The Role of Mathematics in Energy Transitions

Abstract: The global transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy systems presents complex technical, economic, and environmental challenges. Mathematics plays a foundational role in enabling and accelerating this transformation by providing tools for modeling, optimization, and decision-making across multiple scales. In wind energy, mathematical techniques are employed to model atmospheric flow, optimize turbine placement through computational fluid dynamics, and forecast power generation using time-series analysis and machine learning. Similarly, in battery storage systems, mathematics supports the design of battery management algorithms, the optimization of charge-discharge cycles, and the integration of storage with variable renewable sources in power grids. From differential equations governing physical dynamics to stochastic models capturing uncertainty in supply and demand, mathematics bridges theory and application in shaping reliable, efficient, and resilient energy systems. This talk explores key mathematical contributions to the energy transition, highlighting their critical impact on advancing technologies and informing policy and infrastructure development.