Carlos Peña

Senior Analyst

Carlos Peña

Carlos Peña is an electrical engineer and researcher with knowledge in renewable energy systems, microgrid design, and energy resilience. He focuses on agent-based modeling, solar energy integration with battery energy storage systems and demand side management (DSM). He has contributed to advancing distributed solar energy solutions and energy justice, with experience in both academic research and industry applications. His international skill includes supervising public lighting projects in Bogotá and providing technical instruction at the University of Puerto Rico, where he also conducted research on energy affordability and system reliability. He is fluent in Spanish and holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from Universidad Industrial de Santander in Bucaramanga, Colombia.

Carlos Peña

Education

  • M.Sc., Electrical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, 2025
  • B.S., Electrical Engineering, Universidad Industrial de Santander, 2021

Certifications

  • GridEd Short Course: Machine Learning and Big Data Analytics in smart Grid, EPRI, 2023
  • Design and business models of solar systems, Allianz Energy, 2022
  • Photovoltaic Solar Energy, Allianz Energy, 2022
  • Georeferencing course, ARCGIS, Universidad Piloto de Colombia, 2021
  • Building Information Modeling (BIM), Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, 2021

Experience

2025-present

Senior Analyst, Energy Futures Group, Hinesburg, VT

2022-2025

Researcher, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, Mayagüez, PR

2024-2024

Internship Researcher, Energy Futures Group, Hinesburg, VT

2023-2023

Internship Researcher, LUMA Energy, San Juan, PR

2022-2022

Laboratory instructor, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, Mayagüez, PR

2021-2022

Electrical Engineer, Unidad Administrativa Especial de Servicios Públicos – UAESP, Bogotá, CO

Selected Projects

PR Resilience Hubs (Oasis de Luz). Drafted an Action Plan to replicate the community engagement process and install solar PV systems in 1,000 community centers, incorporating GIS analysis and on-site visits to selected and candidate communities. Supported the review and delivery of educational presentations to engage and inform local communities. (2024-present)

Whole Community Resilience Planning (WCRP). Conducted training on the “Street Reading” data collection methodology and participated in community engagement efforts across Puerto Rico, collaborating with the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) to address the energy needs of the Yabucoa community. Designed and performed quality control on data collection questionnaires using ArcGIS Survey123 for various project areas. (2024)

EFG Summer Internship / Smarts Energy Planning. Reviewed webinars, presentations, and tutorials on NREL’s ComStock™ and ResStock™ datasets, analyzed ResStock source code documentation, and executed simulations using ResStock and BuildStockBatch for custom analyses. Delivered a tutorial presentation on ResStock and conducted a Spark Gap Analysis using Excel. (2024)

Opportunities for Distributed Solar Resilience and Energy Justice in PR. Conducted data analysis on the resilience and reliability of Puerto Rico’s energy systems, developed agent-based models to simulate household energy consumption decisions, and carried out in-depth analysis of PV+BESS systems. (2023-2024)

LUMA Energy Summer Internship. Identified and categorized critical loads, calculated load flows with Synergi, and performed load and solar resource analysis for microgrids. (2023)

Puerto Rican Solar Business Accelerator. Conducted research on agent-based models for microgrids interconnected and disconnected from national grids in Colombia and Sudan, performed data analysis on Puerto Rico’s energy context with a focus on PV+BESS system costs, and contributed to the successful implementation and closure of pilot microgrid projects in Castañer and Maricao. (2022-2023)

Course INEL 4212. Taught INEL 4212: Electronics Laboratory II, where I conducted simulations using MATLAB and LTspice, prepared weekly lesson plans, ensured laboratory equipment functionality, and provided hands-on guidance to students in mastering electronic concepts and applications. (2022)

Modernization of public lighting. Provided professional electrical engineering services focused on public lighting in Bogotá, including the development and review of photometric designs, technical supervision of agreements and contracts, and ensuring the effective provision of public lighting services across the city. (2021-2022)

Selected Publications

Pacheco-Cano, Willian A., Carlos A. Peña-Becerra, and Marcel Castro-Sitiriche. 2025. “Boricua Energy Justice Visualization” Energies 18, no. 1: 72. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18010072

O. D. Garzon, L. E. Sepúlveda, A. Nassif and C. A. Peña, “Distribution PMU Placement Strategy for Critical Infrastructure Observability,” 2023 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Latin America (ISGT-LA), San Juan, PR, USA, 2023, pp. 30-34, doi: 10.1109/ISGT-LA56058.2023.10328326.

M. R. Hernández, A. B. Nassif and C. P. Becerra, “Effective Grounding Analysis of a Non-Wires BESS Alternative in a Remote Distribution Feeder,” 2023 IEEE PES Innovative Smart Grid Technologies Latin America (ISGT-LA), San Juan, PR, USA, 2023, pp. 1-4, doi: 10.1109/ISGT-LA56058.2023.10328287.

J. Moscoso-Cabrera, P. Méndez-Curbelo; W. Pacheco-Cano; C. Peña-Becerra; A. Burgos-Rivera; M. Jesús-Soto and M. Castro-Sitiriche, “Boricua Energy Justice As A Humanitarian Claim,” 2023 IEEE International Humanitarian Technology Conference (IHTC), Santa Marta, Colombia, 2023, pp. 1-6, doi: 10.1109/IHTC58960.2023.10508822.

P. Méndez-Curbelo, C. Peña, W. Pacheco and M. Castro-Sitiriche, “Energy Injustice Metrics for Puerto Rico,” 2023 IEEE 50th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), San Juan, PR, USA, 2023, pp. 1-1, doi: 10.1109/PVSC48320.2023.10359750.