy Analysis
  • Power Markets
  • Power Systems and Electrical Engineering

Education and Credentials

  • Iowa State University - Doctor of Philosophy, Economics
  • Iowa State University - Bachelor of Science, Computer Engineer

PNNL Patents

PNNL Publications

2023

  • Bhattacharya S., T. Ramachandran, B. Mitra, and A. Somani. 2023. "Flexibility Requirements for Energy Systems with Renewable Generation under Forecast Uncertainties." In IEEE Power & Energy Society Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Conference (ISGT 2023), January 16-19, 2023, Washington, DC, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-177203. doi:10.1109/ISGT51731.2023.10066352
  • Campbell A.M., M. Ghosal, N. Voisin, S. Davis, D. Bhatnagar, G.C. Iyer, and H.C. McJeon, et al. 2023. Integrated Assessment Modeling of Grid Resilience: GCAM-to-PCM Scoping - Methodology Report. PNNL-35165. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Integrated Assessment Modeling of Grid Resilience: GCAM-to-PCM Scoping - Methodology Report
  • Chalishazar V.H., J.K. Westman, J.M. Deines, S. Datta, J.D. Tagestad, A. Coleman, and E.L. Barrett, et al. 2023. "Wildfire Risk Evaluation Framework for Grid Operations and Planning." In Proceedings of the IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM 2023), July 16-20, 2023, Orlando, FL, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-179533. doi:10.1109/PESGM52003.2023.10252841
  • Eldridge B.C., A. Somani, E. Schweitzer, R. Sadnan, and J.T. Holzer. 2023. SCUC-DER Integration Report: Integrating Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Using Advanced Unit Commitment Models and DER Aggregation Methodologies. PNNL-35070. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. SCUC-DER Integration Report: Integrating Distributed Energy Resources (DER) Using Advanced Unit Commitment Models and DER Aggregation Methodologies
  • Jain M., X. Sun, S. Datta, and A. Somani. 2023. "A Machine Learning Framework to Deconstruct the Primary Drivers for Electricity Market Price Events." In IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM 2023), July 16-20, 2023, Orlando, FL, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-179891. doi:10.1109/PESGM52003.2023.10252752
  • Kincic S., N.A. Samaan, S. Datta, A. Somani, H. Yuan, J. Tan, and R. Bhattarai, et al. 2023. Hydropower Modeling Gaps in Planning and Operational Studies. PNNL-33836. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Hydropower Modeling Gaps in Planning and Operational Studies
  • Mukherjee M., T.E. McDermott, T.D. Hardy, A. Somani, S.R. Bender, and M.L. Moore. 2023. "Transactive Energy Rationing in Islanded Electric Power Systems." IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications 59, no. 1:312 - 322. PNNL-SA-172220. doi:10.1109/TIA.2022.3210080
  • Sadnan R., T. Ramachandran, S. Bhattacharya, and A. Somani. 2023. "Impact of Spatial Variation in Flexibility on System Operations in Electric Power Systems." In IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM 2023), July 16-20, 2023, Orlando, FL, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-179882. doi:10.1109/PESGM52003.2023.10252683

