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Alvaro Lorca

Associate Professor

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Santiago, Chile

Líneas de Investigación


Mathematical and computational methods for the improvement of energy systems, including energy planning, power system operations, renewable energy integration, smart grids, and resilience, among other topics.

Educación

  •  Operations Research, GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. Estados Unidos, 2016
  •  Ciencias de la Ingeniería, PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE. Chile, 2011
  •  Ingeniería Civíl de Industrias, PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE. Chile, 2011

Experiencia Académica

  •   Assistant Professor Full Time

    PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE

    Engineering

    Santiago, Chile

    2016 - 2021

  •   Associate Professor Full Time

    PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE

    Engineering

    Santiago, Chile

    2021 - A la fecha

Experiencia Profesional

  •   Ingeniero part-time Part Time

    DICTUC

    Chile

    2009 - 2010

  •   Ingeniero de Estudios Full Time

    Pricing UC

    Chile

    2011 - 2011

Formación de Capital Humano


Research Supervision

Doctoral Students
Denise Cariaga. 2020–present.
Patricio Castillo. 2020–present.
Yarelys González. 2020–present.
Marcel Favereau. 2019–present. Candidacy approved in December 2020.
Samuel Córdova. Co-supervised with Claudio Cañizarez (University of Waterloo). 2018–present. Double doctorate degree with University of Waterloo. Candidacy approved in June 2020.

Master of Science Students
Martín Ibarra. 2022-present.
Matías Aguad. 2021-present.
Iván Astete. 2021-present.
Diego Canales. Co-supervised with Margarita Castro. 2021-present.
Guillermo Maureira. Co-supervised with Gustavo Angulo. 2021-present.
Tomás Riquelme. 2021-present.
Antonia Durán. Co-supervised with Sebastián Vicuña. 2021-present.
Martín Maluenda. 2021-present.
Lucas Maulén. Co-supervised with Margarita Castro. 2020–present.
Andrés Navarro. Co-supervised with Daniel Olivares. 2020–present.
Sebastián Barriga. Co-supervised with Alejandro Cataldo. 2019–present.
Maximiliano González. Co-supervised with Mathias Klapp. 2019–present.
Milena González. Co-supervised with Daniel Olivares. 2019–present.
Javier Jorquera. 2019–present.
Alfredo Oneto. Data-driven optimization for seismic-resilient power network planning. 2021.
Felipe Haase. Reinforcement learning with neural network-based value function approximation to manage flexible electric loads and distributed energy resources. 2021.
Constanza Levicán. Metodología para el desarrollo de proyectos de microredes conectadas a la red de distribución en municipalidades de Chile. 2020.
Sebastián Sufán. Enfoque de múltiples etapas para la calendarización de sesiones de quimioterapia con consideración de capacidad efectiva. Co-supervised with Alejandro Cataldo. 2020.
Tomás Tapia. Robust Optimization for Wildfire Response Analysis in Highly Renewable Power Systems. 2019.
Felipe Verástegui. An Adaptive Robust Optimization Model for Power Systems Planning with Operational Uncertainty. Co-supervised with Pedro Gazmuri. 2018.

Courses Taught

Department of Electrical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Optimización Avanzada en Ingeniería Eléctrica (IEE3002). 2020–present.
Redes Inteligentes para Energía Sustentable (IEE2393). 2020.
Circuitos Eléctricos (IEE2123). 2018–2019.
Advanced Optimization for Electric Power Systems (IEE3463). 2018.
Aplicaciones de Optimización y Control en Sistemas de Potencia (IEE3364). 2017.

Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Modelos Estocásticos (ICS2123). 2017–present.
Optimización (ICS1113). 2016.

Professional Education, School of Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Magíster en Ingeniería Industrial (MII): Modelos de Decisión Bajo Incertidumbre. 2019–present.
Diplomado en Automática e Informática Industrial: Redes de Comunicación para Sistemas Eléctricos de Potencia. 2017–2019.
Diplomado en Energía Solar: Integración de Sistemas. 2017.

Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Simulation Analysis and Design (ISyE 3044). 2015.


Difusión y Transferencia


Research Projects

Research projects on a leading role

FONDECYT Regular (ANID). 2021–2025.
Project: Robust Optimization for Power Systems with Diverse Energy Storage Technologies.
Role: Principal Investigator.

CORFO/Fraunhofer. 2021–2023.
Project: Hydrogen Production in Hybrid Renewable Parks: Advanced Operational and Planning Models.
Role: Director.

FONDEF (ANID). 2020-2022.
Project: Desarrollo de una plataforma de gestión integrada de recursos hidroeléctricos para la planificación y operación del sistema eléctrico nacional.
Octavo Concurso de Investigación Tecnológica IDeA de Fondef.
Role: Director.
Associated entities: Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional and Comisión Nacional de Energía.

CORFO/Fraunhofer. 2018–2020.
Project: Advanced Operational and Planning Tools for Energy Systems with a Massive Adoption of Solar Power.
Role: Principal Investigator.

