Ana Dyreson, PhD

PhD, Mechanical Engineering, University of Wisconsin–Madison
MS, Mechanical Engineering Northern Arizona University
BS, Engineering Mechanics, University of Wisconsin–Madison



Biography
Dr. Dyreson leads the Great Lakes Energy Group, where she uses energy analysis and grid-scale modeling to study the performance of renewable technologies and the operation of future electric power systems, with a focus on the impacts of climate change on those systems in the U.S. Great Lakes region. Her research links power plant-level thermodynamic models, climate models, hydrology models, and electricity grid operation models to understand how weather and climate change impact future power systems, both as individual components (i.e. snow shedding off of solar panels) and as a whole (balancing hourly grid operations during a heat wave). Dr. Dyreson is passionate about teaching and improving the diversity of Mechanical Engineering as a discipline. Dr. Dyreson has a background in solar energy (PhD Mechanical Engineering, 2018, University of Wisconsin–Madison and MS Mechanical Engineering, 2014, Northern Arizona University) and electricity grid modeling (Post-doctoral researcher 2018-2020, Grid Systems, National Renewable Energy Laboratory). Dr. Dyreson holds a BS in Engineering Mechanics from University of Wisconsin–Madison as a registered Professional Engineer (Wisconsin).



Seeking PhD Student Interested in Climate Change Impacts on Electrical Power Systems
This is a PhD-funded student position in mechanical engineering-engineering mechanics.




Learn More and Apply



 



Links of Interest

Faculty Webpage
Multi-Sector Dynamics Community of Practice Working Group
Great Lakes Research Center
Ecosystem Science Center
Institute of Computing and Cybersystems
Tech Forward Initiative on Sustainability and Resilience at MTU

Areas of Expertise

Solar photovoltaic and thermal power plants
Electricity grid operational modeling
Energy-water nexus



Research Interests

Grid integration under high penetrations of wind and solar energy
Drought and heat impacts on power systems
Thermal power plant modeling
Hybrid power plant value propositions
Electricity load modeling