2022

  • Boff D.S., S. Ganguli, and A. Somani. 2022. Understanding the Behavioral Aspects of Rate Design. PNNL-33384. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Understanding the Behavioral Aspects of Rate Design
  • Chalishazar V.H., R.A. Harnish, D. Bhatnagar, A. Somani, and B.J. Bellgraph. 2022. "Hydro-battery Hybrids - A Case for Holistic Assessment of Hybrid Energy Systems." In IEEE Electrical Energy Storage Application and Technologies Conference (EESAT 2022), November 8-9, 2022, Austin, TX, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-174725. doi:10.1109/EESAT55007.2022.9998036
  • Datta S., A. Somani, M.E. Alam, X. Sun, V. Fotedar, and A. Banicki. 2022. "Changes in Hydropower Resource Operations Following Participation in the CAISO Energy Imbalance Market - A Case Study." In IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM 2022), July 17-21, 2022, Denver, CO, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-168520. doi:10.1109/PESGM48719.2022.9916782
  • Eldridge B.C., and A. Somani. 2022. Impact of FERC Order 2222 on US Electricity Markets. PNNL-33383. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Impact of FERC Order 2222 on US Electricity Markets
  • Eldridge B.C., and A. Somani. 2022. Modeling and Market Design Considerations for Conventional and Decarbonized Resources. PNNL-33792. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Modeling and Market Design Considerations for Conventional and Decarbonized Resources
  • Ganguli S., A. Somani, and T.D. Hardy. 2022. "Allocation Mechanisms in Rationed Markets." In 2020 IEEE PES Transactive Energy Systems Conference (TESC), 1 - 5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-156081. doi:10.1109/TESC50295.2020.9656939
  • Maloney P.R., S. Bhattacharya, X. Ke, A. Venkatraman, A. Somani, and D. Bhatnagar. 2022. "Capacity Expansion Planning for LA Basin: the Role of Energy Storage." In IEEE Electrical Energy Storage Application and Technologies Conference (EESAT 2022), November 8-9, 2022, Austin, TX, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-174795. doi:10.1109/EESAT55007.2022.9998038
  • Nguyen Q.H., A. Singhal, R.S. O'Neil, J.D. Taft, J.B. Twitchell, and A. Somani. 2022. "Analysis of Distributed Energy Storage as a Core Grid Infrastructure via Production Cost Modeling." In IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM 2022), July 17-21, 2022, Denver, CO, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-168724. doi:10.1109/PESGM48719.2022.9917218
  • Pressburger L.D., M. Evans, S. Yu, Y. Cui, A. Somani, and G.C. Iyer. 2022. A Comprehensive Economic Coal Transition in South Asia. PNNL-32383. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. A Comprehensive Economic Coal Transition in South Asia
  • Ramachandran T., S. Bhattacharya, A. Somani, and D.J. Hammerstrom. 2022. "Impacts of Energy Flexibility in Transactive Energy Systems with Large Scale Renewable Generation." IEEE Access 10. PNNL-SA-167947. doi:10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3148685
  • Tarufelli B.L., B.C. Eldridge, and A. Somani. 2022. Capacity Markets for Transactive Energy Systems. PNNL-33381. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Capacity Markets for Transactive Energy Systems
  • Tarufelli B.L., X. Sun, S. Ganguli, D.S. Boff, and A. Somani. 2022. Price Formation and Grid Operation Impacts from Variable Renewable Energy Resources. PNNL-33470. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Price Formation and Grid Operation Impacts from Variable Renewable Energy Resources

2021

  • Alam M., M.E. Alam, A. Somani, R.B. Melton, W. Tushar, F. Bai, and R. Yan, et al. 2021. "Evaluating the Feasibility of Transactive Approach for Voltage Management Using Inverters of a PV Plant." Applied Energy 291. PNNL-SA-152961. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.116844
  • McDermott T.E., T.D. Hardy, A. Somani, S.R. Bender, and M.L. Madison. 2021. "Transactive Energy Rationing in an Islanded Electric Power System." In IEEE Green Technologies Conference (GreenTech 2021), April 7-9, 2021, Denver, CO, 323 - 330. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-158444. doi:10.1109/GreenTech48523.2021.00059

2020

  • Agrawal U., J.G. O'Brien, A. Somani, T. Mosier, and J.E. Dagle. 2020. "A Study of the Impact of Reduced Inertia in Power Systems." In Proceedings of the 53rd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS 2020), January 7-10, 2020, Maui, Hawaii, 3010-3017. Honolulu, Hawaii:University of Hawaii. PNNL-SA-144551. doi:10.24251/HICSS.2020.367

2019

  • Bhattarai B.P., M.E. Alam, J. Hansen, K.P. Schneider, N. Radhakrishnan, A. Somani, and W. Du. 2019. "Enhancing Distribution System Resiliency through a Novel Transactive Energy Systems Framework." In Proceedings of the IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM 2019), August 4-8, 2019, Atlanta, GA. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-139460. doi:10.1109/PESGM40551.2019.8973466
  • Reiman A.P., A. Somani, M.E. Alam, P. Wang, D. Wu, and K. Kalsi. 2019. "Power Factor Correction in Feeders with Distributed Photovoltaics Using Residential Appliances as Virtual Batteries." IEEE Access 7. PNNL-SA-142759. doi:10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2928568
  • Touhiduzzaman M., S.G. Gourisetti, C.R. Eppinger, and A. Somani. 2019. "A Review of Cybersecurity Risk and Consequences for Critical Infrastructure." In IEEE Resilience Week (RWS 2019), November 4-7, 2019, San Antonio, TX, 7-13. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-144888. doi:10.1109/RWS47064.2019.8971975

