Ranjit Deshmukh

Ranjit Deshmukh is an Assistant Professor in the Environmental Studies Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). His research focuses on low-carbon energy systems, clean energy access, and electricity markets. He has expertise in renewable energy integration, sustainable energy planning, and geospatial analysis of energy resources. Prior to UCSB, he was an ITRI-Rosenfeld Postdoctoral Fellow at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Education:

• PhD in Energy and Resources, UC Berkeley (2016)
• M.S. in Environmental Systems, Humboldt State University (2008)
• M.S. in Manufacturing Systems Engineering, UT Austin (2001)
• B.E. in Mechanical Engineering, Government College of Engineering Pune, India (1998)

Research Interests:

• Strategies for renewable energy integration in electric grids
• Sustainable energy system planning with techno-economic and environmental criteria
• Clean energy access in developing regions and low-income communities
• Climate-water-energy nexus in California

His work emphasizes multi-stakeholder collaboration, with projects in India, Africa, and Southeast Asia. He co-leads the Clean Energy Transformation Lab (CETlab) and the MapRE platform for sustainable renewable energy siting.

Scientific Awards:

• Siebel Scholar (UC Berkeley)
• Link Energy Fellow (UC Berkeley)
• Schatz Energy Fellow (Humboldt State University)

Key Projects:

• Developing open-source tools for low-carbon grid planning (MapRE platform)
• Analyzing renewable energy integration in India and Southern Africa
• Studying equity and justice in energy transitions

His research bridges academic and applied domains, working with governments, NGOs, and local communities to advance equitable low-carbon futures.