Skip to Main Content U.S. Department of Energy
Energy and Environment Directorate

Karan Kalsi

Karan Kalsi

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
PO Box 999
Richland, WA 99352
(509) 375-5904

Biography

Karan Kalsi is the Group Leader for the Optimization and Control Group at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). Since joining PNNL in 2010, Dr. Kalsi has established national recognition for his research in developing new control theory, methods, and algorithms for a rapidly changing, more complex, and more distributed energy system. He has made significant individual technical contributions in developing advanced control solutions to ensure the nation's critical infrastructure systems are more reliable, resilient, efficient, and sustainable. His pioneering contributions have focused on developing a new control paradigm based on robust distributed control theory for enhanced bulk power system stability and reliability, designing multi-scale hierarchical control strategies that enable real-time coordination of distributed energy and renewable resources for increased distribution system reliability and novel economic-based control and optimization framework for coordinating and integrating buildings and distributed energy resources at grid-scale.

Dr. Kalsi has had management oversight and technical responsibility for multi-million-dollar control-related projects that impact several DOE agencies, including the Building Technologies Office (BTO), Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) and Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). His technical reputation, and the team that he has built, has made PNNL the premier laboratory in distributed control and optimization for large-scale energy systems. Dr. Kalsi provides the broad technical leadership necessary to fully take advantage of the large multi-disciplinary teams he assembles from across the national laboratory complex, academia, and industry. He has authored 70 peer reviewed publications with over 2400 citations and currently has 7 issued US patents. He is also a visiting faculty member at the California Institute of Technology, where he partners with faculty on the topic of safety-critical controls for complex infrastructure systems. Dr. Kalsi received his PhD from Purdue University in electrical and computer engineering in 2010 and a Master of Engineering in electronic engineering from the University of Sheffield in 2006.

Research Interests

  • Power system stability and control
  • Power system dynamic modeling and analysis
  • Integration and control of distributed energy resources Power system market optimization problems

Education and Credentials

  • PhD, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue, University, August 2010
  • M.Eng, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom, June 2006

PNNL Patents

PNNL Publications

2022

  • Nandanoori S., S. Kundu, J. Lian, U. Vaidya, D.L. Vrabie, and K. Kalsi. 2022. "Sparse Control Synthesis for Uncertain Responsive Loads with Stochastic Stability Guarantees." IEEE Transactions on Power Systems 37, no. 1:167 - 178. PNNL-SA-156076. doi:10.1109/TPWRS.2021.3095827

2020

  • Chakraborty I., S. Nandanoori, S. Kundu, and K. Kalsi. 2020. "Stochastic Virtual Battery Modeling of Uncertain Electrical Loads using Variational Autoencoder." In American Control Conference (ACC 2020), July 1-3, 2020, Denver, CO, 1305-1310. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-147862. doi:10.23919/ACC45564.2020.9147609
  • Kundu S., and K. Kalsi. 2020. "Transient Safety Filter Design for Grid-Forming Inverters." In American Control Conference (ACC 2020), July 1-3, 2020, Denver, CO, 1299-1304. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-147958. doi:10.23919/ACC45564.2020.9148003
  • Wang P., D. Wu, and K. Kalsi. 2020. "Flexibility Estimation and Control of Thermostatically Controlled Loads with Lock Time for Regulation Service." IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid 11, no. 4:3221-3230. PNNL-SA-146718. doi:10.1109/TSG.2020.2973186
  • Wu D., P. Wang, X. Ma, and K. Kalsi. 2020. "Scheduling and Control of Flexible Building Loads for Grid Services Based on a Virtual Battery Model." In 21st IFAC World Congress, July 12-17, 2020, Berlin, Germany. IFAC-PapersOnline, edited by R. Findeisen, S. Hirche, K. Janschek and M. Monnigmann, 53, 13333-13338. PNNL-SA-149378. doi:10.1016/j.ifacol.2020.12.167

