PNNL

Dr. Abhishek Somani received Ph.D. in Economics from Iowa State University with specialization in the analysis of electric power systems. He is currently a senior economist, and team leader at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and is the PNNL’s lab lead for the Net Zero World Initiative. His research interests include design and analysis of electric power markets, both in USA and internationally.  Over the years, Dr. Somani has developed tools, models, and methodologies for economic valuation of energy systems and technologies, such as batteries, based on prevailing regulatory, policy, and market conditions. He has also developed methods to analyze new market designs and contracting mechanisms for fair compensation of emerging power grid technologies. Dr. Somani is involved in the DOE’s HydroWIRES initiative, which is investigating role of hydropower in ensuring reliable and resilient operations of the power systems. 

• Doctor of Philosophy, Economics, Iowa State University
• Bachelor of Science, Computer Engineering, Iowa State University

• U.S. Patent No. 11,451,061, September 20, 2022, "RECONFIGURATION OF POWER GRIDS DURING ABNORMAL CONDITIONS USING RECLOSERS AND DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES".
• U.S. Patent No. 10,498,141, December 3, 2019, "DISTRIBUTED HIERARCHICAL CONTROL ARCHITECTURE FOR INTEGRATING SMART GRID ASSETS DURING NORMAL AND DISRUPTED OPERATIONS".
• U.S. Patent No. 9,762,060, September 12, 2017, "DISTRIBUTED HIERARCHICAL CONTROL ARCHITECTURE FOR INTEGRATING SMART GRID ASSETS DURING NORMAL AND DISRUPTED OPERATIONS".

2023

• Kincic S., N.A. Samaan, S. Datta, A. Somani, H. Yuan, J. Tan, and R. Bhattarai, et al. 2023. Hydropower Modeling Gaps in Planning and Operational Studies. PNNL-33836. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Hydropower Modeling Gaps in Planning and Operational Studies

2022

• Bhatnagar D., D.S. Boff, J.B. Twitchell, J.C. Bedoya Ceballos, and A. Somani. 2022. Compensation for Long-Duration Energy Storage. PNNL-32978. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Compensation for Long-Duration Energy Storage
• Boff D.S., S. Ganguli, and A. Somani. 2022. Understanding the Behavioral Aspects of Rate Design. PNNL-33384. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Understanding the Behavioral Aspects of Rate Design
• Chalishazar V.H., R.A. Harnish, D. Bhatnagar, A. Somani, and B.J. Bellgraph. 2022. "Hydro-battery Hybrids - A Case for Holistic Assessment of Hybrid Energy Systems." In IEEE Electrical Energy Storage Application and Technologies Conference (EESAT 2022), November 8-9, 2022, Austin, TX, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-174725. doi:10.1109/EESAT55007.2022.9998036
• Datta S., A. Somani, M.E. Alam, X. Sun, V. Fotedar, and A. Banicki. 2022. "Changes in Hydropower Resource Operations Following Participation in the CAISO Energy Imbalance Market - A Case Study." In IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM 2022), July 17-21, 2022, Denver, CO, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-168520. doi:10.1109/PESGM48719.2022.9916782
• Ganguli S., A. Somani, and T.D. Hardy. 2022. "Allocation Mechanisms in Rationed Markets." In 2020 IEEE PES Transactive Energy Systems Conference (TESC), 1 - 5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-156081. doi:10.1109/TESC50295.2020.9656939
• Maloney P.R., S. Bhattacharya, X. Ke, A. Venkatraman, A. Somani, and D. Bhatnagar. 2022. "Capacity Expansion Planning for LA Basin: the Role of Energy Storage." In IEEE Electrical Energy Storage Application and Technologies Conference (EESAT 2022), November 8-9, 2022, Austin, TX, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-174795. doi:10.1109/EESAT55007.2022.9998038
• Nguyen Q.H., A. Singhal, R.S. O'Neil, J.D. Taft, J.B. Twitchell, and A. Somani. 2022. "Analysis of Distributed Energy Storage as a Core Grid Infrastructure via Production Cost Modeling." In IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM 2022), July 17-21, 2022, Denver, CO, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-168724. doi:10.1109/PESGM48719.2022.9917218
• Pressburger L.D., M. Evans, S. Yu, Y. Cui, A. Somani, and G.C. Iyer. 2022. A Comprehensive Economic Coal Transition in South Asia. PNNL-32383. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. A Comprehensive Economic Coal Transition in South Asia
• Ramachandran T., S. Bhattacharya, A. Somani, and D.J. Hammerstrom. 2022. "Impacts of Energy Flexibility in Transactive Energy Systems with Large Scale Renewable Generation." IEEE Access 10. PNNL-SA-167947. doi:10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3148685

