ABOUT US
At the Power Engineering Laboratory (PEng Lab), our research addresses the critical intersection of renewable energy integration and grid resilience, contributing to the technological and policy interventions necessary for robust prosumer participation in future distribution systems—the epicentres of the grid-edge revolution. We are committed to developing best practices in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing, recognising that these principles are essential for aligning corporate profitability with societal acceptance.
Our mission is to build a sustainable and inclusive prosumer-centric grid while ensuring that community perspectives are integral to our resilience studies. This raises an important question: what best practices can we establish for various stakeholders—utilities and prosumers alike—in the future grid? By engaging with these stakeholders, we aim to identify vulnerabilities and risks that affect both corporate performance and public trust, ultimately fostering a balance between engineering efficiency, corporate profit, and social responsibility. At PEng Lab, we are dedicated to pioneering research that not only advances technological solutions but also cultivates a resilient energy ecosystem that serves both business objectives and the public good.
Group gathering, 23 May 2023
LATEST NEWS
[03.09.2024] Extending on our PNAS Research in Identifying Mental Wellbeing in Working from Home
[31.07.2024] Latest Nature Communications Research on Social Factors Shaping Community Grids
[12.08.2022] Latest Scientific Reports Article Indicates Importance of Stability Buffer using Renewables
[09.06.2022] Latest Nature Communications Research on Flood Resilience of Public EV Chargers
[19.10.2021] Our Group was Interviewed by TODAY on Recent Singaporean Electricity Consumptions
[24.08.2021] Latest PNAS Research Indicates Singaporeans are Proactive to COVID-19 Progression
RESEARCH FOCUS
Grid Stability and Control: As we embark on the critical journey toward sustainable energy, the integration of power-electronic DC/AC converters—commonly known as inverters—has become indispensable. These sophisticated devices serve as the vital link between renewable energy sources and the existing AC power grid, varying in scale from residential installations to expansive utility-scale projects. This paradigm shift from traditional energy systems to inverter-based solutions is revolutionising grid operations. Historically, power grids relied on a limited number of spinning electromechanical machines, but the increasing deployment of power electronic inverters signifies a transformative change in disturbance management.
With the reduction of grid inertia, there is a compelling consensus within the energy sector on the necessity for inverter-based resources (IBRs) to undertake essential functions such as frequency regulation, voltage stabilisation, and inertial response during disturbances. These IBRs, known as grid-forming (GFM) inverters, are being integrated into grids worldwide, significantly enhancing stability and reliability. However, the rising number of GFM inverters can lead to intricate interactions that may introduce instability if not effectively coordinated. Research at PEng Lab is dedicated to unraveling these complexities and developing innovative strategies for seamless coordination among GFM inverters. By tackling these challenges head-on, we can forge a more stable and resilient power grid that fully harnesses the immense potential of renewable energy sources for a sustainable future.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG): Grid resilience refers to the ability of the power grid to minimise the consequences of disruptions, including operational uncertainties stemming from new technologies, prosumer behaviours, and malicious attacks on system integrity. This resilience challenge is compounded by the large-scale integration of IBRs and an increasing reliance on communication infrastructure, alongside the growing participation of prosumers—individuals who both produce and consume energy—in grid operations. While the dependence on communication networks raises significant concerns about cyber-physical resilience, our research has uniquely demonstrated that prosumer engagement can also be vulnerable to behavioural manipulation attacks via social media, introducing a new layer of risk to modern power grids.
We are pioneers in merging computational social science with power system analysis, effectively closing the loop between cyber-physical systems and the users who interact with them. I refer to this approach as society-in-the-loop analysis of power systems. This innovative framework has revealed previously unknown mechanisms through which targeted manipulation of end-user behavior can undermine grid resilience. Additionally, it has shown how grid data can serve as a valuable indicator of social behavior during unprecedented disruptive events, such as a pandemic.
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
We have shown that an adversary can trigger city-scale blackouts not by tampering with hardware or hacking into power grid control systems, but by manipulating consumer behavior. This groundbreaking study highlights that in an age where disinformation can be weaponized, vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure extend beyond hardware and software. Instead, they also stem from the actions and decisions of consumers. By focusing on behavioural manipulation, we reveal a crucial dimension of risk that must be addressed to enhance the resilience of our power systems.
Small-signal instability in interconnected inverter-based resources under droop control arises from two primary phenomena: P-V/Q-f cross coupling and line dynamics. These factors lead to unstable power sharing within an inverter-dominant grid. In this research, we developed a general formula-based lead compensator designed to mitigate the distribution system's lag. This method requires no additional hardware investment and significantly expands the stability region, enhancing overall grid performance.
Group gathering, 30 August 2019