High-Performance Computational Methods to Improve the Functioning of Energy Markets

You are cordially invited to attend the PhD Dissertation Defence of Timothy Andrew Bjustrom Holt on Wednesday 20 March 2024 at 16:30 in room D0.02

Abstract:
This thesis delves into the enhancement of energy markets through the application of high-performance computational methods. The overarching objective is to bolster the efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of the computational methods that are used to analyze and operate these markets through both applied industrial and fundamental academic contributions. The work is presented through four interconnected chapters that underscore the vital role of high-performance computing in reshaping the energy landscape. Through: massively parallel deployment of power market optimization models on many-core HPC clusters; modeling techniques to improve performance and accuracy of power market optimization models; a data-driven refinement approach to power generation unit commitment; and computational techniques to scalably identify pricing cycles in retail gasoline markets, this work advances energy market analysis tools in terms of efficiency, scalability, and usefulness.

Dissertation Committee:
- Prof. Olaf Schenk, Università della Svizzera italiana, Switzerland (Research Advisor)
- Prof. Igor Pivkin, Università della Svizzera italiana, Switzerland (Research co-Advisor)
- Prof. Ernst Wit, Università della Svizzera italiana, Switzerland (Internal Member)
- Prof. Stefan Wolf, Università della Svizzera italiana, Switzerland (Internal Member)
- Prof. Slaven Peles, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, United States (External Member)
- Prof. Simon Scheidegger, University of Lausanne, HEC Lausanne, Switzerland (External Member)