Michael Wood

Lecco, LC 23900 · Italy · michael dot wood at mail dot polimi dot it
Electrical engineer motivated and proficient in renewable energy systems, controls, data science, and programming.

My adventure into electrical power systems began when I was 10, helping my grandfather install a new battery in our small boat. He accidentally connected the two terminals with a wrench and we were both showered in sparks, to my surprise but not at all to his. After tinkering with computers and cars in high school, building a solar cell from scratch in college, and 6 years startng a solar technology company -- I still don't know what he was thinking. But it got me thinking.

'The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you' - Neil Degrasse Tyson
'How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives' - Anne Dillon

Education

Politecnico di Milano - Energy Department - Milan, Italy

PhD Candidate in Electrical Engineering


Publications: See section "Research & Grants"

Thesis: Novel Computational Intelligence Methods for Electrical Load Forecast

Supervisor: Emmanuele Ogliari

Tutor: Sonia Leva

Labs: Solar Tech Lab, Multigood Microgrid Lab

February 2021 - February 2025 (expected)

Politecnico di Milano - Milan, Italy

Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
Smart Grid Track


Notable Courses: Electric Power Systems I & II, Smart Grid Components, Planning and Operation of Distribution Systems, Network Protection and Automation, Electricity Markets, Communication Systems

Thesis: Deep learning networks for PV power nowcasting (PI Sonia Leva, Solar Tech Lab)

September 2018 - October 2020

Dartmouth College Thayer School of Engineering - Hanover NH, USA

Bachelor of Engineering
Concentration in Power Electronics and Control


Notable Courses: Optimization, Numerical Methods in Computation, Electromagnetic Fields and Waves, Energy Conversion, Microcontrollers, Intermediate Electrical Circuits

Called the “fifth year,” the B.E. is an ABET accredited degree that first requires a B.A.

September 2010 - March 2011

Dartmouth College - Hanover NH, USA

Bachelor of Arts in Engineering Sciences

Notable Courses: Semiconductor Theory, Science of Materials, Distributed Systems and Fields, Engineering Design and Methodology, Power Electronics, Modern Control Theory, Classical Control Theory, Analog and Linear Devices, Discrete Systems

September 2006 - June 2010

Career

Consultant: Design Engineer

muGrid Analytics - Golden CO, USA

· PV and battery storage microgrid design
· Equipment selection and costing
· Load modeling and forecasting
· Dispatch optimization
July 2018 - present

Engineer

Solaflect Energy - Norwich VT, USA

Fourth employee and only electrical engineer of startup solar technology company
· Lead designer on dual-axis PV tracking controller and remote communication
· Manufacturing and maintenance of controller and PV tracker
· Technology research and specification - normal, bifacial, and concentrating PV panels; inverters and module level electronics
· Design of hundreds of 4 kW residential and three 150 kW PV installs
· National Electric Code compliance

June 2012 - September 2018

Research & Grants

Grant: U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Tier 1 - $1M

Solaflect Energy - Norwich VT, USA
PI William Bender, PhD
2012

Deep learning networks for PV power nowcasting

Politecnico di Milano - Milan, Italy
Prof. Sonia Leva (Solar Tech Lab)
September 2019 - present

Embedded Solar Tracking Controller

Solaflect Energy - Norwich VT, USA
PI William Bender, PhD
June 2012 - August 2018

Bifacial PV energy production with high albedo backdrop

Solaflect Energy - Norwich VT, USA
PI William Bender, PhD
March 2017

Embedded acoustic beamforming research

Dartmouth College Thayer School of Engineering - Hanover NH, USA
Prof. Kofi Odame
March - June 2011

Student designed micro hydroelectric plant in Rwanda

Dartmouth College Thayer School of Engineering - Hanover NH, USA
Prof. Charles Sullivan
June - August 2011

Bidirectional buck-boost converter for ultracapacitor storage

Dartmouth College - Hanover NH, USA
Prof. Charles Sullivan
May 2010

PV cell optimization and fabrication

Dartmouth College - Hanover NH, USA
Prof. Jifeng Liu, Prof. Chris Levy
Oct 2010

Magnetic components characterization research

Dartmouth College - Hanover NH, USA
Prof. Charles Sullivan
June 2009

Teaching

Solar PV Systems Lab

Politecnico di Milano - Milan, Italy
Friday Seminars and Lab Assisstant
Spring 2022, 2023

Electronics, Linear and Digital

Dartmouth College Thayer School of Engineering - Hanover NH, USA
Teaching and Lab Assisstant
Spring 2010, 2011

Introduction to Engineering

Dartmouth College - Hanover NH, USA
Teaching and Lab Assisstant
Spring and Fall 2010

Skills

Proficient In

· PCB CAD and fabrication
· C/C++
· Python
· Tensorflow, Keras
· MATLAB
· DIGsilent PowerFactory
· Soldering
· Oscilloscope operation
· MS Office, MS Online, Google Docs
· Native language: English

Capable In

· Linux systems
· Solidworks
· PowerWorld
· HOMER
· NREL System Advisor Model
· Machining and hand tools
· Italian, Spanish

Interests

· Backcountry skiing
· Rock climbing
· Bike packing, gravel and road cycling, mountain biking
· Quilting
· Home made gluten free goodies
· Audiobooks
· Photography