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Paul De Martini Joins the Resnick Institute as Visiting Scholar

The Resnick Sustainability Institute is proud to announce that Paul De Martini, Managing Director of the Newport Consulting Group, will join us as a Resnick Visiting Scholar starting this spring. Paul is a leading expert in smart grid policy, markets and technology. He currently works with state and national organizations to define the restructuring of the electrical markets that will need to happen to incorporate distributed energy resources into the electrical grid. He is also consulting with a number of cleantech start-up companies that develop technologies and services that add value to the current electricity market and that additionally will help ease the transition to a distributed electricity infrastructure powered by renewable energy.

Paul was formerly the Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Innovation for the connected energy networks unit at Cisco Systems. At Cisco, he led the development of the Gridonomics™ value analysis, and global "utility of the future" business model development. Prior to Cisco, Paul was the Vice President of Advanced Technology at Southern California Edison. Paul has been actively collaborating with Professors Steven Low and Mani Chandy on their work analyzing energy markets for renewable energy generation. His presence on campus will further their work, and also provide the Caltech community with valuable and timely information on this evolving topic. Professor Mani Chandy said, "Paul brings invaluable industry expertise to Caltech. Paul works superbly with graduate students, and he plays a valuable role in teaching and mentoring. His knowledge of the power industry helps ensure that our research will have a significant impact on the truly critical problems of the power industry."

As a Resnick Visiting Scholar, Paul will be available to consult with campus research groups and he will give several seminars throughout the year. Additionally, he will serve as a contributing author of the Resnick Institute Report on Smart Grid—a white paper that grew out of the Institute sponsored workshop on Managing Uncertainty: Incorporating Intermittent Renewable Energy Into the Power Grid that took place last fall. Discussing the value brought by the Visiting Scholars program, Resnick Institute Director Harry Atwater said, "Bringing industry thought leaders like Paul, as well academic, media and government leaders, into Caltech's academic environment is a great thing. It will add new dimensions and perspectives to the Caltech energy and sustainability science landscape. Given the Resnick Institute's focus on research, education and communication, our visiting scholars bring rich perspective to the forefront of cutting edge experimental science. We are looking forward to the contribution Paul will make to the smart grid research effort and broader campus community". When asked about his upcoming appointment Paul said, "I am looking forward to sharing my expertise with the vibrant research community at Caltech. The Resnick Institute has created a wonderful opportunity for continued collaboration with its Visiting Scholars program." Starting in May, watch for Paul in the Jorgensen Building.