Trieu Mai is a member of the Capacity Expansion & Electricity Markets Group in the Grid Planning and Analysis Center and is interested in renewable grid integration, energy system transformation, electrification, and clean energy policy. His research utilizes an array of power system models and energy-economic tools to examine the possible evolution of the power system, including costs, benefits, and impacts of increasing wind and solar deployment, as well as the economics of grid flexibility. He has coauthored over 100 articles on these topics and regularly presents to a broad range of audiences. 

Research Interests

High renewable energy systems

Power system economics

Technology innovation and policy impact on energy system transformation

Education

Ph.D., Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Cruz

M.S., Physics, University of California, Santa Cruz

B.S., Physics, University of California, Davis

Featured Work

Electrification Futures Study

Competitiveness Metrics for Electricity System Technologies, NREL Technical Report (2021) 

Interactions in Wind Energy Project Siting, Wind Resource Potential, and the Evolution of the U.S. Power System,  Energy (2021)

Setting Cost Targets for Zero-Emission Electricity Generation Technologies, Applied Energy (2019)

A Prospective Analysis of the Costs, Benefits, and Impacts of U.S. Renewable Portfolio Standards, NREL Technical Report (2016)

Renewable Electricity Futures for the United States, IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy (2014)

View all NREL publications for Trieu Mai.

Awards and Honors

Distinguished Member of the Research Staff, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (2021)

Excellence Award, Energy Systems Integration Group (2019)

Outstanding Performance Staff Award, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (2015)

Energy Rock Star Award, U.S. Department of Energy (2015)

Achievement Award, Utility Variable-Generation Integration Group (2013)

Chairman’s Award, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (2011, 2015)