Case Summary:  

This NIW approval spotlights a Chinese postdoctoral researcher whose work supports a power grid that is more flexible at the distribution level, where solar, storage, and responsive demand increasingly shape daily operations. The proposed endeavor centers on distribution-level electricity market design, including pricing mechanisms and optimization-based solution methods that help coordinate distributed energy resources within local networks. At the time of filing, the client was pursuing this work in the United States and continuing it through a research appointment at a U.S. energy research laboratory, in a role aligned with the proposed endeavor.

Research with National Importance

In the petition, we demonstrated substantial merit and national importance by connecting the endeavor to U.S. needs in grid reliability, clean energy integration, and efficient electricity market operations. As distributed energy resources expand, system operators must manage congestion, uncertainty, and restoration challenges under variable conditions. The client’s research advances practical pricing and coordination approaches that reflect local system constraints and support more reliable operations during peak demand and disruptive events.

Academic Contributions and Recognition

The petition documented an established record of scholarly output and independent influence. The client has authored 22 peer-reviewed journal articles, 4 peer-reviewed conference articles, and 1 technical report, and the work has received 348 citations, reflecting meaningful reliance by other researchers. The case also highlighted strong citation-percentile performance for multiple publications in Engineering, reinforcing that the research is not only published but actively shaping ongoing work in power systems and electricity markets.

Recognition from Experts

The filing incorporated expert letters, along with an independent advisory opinion, describing how the client’s research contributes to distribution market design, grid economics, and distributed resource integration. These evaluations supported the petition’s showing that the client is well-positioned to continue advancing the proposed endeavor in the United States.

An expert noted:

“To conclude, [client]’s breakthrough research, focusing on enhancing grid economics and resilience and promoting renewable energy adoption, underscores his invaluable contributions to electrical engineering and his pivotal role in advancing sustainable energy solutions.”

This endorsement reinforced the petition’s presentation that the client’s work has clear practical relevance to U.S. energy reliability and clean energy goals.

NIW Approval and Outlook

The I-140 NIW petition was filed on June 17th, 2024, and approved on January 6th, 2026, after an upgrade to premium processing. In the filing, we presented a clear NIW framework showing that the endeavor has substantial merit and national importance, the client is well-positioned to advance it as evidenced by an influential publication and citation record, and that granting the waiver benefits the United States by enabling continued progress in modern distribution-level market design for a cleaner and more reliable grid.