Redes Internacionales (ANID). 2018–2020.
Project: Agent-Based Modeling and Simulation for Energy Markets.
Concurso CONICYT de Apoyo a la Formación de Redes Internacionales para investigadores en Etapa Inicial
Role: Principal Investigator.

FONDECYT Iniciación (ANID). 2017–2020.
Project: Optimization under Uncertainty for Power System Resilience.
Role: Principal Investigator.

Other research projects

Strategic Research Fund on Drought (ANID). 2022–2023.
Project: Integrating drought monitoring and public policy design towards the proactive management of drought.
Role: Associate Investigator.

FONDAP (ANID). 2018–2023.
Project: Solar Energy Research Center (SERC-Chile).
Role: Associate Researcher.

UC Energy Research Center Project. 2019–2020.
Project: Mercados Eléctricos Competitivos: Una Perspectiva Integral desde la Ingeniería, la Economía, y las Políticas Públicas.
I Concurso de Projects de investigación interdisciplinaria en energía del Centro de Energía UC.
Role: Co-investigator.

FONDECYT Regular (ANID). 2018–2021.
Project: Local Energy Markets for Sustainable Microgrids: Design, Modeling, and Simulation.
Role: Co-investigator.

FONDEF (ANID). 2018–2019.
Project: Diseño e implementación de infraestructura tecnológica para la gestión de consumos flexibles en sistemas eléctricos.
Cuarto concurso idea en dos etapas del programa IDeA de Fondef
Role: Co-investigator.

CORFO Bienes Públicos. 2016–2019.
Project: Corredor Solar de la Cuenca del Salado.
Role: Co-investigator.

CORFO/Fraunhofer. 2016–2018.
Project: Generation and Transmission Planning Models for Policy Analysis.
Role: Co-investigator.

Industry Projects

Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional. 2021-2022.
Project: Desarrollo de una aplicación computacional para el cálculo y análisis de los costos marginales de la energía en base a inteligencia artificial.
Role: Consultant.

Comisión Nacional de Energía. 2021.
Project: Diseño para el perfeccionamiento del mercado eléctrico nacional en la transición hacia esquemas de ofertas incorporando señales de flexibilidad y nuevos agentes participantes.
Role: Consultant.

Environmental Defense Fund. 2021.
Project: Analysis of the Chilean emission reduction commitments towards year 2030.
Role: Consultant.

Centro Nacional de Pilotaje de Tecnologías para la Minería. 2021.
Project: Validación industrial sistema Emma para Asgreen Ingeniería Sustentable.
Role: Technical adviser.

The World Bank. 2021.
Project: Study to Assess Chilean Electricity Market Competitiveness Under a Bid-Based Pricing Scheme and Measures to Transition to This Scheme.
Role: Consultant.

Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional. 2020–2021.
Project: Propuestas para el Desarrollo de la Norma Técnica de Programación de la Operación.
Role: Consultant.

GIZ-Chile. 2020.
Project: Estudio del Tratamiento General de la Potencia para Clientes Finales en el Sistema Eléctrico Nacional.
Role: Consultant.

Ministerio de Energía de Chile. 2020.
Project: Estudio sectorial de costos de la inacción frente al cambio climático en Chile: sector energía.
Role: Consultant.
Funding from CEPAL.

GPM AG. 2020.
Project: Análisis de requerimientos futuros de flexibilidad en el sistema eléctrico nacional.
GPM AG is an association of electric power producers in Chile.
Role: Consultant.

Ministerio del Medio Ambiente de Chile. 2019–2020.
Project: Atlas de Riesgos para Chile frente al Cambio Climático.
Role: Consultant.
Financiamiento de GIZ.

Comisión Nacional de Energía. 2019.
Project: Determinación de precios máximos para licitaciones y subastas de servicios complementarios.
Role: Consultant.

Ministerio de Energía de Chile. 2018–2019.
Project: Estudio para la Elaboración de una Propuesta de Modificación Regulatoria de la Distribución de Energía Eléctrica.
Role: Consultant.

Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional. 2018–2019.
Project: Definición de la Optimización de Mediano Plazo para la Operación del Sistema Eléctrico Nacional.
Role: Co-director.

Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional. 2018–2019.
Project: Estudio de Competencia y Reglas de Subastas y Licitaciones para la Prestación de Servicios Complementarios.
Role: Consultant.

Transelec. 2018–2019.
Project: Estudio de evaluación de la vulnerabilidad, impactos y adaptación al cambio climático de la infraestructura energética de Transelec S.A.
Role: Consultant.

ENEL Green Power. 2017.
Project: Herramientas para la Optimización de los Planes de Limpieza en Parques Solares Fotovoltaicos.
Role: Consultant.


Premios y Distinciones

  •   Distinguished Teaching Assistant of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering

    PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA DE CHILE

    Chile, 2009

    Awarded by the School of Engineering

  •   Becas Chile Doctoral Scholarship

    CONICYT

    Chile, 2011

    2011-2014

  •   Fulbright Doctoral Scholarship

    COMISION FULBRIGHT-CHILE

    Chile, 2011

    2011-2014

  •   Third place in the INFORMS JFIG Paper Competition 2014

    INFORMS

    Estados Unidos, 2014

    For an early version of “Multistage Adaptive Robust Optimization for the Unit Commitment Problem”.

