Dr Mahesh Acharya
- Research Scientist
- Idaho National Laboratory
Dr Mahesh Acharya is a Research Scientist within the Energy and Environment Science & Technology Directorate at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), where his work supports the nation’s energy dominance and grid reliability priorities across nuclear, geothermal and hydropower. He is Principal Investigator on DOE-funded effort developing standardized modular substation interface kits for rapid deployment and grid resilience, and he also leads research applying novel, domestically available materials to accelerate construction of resilient nuclear and critical infrastructure. He holds PhD and MS degrees in Civil Engineering (Structural Emphasis) and a BS in Civil Engineering, all from Idaho State University.
Sessions
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Power, Energy & Grid Resilience
A Framework for Rapidly Deployable Modular Substations to Enhance Critical Infrastructure Resilience
Power and energy infrastructure faces growing physical and cyber threats across generation, substations, transmission, distribution and fuel supply. The rapid expansion of data centres is intensifying electricity demand and placing additional pressure on grid capacity and resilience. This session will consider the role of rapidly deployable modular substations in restoring critical services, alongside the opportunities and challenges presented by mini nuclear reactors, and strategies for strengthening energy security, flexibility and resilience across increasingly interconnected infrastructure.