2019

  • Kundu S., S. Geng, S. Nandanoori, I.A. Hiskens, and K. Kalsi. 2019. "Distributed Barrier Certificates for Safe Operation of Inverter-Based Microgrids." In American Control Conference (2019), July 10-12. 2019, Philadelphia, PA, 1042 - 1047. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-138452. doi:10.23919/ACC.2019.8815296
  • Kundu S., V. Chandan, and K. Kalsi. 2019. "Scalable Computation of 2D-Minkowski Sum of Arbitrary Non-Convex Domains: Modeling Flexibility in Energy Resources." In Proceedings of the 52nd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS 2019), January 8-11, 2019, Honolulu, HI, 3689-3698. Honolulu, Hawaii:University of Hawaii. PNNL-SA-135729. doi:10.24251/HICSS.2019.445
  • 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

2018

  • Fan R., J. Lian, K. Kalsi, and M.A. Elizondo. 2018. "Impact of Cyber Attacks on High Voltage DC Transmission Damping Control." Energies 11, no. 5:1046. PNNL-SA-130106. doi:10.3390/en11051046
  • Kundu S., J. Hansen, J. Lian, and K. Kalsi. 2018. "Assessment of Optimal Flexibility in Ensemble of Frequency Responsive Loads." In IEEE International Conference on Smart Grid Communications, October 23-27, 2017, Dresden, Germany, 399-404. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-126289. doi:10.1109/SmartGridComm.2017.8340742
  • Kundu S., K. Kalsi, and S. Backhaus. 2018. "Approximating Flexibility in Distributed Energy Resources: A Geometric Approach." In Power Systems Computation Conference (PSCC 2018), June 11-15, 2018, Dublin, Ireland. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-127767. doi:10.23919/PSCC.2018.8442600
  • Lian J., W. Zhang, Y. Sun, L.D. Marinovici, K. Kalsi, and S.E. Widergren. 2018. Transactive Systemart I: Theoretical Underpinnings of Payoff Functions, Control Decisions, Information Privacy, and Solution Concepts. PNNL-27235 Part 1. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. doi:10.2172/1422302.Transactive Systemart I: Theoretical Underpinnings of Payoff Functions, Control Decisions, Information Privacy, and Solution Concepts
  • Lian J., Y. Sun, K. Kalsi, S.E. Widergren, H. Ren, and D. Wu. 2018. Transactive System: Part II: Analysis of Two Pilot Transactive Systems using Foundational Theory and Metrics. PNNL-27235 Part 2. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. doi:10.2172/1422303.Transactive System: Part II: Analysis of Two Pilot Transactive Systems using Foundational Theory and Metrics
  • Lian J., Y. Tang, J.C. Fuller, K. Kalsi, and N. Wang. 2018. "Behind-the-meter Transctive Control Approach for Home Energy Management System." In IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM 2018), August 5-10, 2018, Portland, OR, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-130957. doi:10.1109/PESGM.2018.8585855
  • Nudell T.R., A.M. Annaswamy, J. Lian, K. Kalsi, and D. D'Achiardi. 2018. "Electricity Markets in the United States: A Brief History, Current Operations, and Trends." In Smart Grid Control: Opportunities and Research Challenges, edited by Stoustrup J., Annaswamy A., Chakrabortty A., Qu Z. pp. 3-27. PNNL-SA-127149. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-98310-3_1
  • Ramachandran T., K. Dvijotham, K. Kalsi, and J. Lian. 2018. "Integration of Retail and Wholesale Markets: Modeling Framework and Stability Analysis." In 2018 IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM). PNNL-SA-130537. doi:10.1109/PESGM.2018.8585854
  • Wu D., H. Hao, T. Fu, and K. Kalsi. 2018. "Regional Assessment of Virtual Battery Potential from Building Loads." In IEEE/PES Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exposition (T&D 2018), April 16-19, 2018, Denver, CO, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-128303. doi:10.1109/TDC.2018.8440225