2018

  • Weimar M.R., A. Somani, P.V. Etingov, L.E. Miller, Y.V. Makarov, C. Loutan, and W. Katzenstein. 2018. "Benefit Cost Analysis of Improved Forecasting for Day-Ahead Hourly Regulation Requirements." In IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM 2018), August 5-10, 2018, Portland, OR, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-130142. doi:10.1109/PESGM.2018.8586106

2017

  • Balducci P.J., M.E. Alam, V.V. Viswanathan, D. Wu, A.J. Crawford, K. Mongird, and M.R. Weimar, et al. 2017. "An Economic Assessment of Portland General Electric's Salem Smart Power Center Energy Storage System." In Electrical Energy Storage Applications and Technologies (EESAT 2017), October 11-13, 2017, San Diego, CA. Albuquerque, New Mexico:Sandia National Laboratories. PNNL-SA-129062.
  • Balducci P.J., M.E. Alam, V.V. Viswanathan, D. Wu, A.J. Crawford, K. Mongird, and M.R. Weimar, et al. 2017. The Salem Smart Power Center: An Assessment of Battery Performance and Economic Potential. PNNL-26858. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. doi:10.2172/1406263.The Salem Smart Power Center: An Assessment of Battery Performance and Economic Potential

2015

  • Hao H., A. Somani, J. Lian, and T.E. Carroll. 2015. "Generalized Aggregation and Coordination of Residential Loads in a Smart Community." In IEEE International Conference on Smart Grid Communications (SmartGridComm 2015), November 2-5, 2015, Miami, Florida, 67-72. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-110406. doi:10.1109/SmartGridComm.2015.7436278
  • Hao H., Y. Sun, T.E. Carroll, and A. Somani. 2015. "A Distributed Cooperative Power Allocation Method for Campus Buildings." In IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting, July 26-20, 2015, Denver, Colorado, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-106776. doi:10.1109/PESGM.2015.7286240
  • Sun Y., A. Somani, and T.E. Carroll. 2015. "Learning Based Bidding Strategy for HVAC Systems in Double Auction Retail Energy Markets." In Proceedings of the American Control Conference (ACC), July 1-3, 2015, Chicago, Illinois, 2912-2917. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-103474. doi:10.1109/ACC.2015.7171177

2014

  • Melton R.B., A. Somani, and S.A. Kowalski. 2014. Transactive Energy Framework Workshop Proceedings, September 10-11, 2014 Folsom, CA. Richland, Washington:GridWise Architecture Council / Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. PNNL-SA-107083.
  • Melton R.B., M. Knight, A. Somani, and A.C. Steckley. 2014. Transactive Energy Framework 4th Transactive Energy Workshop Proceedings, December 10-11, 2013, Westminster, California. Washington Dc:U.S. Department of Energy. PNNL-SA-102099.
  • Widergren S.E., J.C. Fuller, M.C. Marinovici, and A. Somani. 2014. "Residential Transactive Control Demonstration." In Proceedings of 2014 Innovative Smart Grid Technology Meet (ISGT), 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. PNNL-SA-98353. doi:10.1109/ISGT.2014.6816405
  • Widergren S.E., M.C. Marinovici, J.C. Fuller, K. Subbarao, D.P. Chassin, and A. Somani. 2014. "Customer Engagement in AEP gridSMART Residential Transactive System." In Transactive Energy Framework Workshop Proceedings, September 10-11, 2014 Folsom, California. Richland, Washington:GridWise Architecture Council. PNNL-SA-107064.

2013

  • Melton R.B., A.C. Steckley, and A. Somani. 2013. First International Transactive Energy Conference and Workshop Proceedings 2013: Implementing the Future of the Electrical System, May 23-24, 2013, Portland, Oregon. Richland, Washington:GridWise Architecture Council / Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. PNNL-SA-96361.

Energy and Environment

Core Research Areas

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