Nkiruka Avila, PhD

Nkiruka "Nikky" Avila, PhD is an energy expert currently serving as the Energy Strategy Research Lead at Meta.2 Her work focuses on designing, testing, and deploying microgrids to enable a clean and resilient energy future.2

Background and Education

Nkiruka completed her PhD at the Energy and Resources Group at the University of California, Berkeley between 2015-2018.45 During her time at Berkeley, she conducted research on electricity access modeling in Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on distributed energy technologies and their potential to promote energy justice and equity.1

Research Interests and Expertise

Nkiruka's areas of expertise include:

• Solar grid integration and climate policy in California
• Electricity access in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia
• Distributed energy technologies
• Energy justice and equity

Her research incorporates both technical modeling and social science methods, particularly urban planning, to understand the social impacts of distributed generation.1

Professional Experience

Prior to her current role at Meta, Nkiruka:

• Worked on alternatives to large hydropower development on the Mekong River as part of a research team1
• Participated in system-scale planning workshops hosted by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam in Hanoi1

In her current position at Meta, Nkiruka is involved in cutting-edge projects related to renewable energy. For example, she recently shared information about California's first 100% renewable multi-customer microgrid becoming operational.3

Personal Background

Nkiruka grew up in Lagos, Nigeria, where she experienced firsthand the challenges of unreliable electricity access. This personal experience has significantly influenced her research interests and career path in the energy sector.1