2017

  • Hao H., C.D. Corbin, K. Kalsi, and R.G. Pratt. 2017. "Transactive Control of Commercial Buildings for Demand Response." IEEE Transactions on Power Systems 32, no. 1:774-783. PNNL-SA-114721. doi:10.1109/TPWRS.2016.2559485
  • Lian J., D. Wu, K. Kalsi, and H. Chen. 2017. "Theoretical Framework for Integrating Distributed Energy Resources into Distribution Systems." In IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting, July 16-20, 2017, Chicago, Illinois, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-122233. doi:10.1109/PESGM.2017.8274331
  • Widergren S.E., D.J. Hammerstrom, Q. Huang, K. Kalsi, J. Lian, A. Makhmalbaf, and T.E. McDermott, et al. 2017. Transactive Systems Simulation and Valuation Platform Trial Analysis. PNNL-26409. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. doi:10.2172/1379448.Transactive Systems Simulation and Valuation Platform Trial Analysis
  • Wu J., T. Yang, D. Wu, K. Kalsi, and K. Johansson. 2017. "Distributed optimal dispatch of distributed energy resources over lossy communication networks." IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid 8, no. 6:3125-3137. PNNL-SA-122001. doi:10.1109/TSG.2017.2720761

2016

  • Li S., W. Zhang, J. Lian, and K. Kalsi. 2016. "Market-Based Coordination of Thermostatically Controlled Loads-Part I: A Mechanism Design Formulation." IEEE Transactions on Power Systems 31, no. 2:1170-1178. PNNL-SA-104887. doi:10.1109/TPWRS.2015.2432057
  • Li S., W. Zhang, J. Lian, and K. Kalsi. 2016. "Market-Based Coordination of Thermostatically Controlled Loads-Part II: Unknown Parameters and Case Studies." IEEE Transactions on Power Systems 31, no. 2:1179-1187. PNNL-SA-104858. doi:10.1109/TPWRS.2015.2432060
  • Li S., W. Zhang, J. Lian, and K. Kalsi. 2016. "On Reverse Stackelberg Game and Optimal Mean Field Control for a Large Population of Thermostatically Controlled Loads." In 2016 American Control Conference, July 6-8, 2016, Boston, MA. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-109052. doi:10.1109/ACC.2016.7525463
  • Li S., W. Zhang, L. Zhao, J. Lian, and K. Kalsi. 2016. "On Social Optima of Non-Cooperative Mean Field Games." In IEEE 55th Conference on Decision and Control (CDC 2016), December 12-14, 2016, Las Vegas, Nevada, 3584-3590. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-116713. doi:10.1109/CDC.2016.7798808
  • Lian J., J. Hansen, L.D. Marinovici, and K. Kalsi. 2016. "Hierarchical Decentralized Control Strategy for Demand-Side Primary Frequency Response." In IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM 2016), July 17-21, 2016, Boston, MA. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-114374. doi:10.1109/PESGM.2016.7741267
  • Williams T.L., K. Kalsi, M.A. Elizondo, L.D. Marinovici, and R.M. Pratt. 2016. "Control and Coordination of Frequency Responsive Residential Water Heaters." In IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM 2016), July 17-21, 2016, Boston, Massachusetts. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-114441. doi:10.1109/PESGM.2016.7741391

2015

  • Elizondo M.A., K. Kalsi, C. Moya, and W. Zhang. 2015. "Frequency Responsive Demand in U.S. Western Power System Model." In IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting, July 26-30, 2015, Denver, Colorado, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-106784. doi:10.1109/PESGM.2015.7286352
  • Hao H., J. Lian, K. Kalsi, and J. Stoustrup. 2015. "Distributed Flexibility Characterization and Resource Allocation Strategies for Multi-zone Commercial Buildings in the Smart Grid." In 54th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control, December 15-18, 2015, Osaka, Japan, 3161-3168. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-109049. doi:10.1109/CDC.2015.7402693
  • Lian J., Y. Sun, L.D. Marinovici, and K. Kalsi. 2015. "Improved Controller Design of Grid Friendly™ Appliances for Primary Frequency Response." In IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting, July 26-30, 2015, Denver, Colorado, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-106860. doi:10.1109/PESGM.2015.7286424

2014

  • Elizondo M.A., L.D. Marinovici, J. Lian, K. Kalsi, and P. Du. 2014. "Mitigation of Remedial Action Schemes by Decentralized Robust Governor Control." In IEEE PES T&D Conference and Exposition, April 14-17, 2014, Chicago Illinois, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-90761. doi:10.1109/TDC.2014.6863364
  • Li S., W. Zhang, J. Lian, and K. Kalsi. 2014. "On Market-Based Coordination of Thermostatically Controlled Loads With User Preference." In IEEE 53rd Conference on Decision and Control (CDC 2014), December 15-17, 2013, Los Angeles, California, 2474-2480. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-101666. doi:10.1109/CDC.2014.7039766
  • Moya C., W. Zhang, J. Lian, and K. Kalsi. 2014. "A Hierarchical Framework for Demand-Side Frequency Control." In American Control Conference (ACC 2014), June 4-6, 2014, Portland, Oregon, 52-57. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-98607. doi:10.1109/ACC.2014.6859304

