Optimising green transport systems with smart tools: A mission to power a sustainable future
As countries race towards achieving net-zero emissions through renewable energy adoption, research plays a pivotal role in shaping how we harness these greener energy sources to power our cities, move people, and manage resources. Professor Dipti Srinivasan from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the College of Design and Engineering at NUS is combining her passion for artificial intelligence (AI) with a deep commitment to sustainability by developing smart tools that make clean technologies -- like electric buses and renewable energy -- not just viable, but efficient and scalable.
Her journey began with a simple yet powerful question: How can AI solve real-world energy problems? Over time, this curiosity evolved into a focused mission — to help society reduce its reliance on fossil fuels by making renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, more reliable and accessible.
“I wanted to find smart, data-driven ways to help integrate renewable energy sources better into our power systems and support a cleaner, more sustainable future,” Prof Srinivasan explained.
A data-driven vision for greener cities
Prof Srinivasan’s current research investigates how computational intelligence — drawing on nature-inspired methods like neural networks and evolutionary algorithms — can optimise renewable energy integration and electrified transport systems.
Computational tools are particularly useful in harnessing complex systems, such as city-wide electric bus networks or national power grids, to provide insights for planning and balancing supply and demand, as well as supporting decision-making under constraints such as battery capacity or power grid limits.
Prof Srinivasan and her team leverage on evolutionary computation, which mimics natural selection, to find different solutions by keeping the best-performing ones and improving them over time — just like how nature evolves stronger species. The research team applies this technique to determine the best locations and sizes for battery storage, so that energy is stored and delivered efficiently across the power grid.
Smarter charging, smarter fleets
In a study last year, Prof Srinivasan and Dr Can Bark Saner, who is a research fellow from the Department of Mathematics at the NUS Faculty of Science, introduced a multi-module optimsation framework for the planning and operation of electric bus (e-bus) shuttle fleets to reduce life cycle cost, and maximise savings on charger procurement, electricity, and battery degradation.
The framework was published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Intelligent Transportation Systems on 21 August 2024.
As part of the framework, the NUS team proposed a three-module model comprising:
· a vehicle scheduling module to determine e-bus deployment and trip assignments to ensure alignment with energy consumption and mitigate battery degradation;
· a charger deployment and charging planning module that determines the number of chargers to deploy at depots and across e-bus charging schedules to minimise life cycle costs; and
· an online charging scheduling module which updates charging schedules to handle uncertainties in trip energy consumption.
Her team’s work complements the focus on computational intelligence-based decision-making — especially in the context of large-scale electrical vehicle (EV) charging and integration with renewable power. With this proposed framework, they demonstrated a life cycle cost reduction of up to 38.2 per cent, facilitating up to a 90.2 per cent decrease in battery degradation cost.
“We’re working on how to manage EV charging at scale, especially for large fleets in cities, workplaces, or public charging hubs. The goal is to maximise the use of solar and wind power during EV charging, by aligning charging schedules with periods of high renewable energy generation. That way, we make the most of renewable energy and reduce stress on the grid,” said Prof Srinivasan.
The team is also developing algorithms to support Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technologies, allowing EVs not just to consume power, but to return it to the electrical grid when needed — turning EVs into mobile storage units that help stabilise the power system.
Beyond technologies -- towards consumer adoption
Integrating EVs and renewable energy into existing infrastructure is not just a technical challenge, it involves various stakeholders from industry partners to consumers. Prof Srinivasan stresses the importance of looking beyond infrastructure. For clean technologies to succeed, people need to understand, trust, and feel supported in adopting them.
“We must think about affordability, ease of use, and awareness. People need clear information, strong incentives, and policies that support their choices,” said Prof Srinivasan.
She added, “People need access to clear information, financial incentives, and reliable technology that fits seamlessly into their lives. Supportive policies and a strong focus on consumer behaviour and acceptance also play a key role in driving the transition to clean energy.”
Envisioning Singapore’s renewable energy future
Looking towards a sustainable future, Prof Srinivasan sees enormous potential in Singapore’s approach to energy innovation.
She envisions a future where renewable energy plays a central role in Singapore’s power system — enabled by smart tools, supported by strong policy, and integrated into everyday life. Prof Srinivasan highlighted that with land constraints, breakthroughs are needed in solar deployment, energy storage, and grid management.
At the heart of her work is a belief that technology, when designed thoughtfully and deployed strategically, can drive real change for a greener and more sustainable future with renewable energy.
“This work isn’t just about algorithms or software. It’s about building systems that support a cleaner, more resilient future, and making sure that the shift to renewables and electric mobility is not just possible, but practical,” said Prof Srinivasan.
As cities and countries plan for more e-buses, greener grids, and sustainable transport systems, Prof Srinivasan’s research offers a critical piece of the puzzle — ensuring we don’t just adopt clean technology, but do so intelligently, affordably, and equitably.
