Avangrid and Clarkson University Expand Partnership to Advance Grid Innovation and Energy Resilience
Avangrid, a leading sustainable energy company and member of the Iberdrola Group, has reaffirmed and expanded its long-term research collaboration with Clarkson University to support the modernization of electric grid infrastructure and accelerate the transition toward a cleaner, more resilient energy system. The partnership, centered in Potsdam, New York, reflects a growing commitment among utilities, universities, and public agencies to address the rapidly evolving challenges facing power systems as electrification, renewable energy integration, and energy storage adoption continue to expand across the United States.
The joint research initiative focuses on three strategic areas that are increasingly critical to the future of electricity delivery: improving grid capacity planning, advancing electric vehicle charging integration, and optimizing battery energy storage systems. Through practical and data-driven research, the collaboration aims to deliver solutions that utilities can implement in real-world operations to improve reliability, increase flexibility, and reduce long-term costs for customers.
According to Avangrid leadership, partnerships with academic institutions such as Clarkson University are essential for transforming advanced technical research into actionable solutions that can strengthen the electric grid while supporting state and national decarbonization goals.
José Antonio Miranda, Chief Executive Officer of Avangrid, emphasized the importance of collaborative innovation in shaping the future of New York’s energy landscape. He noted that strong partnerships between utilities, academic institutions, and regulatory organizations are necessary to ensure that the grid can meet growing energy demands while remaining reliable and cost-effective.
Miranda explained that the collaboration with Clarkson University represents one of several important statewide initiatives designed to turn research breakthroughs into practical technologies and operational strategies. These efforts are intended to enhance electric grid reliability, improve infrastructure planning, and provide communities with smarter and more affordable energy solutions as the pace of electrification accelerates.
The research program is led by Dr. Leo Y. Jiang, associate professor and director of the Center for Electric Power System Research at Clarkson University. Under his leadership, the university’s engineering and energy researchers are working closely with utility experts and public-sector stakeholders to develop analytical tools, modeling techniques, and planning strategies that address emerging grid challenges.
The initiative also receives support from major energy organizations including the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA). Their involvement highlights the broad industry and institutional collaboration needed to modernize the electric system in one of the nation’s largest and most complex energy markets.
One of the primary research areas under the partnership is grid capacity analysis. As electricity demand increases due to electrification trends such as electric vehicles, heat pumps, distributed energy resources, and industrial decarbonization, utilities face growing pressure to determine where grid upgrades are needed most urgently. Traditional planning methods often struggle to keep pace with the dynamic changes occurring across modern energy systems.
The Clarkson research team is helping Avangrid develop more sophisticated approaches to analyzing grid capacity by leveraging real operational data and advanced modeling techniques. The project aims to identify when and where infrastructure investments will provide the highest value, allowing utilities to prioritize upgrades more effectively.
By improving visibility into grid constraints and future load growth, the research supports smarter infrastructure planning decisions that can reduce unnecessary spending while improving system reliability. Better planning also helps utilities accelerate customer interconnections and reduce delays associated with expanding electricity demand.
The grid capacity research is particularly important as states like New York continue pursuing aggressive clean energy and electrification targets. Increasing reliance on renewable energy sources and electrified transportation systems requires utilities to manage more variable power flows and greater overall electricity consumption. Advanced grid analysis tools can help utilities adapt to these changes more efficiently.
Another key component of the partnership focuses on electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The rapid growth of EV adoption is creating new demands on electric utilities as charging stations become more widespread in residential, commercial, and public settings.
Understanding how drivers actually charge their vehicles is essential for designing charging networks that are both reliable and cost-effective. Clarkson researchers are analyzing real-world charging behavior patterns to provide utilities with more accurate information regarding charging demand, timing, and usage characteristics.
The findings from this research can help utilities improve the design and sizing of EV charging infrastructure while supporting smoother integration with the electric grid. More accurate planning reduces the risk of overbuilding or underbuilding charging capacity, which can save costs for utilities and consumers alike.
The research also aims to streamline the interconnection process for EV chargers. Faster and more efficient interconnections can accelerate the deployment of charging stations, supporting broader transportation electrification efforts while minimizing delays for developers and customers.
As EV adoption continues rising nationwide, utilities increasingly need sophisticated planning tools to manage charging demand without compromising grid stability. Smart charging strategies and better infrastructure planning are expected to play a major role in balancing electricity demand while supporting clean transportation goals.
The third major research focus involves battery energy storage systems, which are becoming an increasingly important component of modern power grids. Energy storage technologies can provide a wide range of benefits, including improving grid reliability, balancing renewable energy generation, reducing congestion, and supporting emergency backup power.
Clarkson researchers are evaluating the multiple value streams associated with battery energy storage deployment. Rather than viewing batteries solely as backup systems, the research examines how storage assets can provide broader operational and economic benefits across the electric system.
The analysis helps Avangrid determine where battery systems can deliver the greatest value and how they can be deployed in ways that improve grid flexibility while controlling customer costs. By identifying the most beneficial use cases for storage technologies, utilities can make more informed investment decisions that maximize both reliability and economic performance.
Battery storage is expected to become increasingly essential as renewable energy penetration expands. Solar and wind resources generate electricity intermittently, making storage systems critical for balancing supply and demand during periods of fluctuating generation. Advanced storage planning can therefore support greater renewable integration while maintaining grid stability.
Dr. Leo Jiang highlighted the educational and workforce development benefits created through the partnership between Clarkson University and Avangrid. He explained that the collaboration has significantly enhanced both research opportunities and hands-on engineering education for students studying electric power systems and energy technologies.
Through participation in real-world projects, Clarkson students gain practical experience solving complex grid modernization challenges and developing solutions that can be directly applied within the energy industry. This experiential learning approach strengthens the university’s engineering curriculum while preparing graduates for careers in the rapidly evolving energy sector.
Jiang noted that engineering practice has become fully integrated into Clarkson’s power engineering programs, allowing students to work on issues directly related to grid transition, electrification, and decarbonization. These experiences help equip future engineers with the technical expertise and problem-solving skills needed to support next-generation energy infrastructure.
He also emphasized that industry collaborations play a crucial role in accelerating innovation while simultaneously building the workforce required for the future energy economy. Partnerships between universities and utilities provide students with exposure to emerging technologies, operational challenges, and evolving market needs that cannot always be replicated in a traditional classroom environment.
The continued collaboration between Avangrid and Clarkson University reflects a broader trend across the energy sector in which utilities are increasingly partnering with academic institutions to address technological, operational, and regulatory challenges associated with the clean energy transition.
As electricity systems become more decentralized, digitized, and interconnected, research partnerships are expected to play a growing role in developing the analytical tools and operational strategies needed to maintain reliability while supporting decarbonization goals. Initiatives focused on grid modernization, EV integration, and energy storage are likely to remain central priorities for utilities, regulators, and policymakers throughout the coming decade.
By combining utility expertise, academic research capabilities, and public-sector collaboration, the Avangrid-Clarkson partnership aims to create scalable solutions that strengthen electric infrastructure, support clean energy growth, and prepare the grid for the increasing demands of a more electrified future.
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