  •   IEEE Transactions on Power Systems Outstanding Reviewers for 2015

    IEEE

    Estados Unidos, 2015

    -

  •   Honorable Mention of the Alice and John Jarvis Ph.D. Student Research Award

    GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

    Estados Unidos, 2016

    Awarded by the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering.

  •   Finalist in the INFORMS ENRE Student Paper Award 2016

    INFORMS

    Estados Unidos, 2016

    For “The Adaptive Robust Multi-Period Alternating Current Optimal Power Flow Problem”.

  •   Mención Honrosa en el INFORMS George B. Dantzig Dissertation Award

    INFORMS

    Estados Unidos, 2017

    Por “Robust Optimization for Renewable Energy Integration in Power System Operations”, Tesis Doctoral

  •   Ganador del Best Publication in Energy Award of the INFORMS Section on Energy, Natural Resources, and the Environment

    INFORMS

    Estados Unidos, 2017

    Por “Multistage Adaptive Robust Optimization for the Unit Commitment Problem”, publicado en Operations Research

  •   Paper recognized among the eight best papers published between 2017 and 2019 in IEEE Transactions on Power Systems

    IEEE

    Estados Unidos, 2020

    Por "The Adaptive Robust Multi-Period Alternating Current Optimal Power Flow Problem".


 

Article (24)

Multi-stage process for chemotherapy scheduling and effective capacity determination
Predictive capacity of topological measures in evaluating seismic risk and resilience of electric power networks
A low-complexity decision model for home energy management systems
A robust decision-support method based on optimization and simulation for wildfire resilience in highly renewable power systems
An Energy Management System With Short-Term Fluctuation Reserves and Battery Degradation for Isolated Microgrids
Comparison between Concentrated Solar Power and Gas-Based Generation in Terms of Economic and Flexibility-Related Aspects in Chile
Optimization-based analysis of decarbonization pathways and flexibility requirements in highly renewable power systems
The impact of short-term pricing on flexible generation investments in electricity markets
The value of aggregators in local electricity markets: A game theory based comparative analysis
Comparison of energy scenario alternatives for Chile: Towards low-carbon energy transition by 2030
Firewood heat electrification impacts in the Chilean power system
Management of EV charging stations under advance reservations schemes in electricity markets
An Adaptive Robust Optimization Model for Power Systems Planning With Operational Uncertainty
Review and assessment of energy policy developments in Chile
The impact of concentrated solar power in electric power systems: A Chilean case study
An Efficient Forecasting-Optimization Scheme for the Intraday Unit Commitment Process Under Significant Wind and Solar Power
Expansion planning under uncertainty for hydrothermal systems with variable resources
Robust unit commitment with dispatchable wind power
The Adaptive Robust Multi-Period Alternating Current Optimal Power Flow Problem
An Optimization-Based Decision-Support Tool for Post-Disaster Debris Operations
Multistage Robust Unit Commitment With Dynamic Uncertainty Sets and Energy Storage
Multistage Adaptive Robust Optimization for the Unit Commitment Problem
Adaptive Robust Optimization With Dynamic Uncertainty Sets for Multi-Period Economic Dispatch Under Significant Wind
Power portfolio optimization considering locational electricity prices and risk management

Proyecto (7)

Hydrogen Production in Hybrid Renewable Parks: Advanced Operational and Planning Models
Robust Optimization for Power Systems with Diverse Energy Storage Technologies
Desarrollo de una plataforma de gestión integrada de recursos hidroeléctricos para la planificación y operación del sistema eléctrico nacional
Corredor Solar de la Cuenca del Salado
Optimization under Uncertainty for Power System Resilience
Software de Optimización de Limpieza de Plantas Solares Fotovoltaicas
Generation and Transmission Planning Models for Policy Analysis

Review (1)

A comprehensive review on expansion planning: Models and tools for energy policy analysis
29
Alvaro Lorca

Associate Professor

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Santiago, Chile

12
Daniel Olivares

Associate Professor

Universidad Adolfo Ibánez

Santiago, Chile

11
Matias Negrete

Associate Professor

Electrical Engineering

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile

Santiago, Chile

2
Samuel Córdova

PhD Student

Electrical and Computer Engineering

University of Waterloo (Canada) + PUC (Chile)

Santiago, Chile

1
Catalina Hernández

Ingeniero Investigador

Sistemas Solares Térmicos

Fraunhofer Chile Research

SANTIAGO CENTRO, Chile

1
Rodrigo Escobar

Associate Professor

Mechanical and Metallurgical Engineering

Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile

Santiago, Chile

1
Alejandro Cataldo

Académico

Instituto de Ingeniería Matemática y Computacional

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Santiago, Chile

1
Maria Cerda

Lider Sistemas Solares Térmicos

Fraunhofer Chile Research

Santiago, Chile