2021

• Alam M., M.E. Alam, A. Somani, R.B. Melton, W. Tushar, F. Bai, and R. Yan, et al. 2021. "Evaluating the Feasibility of Transactive Approach for Voltage Management Using Inverters of a PV Plant." Applied Energy 291. PNNL-SA-152961. doi:10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.116844
• Bellgraph B.J., T.C. Douville, A. Somani, K.R. DeSomber, R.S. O'Neil, R.A. Harnish, and J.D. Lessick, et al. 2021. Deployment of Energy Storage to Improve Environmental Outcomes of Hydropower. PNNL-SA-157672. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Deployment of Energy Storage to Improve Environmental Outcomes of Hydropower
• Ham K.D., C.R. Eppinger, D.E. Thorsen, C. Powell, P.A. Boyd, A. Somani, and M. Ingram, et al. 2021. Hydropower Cyber-Physical Configurations. PNNL-31483. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Hydropower Cyber-Physical Configurations
• McDermott T.E., T.D. Hardy, A. Somani, S.R. Bender, and M.L. Madison. 2021. "Transactive Energy Rationing in an Islanded Electric Power System." In IEEE Green Technologies Conference (GreenTech 2021), April 7-9, 2021, Denver, CO, 323 - 330. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-158444. doi:10.1109/GreenTech48523.2021.00059
• Somani A., S. Datta, S. Kincic, V.H. Chalishazar, B. Vyakaranam, N.A. Samaan, and A. Colotelo, et al. 2021. Hydropower's Contributions to Grid Reliability and Resilience. PNNL-30554. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Hydropower's Contributions to Grid Reliability and Resilience

2020

• Agrawal U., J.G. O'Brien, A. Somani, T. Mosier, and J.E. Dagle. 2020. "A Study of the Impact of Reduced Inertia in Power Systems." In Proceedings of the 53rd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences (HICSS 2020), January 7-10, 2020, Maui, Hawaii, 3010-3017. Honolulu, Hawaii:University of Hawaii. PNNL-SA-144551. doi:10.24251/HICSS.2020.367

2019

• Balducci P.J., K. Mongird, A. Somani, D. Wu, Y. Yuan, R. Fan, and M.E. Alam, et al. 2019. Shell Energy North America's Hydro Battery System: Final Market Assessment Report. PNNL-27620. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Shell Energy North America's Hydro Battery System: Final Market Assessment Report
• Bhattarai B.P., M.E. Alam, J. Hansen, K.P. Schneider, N. Radhakrishnan, A. Somani, and W. Du. 2019. "Enhancing Distribution System Resiliency through a Novel Transactive Energy Systems Framework." In Proceedings of the IEEE Power and Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM 2019), August 4-8, 2019, Atlanta, GA. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-139460. doi:10.1109/PESGM40551.2019.8973466
• Miller L.E., Y.V. Makarov, M.R. Weimar, P.V. Etingov, and A. Somani. 2019. Solar-Centered Grid Project Final Technical Report. PNNL-28394. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Solar-Centered Grid Project Final Technical Report
• Reiman A.P., A. Somani, M.E. Alam, P. Wang, D. Wu, and K. Kalsi. 2019. "Power Factor Correction in Feeders with Distributed Photovoltaics Using Residential Appliances as Virtual Batteries." IEEE Access 7. PNNL-SA-142759. doi:10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2928568
• Touhiduzzaman M., S.G. Gourisetti, C.R. Eppinger, and A. Somani. 2019. "A Review of Cybersecurity Risk and Consequences for Critical Infrastructure." In IEEE Resilience Week (RWS 2019), November 4-7, 2019, San Antonio, TX, 7-13. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-144888. doi:10.1109/RWS47064.2019.8971975

2018

• Alam M.E., A. Somani, R.B. Melton, and T.E. McDermott. 2018. Transactive Approach for Engaging Distribution Network Assets for Voltage Management in Southern California Edison Distribution Feeders. PNNL-27650. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Transactive Approach for Engaging Distribution Network Assets for Voltage Management in Southern California Edison Distribution Feeders
• Ganguli S., A. Somani, R.K. Motkuri, and C.N. Bloyd. 2018. India Alternative Fuel Infrastructure: The Potential for Second-generation Biofuel Technology. PNNL-28283. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. India Alternative Fuel Infrastructure: The Potential for Second-generation Biofuel Technology
• Orrell A.C., J.S. Homer, D.C. Preziuso, and A. Somani. 2018. Illinois Distributed Generation Rebate Calculation Considerations. PNNL-27569. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Illinois Distributed Generation Rebate Calculation Considerations
• Weimar M.R., A. Somani, P.V. Etingov, L.E. Miller, Y.V. Makarov, C. Loutan, and W. Katzenstein. 2018. "Benefit Cost Analysis of Improved Forecasting for Day-Ahead Hourly Regulation Requirements." In IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting (PESGM 2018), August 5-10, 2018, Portland, OR, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-130142. doi:10.1109/PESGM.2018.8586106
• Weimar M.R., D.M. Anderson, B.S. Kravitz, R.T. Dahowski, S.A. Brown, J.M. Niemeyer, and A. Somani, et al. 2018. Methodology for Valuing Resilience to Severe Events for Department of Energy Sites. PNNL-27257. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Methodology for Valuing Resilience to Severe Events for Department of Energy Sites

