Sushmita Jena is a senior energy researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where she has led work for over five years focused on voluntary energy procurement markets. Her research focuses on how large public, commercial, and industrial energy buyers influence grid reliability. She develops decision-support tools like the Procurement Analysis Tool, produces market data and insights, and provides technical assistance to stakeholders navigating complex energy procurement decisions. Her current work explores the role of voluntary procurement in scaling distributed energy energy deployment and addresses emerging regulatory challenges tied to rising data center energy demand. Prior to NREL, Sushmita worked across Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia in international development, advancing energy access and economic growth. She brings technical expertise in market development, and policy analysis. Her interdisciplinary approach blends analytical rigor with stakeholder engagement to support strategy development for a resilient energy system. She holds a Master’s degree in Renewable Energy and International Economics and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration
