Smith Institute Wins OR Society’s President’s Medal

 The President's Medal recognises our work on the pioneering Dynamic Reserve Setting (DRS) project, developed in partnership with The Electricity System Operator (ESO). By applying advanced operational research (OR) and explainable AI, our model can help control room engineers balance efficiency, security, and cost in our rapidly evolving energy landscape. 

The Dynamic Reserve Setting project represents a step forward in energy system management. With net-zero objectives requiring increased usage of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, the challenge of balancing supply and demand becomes more complex. Renewable sources, while essential to reducing carbon emissions, can be unpredictable, and this variability makes balancing supply and demand on the energy grid more complex. 

Working closely with National Grid ESO, we developed a data-driven approach to dynamically set electricity reserves based on real-time conditions. Using operational research techniques and explainable AI, the system allows grid operators to make faster, more informed decisions. By optimising reserve settings, we’ve helped improve efficiency and reduce the operational costs of balancing the grid. 

Explainable AI played a critical role in this project, offering transparency into how the model makes its predictions. This level of clarity is crucial for decision-makers who need to trust the system and act on its recommendations. The result is a more flexible and responsive grid management system that not only adapts to changing conditions but does so in a way that is both transparent and efficient.