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WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT ...

Meaningful community engagement is essential for effective applied research, as communities have the best understanding of their own needs and priorities.

Reliable, accessible, and trustworthy data is essential for informed decision-making. Innovative technology can bridge gaps in data-scarce areas, addressing unique challenges effectively.

Collaborative applied research involving multidisciplinary academic and non-academic partnerships maximizes its relevance in addressing real-world problems.

It is crucial to consider how underserved communities impact and are impacted by our research approaches, and insights to ensure equity, justice, and inclusion

Solar Panels in Mountains
IDEAS lab logo

IDEAS for Community-Responsive Development-Centered Energy Systems

IDEAS research lab is part of the University of Washington's Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. We aim to advance sustainable, inclusive, equitable, and integrated energy systems development and planning. Our mission is to empower underserved communities and promote social development through innovative research at the intersection of climate, energy, and development and by producing and sharing data-driven insights.

Updates

October 2024

 

  • NEW PAPER ALERT! PI Lukuyu and co-authors Rebekah Shirley and Jay Taneja have published a new article: Managing grid impacts from increased electric vehicle adoption in African cities. Sci Rep 14, 24320 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-75039-3.

 

 

In this paper, we analyze the impacts of expanding electric vehicle fleets—private, commercial, and paratransit—on Nairobi’s power grid. We simulate traffic patterns, charging behaviors, and transformer utilization using local mobility data. Our results show that while electric commercial and paratransit fleets may improve power system efficiency, widespread private EV adoption could significantly strain the grid, increasing peak loads and transformer aging. Smart charging strategies could mitigate these issues, reducing potential transformer replacement costs by up to 40%. Our study highlights the importance of tailored demand management and infrastructure planning to support EV growth in African cities, providing critical insights for policymakers, utilities, and transport planners to facilitate sustainable electric mobility transitions.

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September 2024

 

  • We joined the eGUIDE network for an annual retreat in Rochester NY, which we kicked off with a visit to the Niagara Power Vista. Ahana and Kwame presented posters on their ongoing research.​

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  • PI Lukuyu attended several events during NYC Climate Week, including Climate Change AI and Google DeepMind’s event, AI for Climate Action: From Data to Impact. At this event, she delivered a lightning talk titled "Enabling Smart Grids for Climate Resilience & Adaptation in Africa" to showcase their CCAI-sponsored project, alongside a panel discussion featuring collaborator Genevieve Flasplohler.

 

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  • We are excited to welcome Aya Alayli to team!

August 2024

 

  • We had the pleasure of welcoming Biniyam Gebreyohannes, a fellow from the UW Clean Energy Bridge to Research Program (CEBR), and Lillian Nguyen, a Clean Energy Institute ALVA fellow, for their Summer Research Experience. Biniyam explored how weather patterns affect Minigrid electricity behavior, drawing insights from the Katiirwe solar Minigrid in Western Uganda. Meanwhile, Lillian investigated Climate and Energy Injustice, focusing on racial and income disparities in access to indoor comfort. They were mentored by Ahana, Kwame, and Miquilina.

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Biniyam Gebreyohannes

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Lillian Nguyá»…n

July 2024

 

  • Miquilina Anagbah kicks off data collection for the project: Multi-Stakeholder Perspectives of Electric Bus Service in Kigali, Rwanda. in collaboration with students from the University of Rwanda, College of Science and Technology.

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June 2024

 

  • We welcomed Miquilina Anagbah to our group!

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  • Congratulations to Ahana Mukherjee for receiving the UW CEI Graduate Fellowship!

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Team

Team

 DR. JUNE LUKUYU

Principal Investigator
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June is an Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the of Washington, with a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, an MSc. in Renewable Energy Systems Technology from Loughborough University, UK, and a BS in Engineering Science from Smith College. She is affiliated with the UW Clean Energy Institute, co-PI with the e-GUIDE initiative, fellow with the Energy for Growth Hub, and served on the board of Spark NorthWest.

ELIANE NIRERE
PHD Student

Eliane Nirere

Eliane earned her master's degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering with a specialization in Energy Systems from Carnegie Mellon University Africa. Her research focuses on the planning and implementation of technologies that enhance sustainable energy access in underserved communities.

AHANA MUKHERJEE
PHD Student

Ahana Mukherjee

Ahana has a bachelor's degree in Civil & Environmental Engineering from UCLA and a master's degree in Energy, Civil Infrastructure, and Climate from UC Berkeley. She has experience designing and implementing utility-scale battery energy storage systems and commercial solar and electric vehicle charging infrastructure. Her research interests include renewable energy power systems, electrification, energy access, and socially conscious equitable designs.

KWAME DONKOR
PHD Student

Kwame Donkor

Kwame is passionate about enhancing the reliability and sustainability of electrical grid systems through data analytics. He is excited about the possibilities of using data from grids and renewable energy sources to meet demand shortfalls and provide cheaper, better-quality electricity for underserved communities. Kwame has extensive experience in the electrical services and automation industry in Accra, Ghana, and is drawn to autonomous systems. In his free time, he enjoys the occasional Netflix binge, playing football (not the American one!), taking long walks, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with friends.

MIQUILINA ANAGBAH
PHD Student

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Miquilina's passion for clean energy access and mini-grid development is electrifying! With a strong foundation in power systems analysis, design, and operations, Miquilina aims to revolutionize how we think about electrification for sustainable development. She earned her Master's in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University Africa. Her research dives deep into mini-grid techno-economic analyses and grid integration studies and looks for new ways to push the boundaries of what's possible. Outside the lab, she loves studying new languages and playing the piano.

AYA ALAYLI
PHD Student

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Aya has a strong passion for grid planning, sustainable development, policy, and energy equity. She earned her Bachelor's from the Electrical and Computer Engineering department here at UW and has previous experience working within different aspects of the electric power industry. Her research interests center around community-led energy transitions, energy justice, and resiliency. Outside of the lab, Aya enjoys exploring Seattle, reading, and spending time outdoors

Research

current research
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Energizing Communities: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Sustainable Rural Electrification


Supported by UW Royalty Research Fund

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Multi-Stakeholder Perspectives of Electric Bus Service in Kigali, Rwanda


Supported by: BasiGo 

Collaborator: STIMA Lab, UMass Amherst

Centering community needs and local governance: An integrated approach to decentralized electrification in East Africa

Collaborators:  Elise Harrington, UMN ; Maria Nantongo, MUBS & Nicholas Mukisa, MUBS

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Investigating Barriers to Household Clean Energy Transitions in Informal Settlements in Nairobi

Supported by eGUIDE initiative


Collaborators: QSEL, Columbia University, Dr. Austine Otieno (Technical University of Kenya), Paul Kyoma (Makerere University)

Evaluating Community-based Approaches for Mini-Grid Demand Estimation in Fiji 


Collaborator: LEAPS, Arizona State University

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Publications

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLES

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CONFERENCE PAPERS

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REPORTS, MEMOS AND BLOG POSTS

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Journal articles
Conference papers

Media

MEDIA

Coffee Break Briefing with June Lukuyu: Guiding an EV Future in Africa

Coffee Briefing Energy for Growth Hub
CONTACT

PARTNERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS

Partnerships
CEI
e-GUIDE
Energy for Growth Hub
Spark Northwest
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