Dr. Daniel Kirk-Davidoff is a Senior Technical Leader in the Energy Systems and Climate Analysis Group at EPRI. His research focuses on the impact of anthropogenic climate change on the electric power system, on the particular sensitivities of electrical load and renewable generation technologies to climate and weather extremes, and on improved simulation of load and renewable generation in planning for future electrical grids. He also develops of information resources on climate data for power system planners.
Before joining EPRI, he worked as faculty member at the University of Maryland, where he developed observational strategies for satellite climate monitoring missions, did climate modeling research on paleoclimate phenomena including the Messinian Desiccation and Eocene polar warmth, and in private industry, where he developed forecasting systems for wind and solar generation combining numerical weather prediction, satellite image processing and machine learning, and led the development of a modernization plan for the Uganda National Meteorological Authority.
Dr. Kirk-Davidoff earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology and Geophysics at Yale College, and a doctorate in Meteorology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Recent Publications
- [1] D. Kirk-Davidoff et al., "Diagnosing Changes in Zonal Load Response to Temperature and Irradiance: Analysis of Load Zone Data for Forecast Challenges," EPRI, Palo Alto, CA: 2025. 3002031482.
- [2] D. Kirk-Davidoff et al., "Load Forecasting for Planning Timescales: Guidance on Weather and Climate Effects," EPRI, Palo Alto, CA: 2025. 3002034206.
- [3] D. Kirk-Davidoff et al., "Story Map: Climate-Driven Variability of Co-Located Wind and Solar Generation," EPRI, Palo Alto, CA: 2025. 3002031437.
- [4] D. Osipov, S.A.R. Naqvi, S.R.K.M.S. Palepu, J. Onyejizu, D.B. Kirk-Davidoff, P. Du, K. Kar, J.H. Chow, A. Gupta, (2025). Unit Commitment with Risk-adjusted Tranching of Renewable Energy Resources. In review at IEEE Transactions on Energy Markets, Policy and Regulation.
- [5] J. M. Wilczak, D.B. Kirk-Davidoff, H. Bloomfield, C. Bracken, J. Sharp, (2025). Wind and Solar Energy Droughts: Potential Impacts on Energy System Dynamics and Research Needs. In review at Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy.
- [6] Q. Wang, M. Ortega-Vasquez, A. Tuohy, E. Ela, M. Bello, D. Kirk-Davidoff, (2025). Assessing Dynamic Reserves vs. Stochastic Optimization for Effective Integration of Operating Probabilistic Forecasts. IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, doi: 10.1109/TSTE.2025.3547561
- [7] Q. Wang, A. Tuohy, M. Ortega-Vazquez, M. Bello, E. Ela, D. Kirk-Davidoff, W.B. Hobbs, D.J. Ault, R Philbrick, (2024). Quantifying the value of probabilistic forecasting for power system operation planning, Applied Energy 343, 121254, doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2023.121254
- [8] N. Zen, K. Jiang, P.Han, Z. Hausfather, J.Cao, D Kirk-Davidoff, S. Ali, S. Zhou, (2022). The Chinese Carbon-Neutral Goal: Challenges and Prospects. Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, doi:10.1007/s00376-021-1313-6