2013

  • Chang C., W. Zhang, J. Lian, and K. Kalsi. 2013. "Modeling and Control of Aggregated Air Conditioning Loads Under Realistic Conditions." In IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies (ISGT 2013), February 24-27, 2013, Washington DC. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-91055. doi:10.1109/ISGT.2013.6497895
  • Marinovici L.D., J. Lian, K. Kalsi, P. Du, and M.A. Elizondo. 2013. "Distributed Hierarchical Control Architecture for Transient Dynamics Improvement in Power Systems." IEEE Transactions on Power Systems 28, no. 3:3065-3074. PNNL-SA-88935. doi:10.1109/TPWRS.2012.2236655
  • Mayhorn E.T., K. Kalsi, J. Lian, and M.A. Elizondo. 2013. "Model Predictive Control-based Optimal Coordination of Distributed Energy Resources." In 46th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS 2013), January 7-10, 2013, Wailea, Hawaii, 2237-2244. Piscataway, New Jersey:Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. PNNL-SA-88538. doi:10.1109/HICSS.2013.410
  • Mayhorn E.T., K. Kalsi, J. Lian, and M.A. Elizondo. 2013. "Model Predictive Control-based Optimal Coordination of Distributed Energy Resources." In 46th Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS), January 7-10, 2013, Maui, Hawaii, edited by RH Sprague, Jr., 2237-2244. Los Alamitos, California:IEEE Computer Society. PNNL-SA-92849. doi:10.1109/HICSS.2013.410
  • Zhang W., J. Lian, C. Chang, and K. Kalsi. 2013. "Aggregated Modeling and Control of Air Conditioning Loads for Demand Response." IEEE Transactions on Power Systems 28, no. 4:4655-4664. PNNL-SA-93151. doi:10.1109/TPWRS.2013.2266121

