Ashok Sekar

Ashok Sekar serves as a Researcher III in the Distributed Systems and Storage Group within the Integrated Applications Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), specializing in distributed generation data science and development of the open-source Distributed Generation Market Demand (dGen) model.

His academic credentials include:

• PhD in Sustainability from Rochester Institute of Technology
• Master of Sustainable Engineering from Arizona State University
• Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Kongu Engineering College

Dr. Sekar's research centers on Renewable Energy Engineering with emphasis on Solar Photovoltaic Systems and Distributed Power Generation. His work integrates Life Cycle Assessment methodologies to evaluate environmental impacts while addressing Energy Policy considerations, particularly procedural justice in energy transitions. He actively investigates battery technology, grid integration challenges, and equity dimensions in sustainable energy deployment through rigorous modeling and analysis.

Analysis of his 12 publications (2021-2024) reveals consistent focus on solar photovoltaic systems and distributed generation modeling, with increasing attention to equity frameworks as evidenced by the LA100 project. His research demonstrates strong interdisciplinary collaboration across technical, economic, and social dimensions of renewable energy adoption in the United States.

Within NREL, Dr. Sekar contributes to the Distributed Systems and Storage Group's mission through dGen model development and application, supporting critical analysis of distributed energy resource adoption patterns and policy impacts across diverse geographic and demographic contexts.