2017

• Balducci P.J., M.E. Alam, V.V. Viswanathan, D. Wu, A.J. Crawford, K. Mongird, and M.R. Weimar, et al. 2017. "An Economic Assessment of Portland General Electric's Salem Smart Power Center Energy Storage System." In Electrical Energy Storage Applications and Technologies (EESAT 2017), October 11-13, 2017, San Diego, CA. Albuquerque, New Mexico:Sandia National Laboratories. PNNL-SA-129062.
• Balducci P.J., M.E. Alam, V.V. Viswanathan, D. Wu, A.J. Crawford, K. Mongird, and M.R. Weimar, et al. 2017. The Salem Smart Power Center: An Assessment of Battery Performance and Economic Potential. PNNL-26858. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. doi:10.2172/1406263.The Salem Smart Power Center: An Assessment of Battery Performance and Economic Potential

2016

• Hammerstrom D.J., C.D. Corbin, N. Fernandez, J.S. Homer, A. Makhmalbaf, R.G. Pratt, and A. Somani, et al. 2016. Valuation of Transactive Systems. PNNL-25323. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Valuation of Transactive Systems

2015

• Hao H., A. Somani, J. Lian, and T.E. Carroll. 2015. "Generalized Aggregation and Coordination of Residential Loads in a Smart Community." In IEEE International Conference on Smart Grid Communications (SmartGridComm 2015), November 2-5, 2015, Miami, Florida, 67-72. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-110406. doi:10.1109/SmartGridComm.2015.7436278
• Hao H., Y. Sun, T.E. Carroll, and A. Somani. 2015. "A Distributed Cooperative Power Allocation Method for Campus Buildings." In IEEE Power & Energy Society General Meeting, July 26-20, 2015, Denver, Colorado, 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-106776. doi:10.1109/PESGM.2015.7286240
• Sun Y., A. Somani, and T.E. Carroll. 2015. "Learning Based Bidding Strategy for HVAC Systems in Double Auction Retail Energy Markets." In Proceedings of the American Control Conference (ACC), July 1-3, 2015, Chicago, Illinois, 2912-2917. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-103474. doi:10.1109/ACC.2015.7171177

2014

• Melton R.B., A. Somani, and S.A. Kowalski. 2014. Transactive Energy Framework Workshop Proceedings, September 10-11, 2014 Folsom, CA. Richland, Washington:GridWise Architecture Council / Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. PNNL-SA-107083.
• Melton R.B., M. Knight, A. Somani, and A.C. Steckley. 2014. Transactive Energy Framework 4th Transactive Energy Workshop Proceedings, December 10-11, 2013, Westminster, California. Washington Dc:U.S. Department of Energy. PNNL-SA-102099.
• Somasundaram S., R.G. Pratt, B.A. Akyol, N. Fernandez, N. Foster, S. Katipamula, and E.T. Mayhorn, et al. 2014. Transaction-Based Building Controls Framework, Volume 1: Reference Guide. PNNL-23302. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Transaction-Based Building Controls Framework, Volume 1: Reference Guide
• Widergren S.E., J.C. Fuller, M.C. Marinovici, and A. Somani. 2014. "Residential Transactive Control Demonstration." In Proceedings of 2014 Innovative Smart Grid Technology Meet (ISGT), 1-5. Piscataway, New Jersey:Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. PNNL-SA-98353. doi:10.1109/ISGT.2014.6816405
• Widergren S.E., K. Subbarao, J.C. Fuller, D.P. Chassin, A. Somani, M.C. Marinovici, and J.L. Hammerstrom. 2014. AEP Ohio gridSMART Demonstration Project Real-Time Pricing Demonstration Analysis. PNNL-23192. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. AEP Ohio gridSMART Demonstration Project Real-Time Pricing Demonstration Analysis
• Widergren S.E., M.C. Marinovici, J.C. Fuller, K. Subbarao, D.P. Chassin, and A. Somani. 2014. "Customer Engagement in AEP gridSMART Residential Transactive System." In Transactive Energy Framework Workshop Proceedings, September 10-11, 2014 Folsom, California. Richland, Washington:GridWise Architecture Council. PNNL-SA-107064.

2013

• Melton R.B., A.C. Steckley, and A. Somani. 2013. First International Transactive Energy Conference and Workshop Proceedings 2013: Implementing the Future of the Electrical System, May 23-24, 2013, Portland, Oregon. Richland, Washington:GridWise Architecture Council / Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. PNNL-SA-96361.
• Subbarao K., J.C. Fuller, K. Kalsi, A. Somani, R.G. Pratt, S.E. Widergren, and D.P. Chassin. 2013. Transactive Control and Coordination of Distributed Assets for Ancillary Services. PNNL-22942. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Transactive Control and Coordination of Distributed Assets for Ancillary Services