Using AI and Drones to Improve Renewable Energy Operations and Economic Vitality
School of Engineering (SoE) Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering Assistant Professor Aziz Ezzat is an affiliate of the Rutgers AI and Data Science (RAD) group and of the Rutgers Climate and Energy Institute (RCEI). His expertise extends to the development of data science-driven solutions to problems in energy, environmental, and industrial systems.
His multidisciplinary team at Rutgers has, he reports, been working at the intersection of AI and renewable energy for a number of years. "In close collaboration with research groups across SoE and Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS), we have developed novel machine learning methods to improve renewable energy forecasting, design predictive maintenance algorithms that enhance asset efficiency and reliability, and advance AI-driven approaches that support the co-existence of renewable energy infrastructures with surrounding ecosystems."
Ezzat spoke about Rutgers' highly collaborative research. In a recent ABC report on renewables, Ezzat spoke about the renewable energy research at Rutgers, including the use of drones and AI-based analytics to detect the early accumulation of icing and dust on solar panels.
"More broadly," he says, "this line of work highlights the transformative potential of AI to make renewable energy systems more economically viable, efficient, and resilient."
Diversifying New Jersey's Energy Mix
According to Ezzat, in recent years solar energy has played a major role in diversifying New Jersey's energy mix. While not considered a traditionally sun-rich state, New Jersey consistently ranks among the nation's
top states in distributed solar deployment — especially in roof-top and community-scale installations — which he says is highly suitable for a densely populated state like New Jersey."
Offshore wind is another transformative opportunity, as New Jersey's offshore coastal waters have some of the most favorable wind resources on the east coast. "When offshore wind development progresses, it has the potential not only to contribute a significant share of the state's electricity supply, but also to drive substantial economic activity," he explains.
Making New Renewables an Ongoing Priority
As Ezzat sees it, the United States has vast renewable solar and wind energy resources. "Renewables are a reality. It's not a hypothetical question anymore, and we're nowhere near unlocking their full potential. Deciding not to harness these resources is analogous to sitting on a treasure chest knowing it's there, and choosing not to harness it."
At the same time, a surge of up to 50% in energy demand is anticipated by 2050. "This increase is driven not only by traditional factors like population and economic activity, but also by the rapid expansion of data centers and large-scale AI workloads, which are increasing the stress on a constrained grid infrastructure," he explains.
Simply put, he adds, "Renewable energy offers a scalable and increasingly cost-competitive way to meet rising demand, which directly improves reliability and resilience. Without sufficient new generation capacity, consumers will face greater price volatility and supply risks.
"Viewed holistically, developing and deploying renewables is about wise infrastructure planning, economic competitiveness, and long-term system stability."