2012

  • Chassin D.P., and K. Kalsi. 2012. "Effects of Demand Response on Retail and Wholesale Power Markets." In IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting, July 22-26, 2012, San Diego, California, 1-7. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-84436. doi:10.1109/PESGM.2012.6345602
  • Elbert S.T., K. Kalsi, M. Vlachopoulou, M.J. Rice, K.R. Glaesemann, and N. Zhou. 2012. "Advanced Computational Methods for Security Constrained Financial Transmission Rights: Structure and Parallelism." In 8th Power Plant and Power Systems Control Symposium, September 2-5, 2012, Toulouse, France, edited by M Fadel and S Caux, 8, 506-511. Winterthur:International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC). PNNL-SA-84861. doi:10.3182/20120902-4-FR-2032.00089
  • Kalsi K., M.A. Elizondo, J.C. Fuller, S. Lu, and D.P. Chassin. 2012. "Development and Validation of Aggregated Models for Thermostatic Controlled Loads with Demand Response." In 45th Hawaii International Conference on System Science (HICSS 2012), January 4-7, 2012, Maui, Hawaii, 1959-1966. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-80670. doi:10.1109/HICSS.2012.212
  • Kalsi K., P. Du, and Z. Huang. 2012. "Model Calibration of Exciter and PSS Using Extended Kalman Filter." In IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting, July 22-26, 2012, San Diego, California, 1-6. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-84437. doi:10.1109/PESGM.2012.6345560
  • Kalsi K., S.T. Elbert, M. Vlachopoulou, N. Zhou, and Z. Huang. 2012. "Advanced Computational Methods for Security Constrained Financial Transmission Rights." In IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting, July 22-26, 2012, San Diego, California, 1-8. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-84434. doi:10.1109/PESGM.2012.6345577
  • Kalsi K., Y. Sun, Z. Huang, P. Du, R. Diao, K.K. Anderson, and Y. Li, et al. 2012. "Calibrating Multi-machine Power System Parameters with the Extended Kalman Filter." In 2011 IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting, July 24-28, 2011, Detroit, Michigan. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-76407. doi:10.1109/PES.2011.6039224
  • Lian J., L.D. Marinovici, K. Kalsi, P. Du, and M.A. Elizondo. 2012. "Distributed Hierarchical Control of Multi-Area Power Systems with Improved Primary Frequency Regulation." In Proceedings of the IEEE 51st Annual Conference on Decision and Control (CDC), December 10-13, 2012, Maui, Hawaii, 444-449. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-86253. doi:10.1109/CDC.2012.6426115
  • Mayhorn E.T., K. Kalsi, M.A. Elizondo, W. Zhang, S. Lu, N.A. Samaan, and K. Butler-Purry. 2012. "Optimal Control of Distributed Energy Resources using Model Predictive Control." In Proceedigns of the IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting, July 22-26, 2012, San Diego, California. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-84396. doi:10.1109/PESGM.2012.6345596
  • Vlachopoulou M., G. Chin, J.C. Fuller, S. Lu, and K. Kalsi. 2012. "Model for Aggregated Water Heater Load Using Dynamic Bayesian Networks." In Proceedings of the 2012 International Conference on Data Mining (DMIN 2012). WORLDCOMP '12, July 16-19, 2012, Las Vegas, Nevada, edited by R Stahlbock and GM Weiss, 17-23. Athens, Georgia:CSREA Press. PNNL-SA-86275.
  • Zhang W., J. Lian, C. Chang, K. Kalsi, and Y. Sun. 2012. "Reduced-Order Modeling of Aggregated Thermostatic Loads With Demand Response." In Proceedings of the IEEE 51st Annual Conference on Decision and Control (CDC), December 10-13, 2012, Maui, Hawaii, 5592-5597. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-86238. doi:10.1109/CDC.2012.6426010
  • Zhang W., K. Kalsi, J.C. Fuller, M.A. Elizondo, and D.P. Chassin. 2012. "Aggregate Model for Heterogeneous Thermostatically Controlled Loads with Demand Response." In IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting, July 22-26, 2012, San Diego, California, 1-8. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-84435. doi:10.1109/PESGM.2012.6345351

2011

  • Du P., Z. Huang, Y. Sun, R. Diao, K. Kalsi, K.K. Anderson, and Y. Li, et al. 2011. "Distributed Dynamic State Estimation with Extended Kalman Filter." In 43rd North American Power Symposium (NAPS 2011), August 4-6, 2011, Boston, Massachusetts. Piscataway, New Jersey:Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. PNNL-SA-79744. doi:10.1109/NAPS.2011.6024863
  • Kalsi K., F.S. Chassin, and D.P. Chassin. 2011. "Aggregated Modeling of Thermostatic Loads in Demand Response: A Systems and Control Perspective." In 50th IEEE Conference on Decision and Control and European Control Conference (CDC-ECC), December 12-15, 2011, Orlando, Florida, 15-20. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-78261. doi:10.1109/CDC.2011.6160448
  • Kalsi K., S. Hui, and S. Zak. 2011. "Unknown Input and Sensor Fault Estimation Using Sliding-Mode Observers." In American Control Conference (ACC 2011), June 29-July 1, 2011, San Francisco, California, 1364-1369. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-78003. doi:10.1109/ACC.2011.5990738
  • Lu S., M.A. Elizondo, N.A. Samaan, K. Kalsi, E.T. Mayhorn, R. Diao, and C. Jin, et al. 2011. "Control Strategies for Distributed Energy Resources to Maximize the Use of Wind Power in Rural Microgrids." In Proceedings of the IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting, July 24-29, 2011, Detroit, Michigan. Piscataway, New Jersey:Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. PNNL-SA-76607. doi:10.1109/PES.2011.6039787
  • Sun Y., P. Du, Z. Huang, K. Kalsi, R. Diao, K.K. Anderson, and Y. Li, et al. 2011. "PMU Placement for Dynamic State Tracking of Power Systems." In 43rd North American Power Symposium (NAPS 2011), August 4-6, 2011 Boston, Massachusetts. Piscataway, New Jersey:Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. PNNL-SA-79461. doi:10.1109/NAPS.2011.6024865

Energy and Environment

Core Research Areas

Contacts