Dr Julio Braslavsky
Principal Research Scientist, CSIRO
Dr Julio H. Braslavsky is a principal research scientist specialised in mathematical modelling, analysis and control of dynamic systems. His research applies theoretical and numerical methods to optimise the integration of renewable electricity generation and energy storage in low-voltage electricity grids.
Electricity grids are experiencing an unprecedented transformation being driven by technological advances in wind and solar electricity generation and storage. While these emerging technologies and associated services are key for a low emission economy, the rapid growth of their share in the energy mix may introduce serious power security and reliability problems in legacy grid-control mechanisms.
Dr Braslavsky investigates strategies for an efficient transition to safer, more secure and reliable low emission electricity in the future. He currently leads the research and knowledge sharing activities for the $2.11m ARENA project Advanced VPP (Virtual Power Plant) Grid Integration in partnership with SA Power Networks and Tesla Motors Australia. This project aims to show how higher levels of energy exports to the grid from customer solar and battery systems can be enabled through dynamic, rather than fixed, export limits, and to test the value this can create for customers and VPP operators. He also leads research and knowledge sharing activities for the project Advanced Voltage Control, led by SA Power Networks in partnership with the CSIRO and Future Grid, with funding from the South Australian Demand Management Trials Program. The expected total project value is $1.95m.
Prior to joining CSIRO in 2010, Dr Braslavsky was a research academic with the University of Newcastle, Australia, and held research appointments with the National Research Council of Argentina, the University of California at Santa Barbara, and the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium.
Dr Braslavsky has published one scholarly book, two scholarly book chapters, and more than 100 papers in scientific journals and conferences. He is internationally recognised for his work on the modelling and control of ensembles of flexible electric loads, the stabilisation of feedback systems over communication channels, and the analysis of fundamental limitations in filtering and control design.