Value in Energy Data #9: Dr. Zoya Pourmirza - Challenges of Digitalisation in Smart Energy Systems

"Value in Energy Data" is a series of seminars hosted by the Data Systems team at Energy Systems Catapult.

ABSTRACT
The UK net zero target proposes to reduce 100% of the UK greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 (compared to 1990 levels), and digital technologies will play an important role to achieve this target.

Digitalisation supports decentralisation and decarbonisation of energy systems by enabling more penetration of distributed energy resources, and allowing services such as flexibility services, Demand Side Respond (DSR), and enhanced energy management. Apart from benefits of digital energy sector, we are also facing some technical challenges such as Data (including missing data and efficient data communication), and Cyber Security issues which will be presented in this webinar.

This talk on the 27th April 2022 will summarise the outputs, which have been achieved through a number of projects we have carried out in Newcastle University. These projects are specifically focused on energy systems digitalisation, the opportunities they offer, as well as the challenges they may encounter, and solutions to tackle these challenges.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Pourmirza is the lead of the Security and Resilience theme at the Centre for Energy at Newcastle. She works with the National Centre for Energy Systems Integration (CESI) and Active Building Centre (ABC), investigating energy systems digitalisation with a focus on ICT design, data communication efficiency, and cybersecurity.

She was involved in the UKRI Research and Innovation Infrastructure Roadmap (UKRI-RIIR) as the lead researcher to identify the current landscape and future key research infrastructure for the energy sector, to inform policymakers in order to meet the UK Government 2050 carbon targets. In 2020, she served as a policy advisor for DfT and BEIS working on a cybersecurity framework for EV charge points, to inform policy and relevant standards and regulatory approaches.

Currently, Dr. Pourmirza is the Principal Investigator (PI) for the “Energy Systems Digitalisation” project working with international partners, and the PI for the EPSRC IAA project “Digitalisation and Digital Twining of Energy Systems” collaborating with Energy Systems Catapult.