Rail-to-Grid Integration: Leveraging Rail Infrastructure to Support Grid Resilience and Electricity Access
Description
The U.S. rail network is the longest in the world and has hundreds of existing grid interconnection points via historic coal plants. Dr. Popovich and Dr. Moraski will discuss their prior research on how rail-based mobile energy storage (RMES) can support grid resilience and electricity access. They will then discuss how the collocation of rail and grid infrastructure, such as transmission lines, has potential to accelerate rail decarbonization and increase access to electricity.
This event is free and open to the public; registration is not required. Zoom link is here.
Speaker Name
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Speaker Bio
Dr. Popovich is a Research Scientist in the Energy Analysis Division at Berkeley Lab. Her research focuses on innovative rail technology and rail-to-grid integration (RGI), including synergies between rail infrastructure and grid resilience. She works on system-level modal rebalancing and efficient use of transportation infrastructure, including increased reliance on maritime and rail modes. From 2022-2025 she served as a Senior Advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy-Transportation on rail policy. She completed her Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics and her M.S. in Transportation Technology and Policy at UC Davis.
Dr. Moraski examines how electricity markets, planning frameworks, and regulatory structures can evolve to ensure reliable, affordable, and efficient energy systems amid decarbonization policies, growing supply and demand uncertainty, and climate risks. Her work spans market design, decarbonization, and long-term planning. She holds a B.A. in Computer Science from Wesleyan University and a Ph.D. in Energy and Resources from UC Berkeley.