SUNY Polytechnic Institute professors Drs. Robert Edgell and Felipe Henao, PI and Co-PI respectively of the university’s Sustainable Aerospace Energy Center (SAEC), are leading research into how artificial intelligence (AI) impacts the global energy transition. Their latest paper, soon to be published in Energy Informatics, is titled, “AI in Power Systems: A Systematic Review of Key Matters of Concern.” It identifies four primary challenges of AI integration in the energy sector: operational complexity, sustainability, public trust, and regulatory and economic implications.

Through an extensive analysis of nearly four decades of academic literature, their research provides a structured framework designed to assist policymakers and technologists in addressing the ethical, technical, and societal aspects of AI-powered energy systems. Their insights cover critical topics such as grid reliability, cybersecurity, energy equity, and carbon footprints, highlighting the necessity for comprehensive, systems-level governance as AI increasingly transforms essential infrastructure.

Expanding on these findings, Drs. Edgell and Heno along with Dr. Durgin are extending their sociotechnical research into sustainable aviation and space commercialization. Their upcoming paper, “The Future of Sustainable Aviation: Navigating the Sociotechnical Matters of Concern,” will be presented at the AIAA Aviation 2025 Forum in Las Vegas this July. It explores key obstacles—technological, regulatory, economic, and cultural—that must be overcome to ensure a just transition to more sustainable air travel.

Concurrently, at the AIAA Ascend Forum, Dr. Edgell and co-author Jeffrey Olney will discuss their historical analysis of the public-private partnership behind the Comsat-Intelsat network, offering critical insights for future orbital space commercialization efforts. Their work emphasizes that managing "Matters of Concern"—complex and frequently contested sociotechnical issues—is crucial for successful space ventures.

Additionally, Dr. Edgell will present at the International Astronautical Congress in Sydney this September. His individual paper proposes a framework to align various public-private partnership models with different innovation strategies, providing organizing guidance for sustainable space development.

Both professors Edgell and Henao recently presented related research at the 1st Iberian Conference on Multi-Criteria Decision Making and Analysis at Universidade de Coimbra in Portugal, further establishing SUNY Poly’s significant role in global academic conversations around sustainability and innovation.