Divan Appointed to Department of Energy Electrical Advisory Committee

Deepakraj Divan has been appointed to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Electricity Advisory Committee (EAC) by U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm. Divan is a professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and the Center for Distributed Energy.The EAC was established to enhance leadership in electricity delivery modernization and provide senior-level counsel to the DOE on ways in which the nation can meet many of the challenges associated with the rapidly unfolding energy transition.

The group reports to the DOE’s Assistant Secretary for Electricity and consists of 40 members representing a cross-section of energy stakeholders, including from utilities, industry, regional entities, industry, cyber security experts, natural gas sector and others.

Divan is the sole representative from academia and advanced research on the EAC.

“I am honored by this appointment to the EAC and look forward to providing inputs to ensure that the U.S.takes a holistic view on the highly disruptive energy transition, one that provides abundant, economical and equitable energy to meet our near-term and long-term energy needs, but where our sustainability and climate goals are also met,” Divan said. “Rapid development, deployment and scaling of globally competitive new technologies are a key element of this. I look forward to working with the DOE and other EAC members on these critical issues over the next two years.”

During his two-year term, Divan will advise the DOE on key issues related to current and future electric grid resilience, security, reliability, sector interdependence, and policy issues of concern.

The EAC periodically reviews and makes recommendations on DOE electric grid-related programs and initiatives, including electricity-related research and development programs and modeling efforts. The committee also helps to identify emerging issues, address the growing interdependence of and risk to critical and defense critical electric infrastructure, and help ensure national policy and programs are aligned to manage and prosper from the ongoing energy transition.

Divan is highly-respected for his expertise, having been active in grid related research and entrepreneurship for over 40 years. He is well-recognized in the field, including as a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, the National Academy of Engineering’s Transformative Science & Technology Committee, a past member of the NASEM Board on Energy and Environmental Systems, the 2021 NASEM Committee on the Future of Electric Power in the US, and is the recipient of the 2024 IEEE Power Engineering Medal.

His research focuses on advanced power electronics and grid related research, and the acceleration of deep-tech to market, especially in grid related areas.

He is also the coauthor of a new book – ‘Energy 2040: Aligning Innovation, Economics and Decarbonization’ by Divan and Sharma, that provides a holistic view of the energy transition, identifies major challenges (especially with the grid), and shows a path forward.