Listen & collaborate
Work with communities, utilities, and policymakers to understand energy needs, priorities, and lived experiences.
University of Washington · IDEAS Research Lab
Energy systems
Built around people
Interdisciplinary Energy Analytics for Society
We bring engineering, policy, and community perspectives together to plan equitable, sustainable, and resilient energy systems.
Life at IDEAS · 01
The people behind IDEAS
Our doctoral researchers at the University of Washington.
Life at IDEAS · 02
Building community beyond the lab
Time together, shared laughter, and the connections that make IDEAS a community.
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Research grounded in the field
Eliane Nirere conducting a minigrid site visit.
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Research in conversation
IDEAS researchers at the 2025 UW ECE Research Showcase.
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Connecting across disciplines
The eGUIDE collaboration at its September 2024 retreat in Rochester, New York.
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IDEAS in The Integrator
Opening spread of the 2024 faculty feature. By Wayne Gillam / UW ECE; photo credit: Ryan Hoover, as printed.
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Learning through research
Sharing undergraduate research on energy equity during Summer 2024.
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Engineering + policy + community
Better energy systems begin with understanding people
Based at the University of Washington, IDEAS Research Lab works at the intersection of climate, energy, and development. We combine field measurements, energy systems modeling, and data science with community-engaged research to support decisions that reflect local needs.
Measure & model
Connect field data and participatory methods with energy systems analysis, optimization, and machine learning.
Inform decisions
Develop evidence and decision-support tools for reliable power, affordable energy services, and fairer transitions.
What we investigate
Four connected perspectives
01
Energy Planning & Development
Planning energy systems around development, equity, and community priorities.
02Energy Access
Reliable, affordable energy services, from unserved rural to underserved urban communities.
03Electrification & Emerging Technology
E-mobility, e-cooking, and AI & Computing for energy transitions.
04Power System Reliability & Resilience
Understanding climate risk, strengthening grids, and improving service quality.
From the lab & beyond
News, ideas & milestones
- Plenary panel
Beyond Vehicle Adoption: E-Mobility and Economic Transformation
June Lukuyu was a panelist in the SETI 2026 plenary, “Beyond Vehicle Adoption: Building the Evidence Base for E-Mobility as a Driver of Economic Transformation.” Co-led by Duke University’s Energy Access Project (EAP) and the Sustainable Energy Transitions Initiative (SETI), the session explored evidence priorities for policy, investment, and implementation, using Kenya’s e-mobility transition as a case study.
Duke Energy Access Project · SETI - Keynote & mentorship
Keynote and mentorship at Dartmouth’s New Energy Summer Summit
June Lukuyu served as a keynote speaker and mentor at Dartmouth’s 2026 New Energy Summer Summit in Hanover, New Hampshire. Hosted by the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy & Society, the summit brought together early-career energy and climate scholars to build interdisciplinary connections and collaboration.
Dartmouth · Irving Institute
- Project news
SEER receives Climate Change AI support
Rhiza Research and the University of Washington are featured in the Innovation Grants announcement for SEER, which aims to make power systems planning more accessible.
Climate Change AI - Research insight
When climate shocks collide with grid failure
June Lukuyu and Kwame Donkor co-authored a policy memo with Mohini Bariya and Genevieve Flaspohler, sharing early findings on climate risk and unequal electricity disruptions in Accra.
Energy for Growth Hub - Research insight
The hidden role of e-boiling in clean cooking
June Lukuyu and collaborators explain how electric kettles are already helping households in Nairobi’s informal settlements move toward cleaner cooking.
NextBillion
Research with communities
Let’s shape energy futures together
We collaborate across disciplines and with communities, public agencies, utilities, and research partners.