Planetary Solutions in Clean Energy Summer Fellow Spotlight: Deepa Shanmugam

The Yale Center for Business and the Environment's Planetary Solutions in Clean Energy Fellowship matches 11 undergraduate and graduate students with non-profit, startup, and governmental organizations committed to energy equity and the deployment of clean energy. The program provides summer research and internship opportunities to students at Yale who are committed to advancing energy equity and pursuing a career in the clean energy field. 

The Forum had the pleasure of speaking with Deepa, a rising sophomore at Yale College pursuing a Statistics and Data Science degree with a certificate in Energy Studies. Deepa is a summer fellow at Voltus experiencing energy market analysis hands-on and shaping her understanding large load growth. Voltus is a virtual power plant operator helping customers save money and energy through demand response programs.

Tell us a little about yourself. What is your background, and where are you working this summer?

My name is Deepa Shanmugam, and I'm a rising sophomore in Yale College's Class of 2029. I plan to major in Statistics & Data Science while pursuing the Energy Studies certificate. I've always been interested in the environment and loved spending time outdoors through activities like gardening and exploring nature. That passion has shaped both my academic interests and the work I hope to pursue in the future.

This summer, I'm interning at Voltus, a company that helps businesses manage their energy consumption and participate in demand response programs. During periods when electricity demand is especially high, Voltus works with customers to temporarily reduce their energy usage, helping to stabilize the grid. In return, participating organizations receive financial compensation. By coordinating these efforts, Voltus helps businesses save money while supporting a more reliable and efficient energy system.

What initially drew you to the PSiCE Fellowship, and what excited you most about working with your organization this summer?

As a first-year student, I was exploring different opportunities and trying to find meaningful ways to gain experience in the energy and environmental sectors. What stood out to me about the PSiCE Fellowship was the range of organizations involved. Many of them are mission-driven and focused on creating positive environmental impact, while also operating as innovative businesses.

I was excited by the opportunity to work at a company where I could learn about both sustainability and the practical realities of the energy industry. The fellowship seemed like a great way to gain hands-on experience while contributing to work that has real-world impact.

Can you share some of your main responsibilities and projects this summer?

I'm working on the technical side of the company as an Energy Markets Intern. A large part of my role involves supporting the onboarding process for new customers. When a company joins Voltus's programs, we need to determine whether it can reliably reduce its energy consumption during periods of high grid demand.

This involves analyzing energy usage data, evaluating historical performance, and conducting calculations related to load reduction potential. One project I've been working on focuses on dispatch verification, which helps determine whether a customer can successfully reduce its electricity usage when called upon and how that performance affects revenue. It's been a great opportunity to work with real energy market data and better understand how demand response programs operate in practice.

Who are some of Voltus's customers, and how does demand response benefit them?

Voltus works with a wide range of customers, including factories, data centers, schools, hospitals, commercial buildings, and even residential homeowners. Many of these organizations can temporarily reduce their energy use for a short period of time without significantly affecting their operations. For example, a manufacturing facility may be able to pause one production line for a couple of hours during a peak demand event. In some cases, the financial incentives they receive for reducing energy consumption can outweigh the profits they would have earned by continuing operations during that period. It's a model that creates value for customers while also helping the electric grid operate more efficiently.

Data centers have become a major topic in energy conversations. How does that show up in your work?

Data centers are one of the biggest areas of focus for the company right now, particularly as artificial intelligence continues to drive growth in computing demand. Data centers often consume large amounts of electricity around the clock. During hot summer days, when residential electricity use is also high because of air conditioning demand, grid operators can face significant strain. Through demand response programs, data centers may be able to temporarily reduce certain processes during peak hours, often for as little as one hour, which can help relieve pressure on the grid while generating substantial savings. It's been fascinating to see how closely emerging technologies like AI are connected to broader energy system challenges.

What's something you've learned this summer that has surprised or inspired you?

One thing that surprised me was just how much of the conversation in the energy sector right now revolves around AI and data centers. I knew they were growing quickly, but I didn't realize how significant their impact on electricity demand had become.

What inspires me is that while Voltus's primary goal is helping customers and grid operators manage energy more efficiently, the work also produces meaningful environmental benefits. When electricity demand becomes too high, grid operators sometimes need to activate backup power plants, which are often more expensive and more emissions-intensive.

By helping customers reduce demand during peak periods, Voltus can help avoid those situations. It's rewarding to see how business incentives and environmental benefits can align. The company regularly shares updates about the emissions reductions achieved through its programs, and it's motivating to see the tangible impact of that work.

Looking ahead, how do you see this experience influencing your academic or career path?

This experience has definitely strengthened my interest in the energy sector. I've particularly enjoyed learning about energy markets and how assets like electricity are priced and managed. I've always been interested in commodities markets, but this internship has shown me how unique electricity is because it sits at the intersection of economics, climate, weather, and technology.

I've become especially interested in understanding how factors like meteorology, energy demand, and grid operations interact with one another. The complexity of those systems—and the challenge of balancing reliability, affordability, and sustainability—is something I find incredibly engaging. This experience has reinforced my desire to continue exploring energy-related careers in the future.