Power and Energy Systems
The Power and Energy Systems research area within the ECE program addresses key topics essential to modern power systems. This includes integrating renewable energy, advanced system modeling, transmission and distribution planning, operational strategies, protection mechanisms, control systems, economic analysis, cybersecurity, and power electronics.
Additionally, the research focuses on cyber-physical energy systems technology for real-time industrial control applications, critical smart grid infrastructure, secure integration of renewable energy resources.
Research Focus
- Integration and optimization of renewable energy sources
- Advanced modeling techniques for power systems
- Transmission and distribution network planning and operations
- Protection and control systems for enhanced grid stability
- Economic strategies for efficient power market operations
- Cybersecurity measures for protecting power infrastructure
- Innovative power electronics for energy conversion and management
This research is highly interdisciplinary, involving collaboration with experts in computer and physical sciences and various engineering fields.
Research in this area is supported by state-of-the-art research labs and hardware-in-the-loop testbeds.
Practical application and industry relevance are at the forefront of our research endeavors. We foster innovation through strong partnerships with industry leaders, ensuring our research addresses real-world challenges and yields readily implementable solutions.
Related People
Biography
Charalambos Konstantinou is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and Affiliate Professor of Computer Science at KAUST. He is also the principal investigator of the Secure Next Generation Resilient Systems (SENTRY) Lab.
Professor Konstantinou received a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from New York University (NYU), U.S., and a Dipl. Ing. M.Eng. Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece. Before joining KAUST, he was an Assistant Professor with the Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS) at Florida State University, U.S.
His research interests include critical infrastructure security and resilience, with a special focus on smart grid technologies, renewable energy integration and real-time simulation.
He co-chairs the IEEE Task Force on Cyber-Physical Interdependence for Power System Operation and Control and previously chaired the IEEE Task Force on Resilient and Secure Large-Scale Energy Internet Systems. He is also an associate editor of the IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics.
Konstantinou is a senior member of the IEEE, a member of the ACM and an ACM Distinguished Speaker (2021-2024).
Research Interests
Professor Konstantinou's research focuses on critical infrastructure security and resilience, with a specialization in smart grid technologies, renewable energy integration and real-time simulations. His SENTRY Lab investigates the cybersecurity and resilience of industrial control systems, critical power grid infrastructure and embedded systems.
The lab employs a "red team/blue team" approach, where researchers act as attackers ("red team") to test the defenses developed and deployed by the "blue team," who respond to the simulated intrusions.
Using this concept, SENTRY researchers design adaptive modeling methods, monitoring schemes and control algorithms to detect, prevent and mitigate the risk of cyberattacks, especially in critical grid infrastructures.
The group's research aims to create secure and resilient computing systems by employing computer security fundamentals and cyber-physical engineering applications.
Education
Biography
Shehab Ahmed is a professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at KAUST, a position he has held since August 2018. He is affiliated with the Physical Science and Engineering (PSE) Division. Professor Ahmed first joined KAUST in 2010 as a visiting assistant professor in the PSE Division, and has since become a key contributor to the University's research landscape.
Beyond his work at KAUST, Shehab Ahmed held various academic roles at Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMUQ). His tenure included serving as Associate Professor from 2013 to 2018, Assistant Professor from 2007 to 2013, and earlier as a Research Assistant from 1999 to 2002. In parallel with his academic career, Ahmed spent seven years as an electrical engineer at the Schlumberger Integrated Productivity and Conveyance Center in the U.S., where he applied his expertise in real-world engineering challenges.
Ahmed is the author of more than two hundred highly cited publications. He is also the recipient of prominent awards, such as the TEES Engineering Genesis Award, the ARC Best Research Project (2016) and the TAMUQ Faculty Research Excellence Award.
He received his Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University, U.S., in 2007 and 2000, respectively. Ahmed obtained his B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Alexandria University, Egypt, in 1999.
Research Interests
Professor Ahmed’s research interests span the broad areas of power conversion and mechatronic systems. He specializes in distributed/renewable power generation, utility power conversion, microgrid energy management/storage, hybrid/electric vehicle drivetrains and high-voltage DC systems.
Among Ahmed’s goals are enhancing drilling operations, improving wellbore integrity assessment and supporting successful wireline conveyance.