EPEC 2021 Keynotes

Claudio Canizares Friday Oct 22, 2021, 10:30 – 11:20 am (EST)
Keynote: “Energy Storage Overview and Research”  

Abstract: As the penetration of variable renewable  generation increases in power systems, issues such as grid stiffness, larger frequency deviations, and grid stability are becoming more relevant. In this context, Energy Storage Systems (ESSs) are proving to be effective in facilitating the integration of renewable resources, and thus are being widely deployed in both microgrids and large power grids. This talk will review several energy storage technologies, particularly Compress Air Energy Storage (CAES), flywheels, batteries, and thermal energy systems, and their modeling and applications in power systems.  An overview will be provided of the work being carried out by Prof.
Canizares group at the University of Waterloo on all these energy storage systems, focusing on novel models and applications in microgrids and distribution and transmission grids for system stability and control, in particular for frequency regulation.

Bio: Dr. Claudio Canizares is a University Professor and the Hydro One Endowed Chair at the Electrical and Computer Engineering (E&CE) Department of the University of Waterloo, where he has held various academic and administrative positions since 1993.  He received the Electrical Engineer degree from the Escuela Politecnica Nacional (EPN) in Quito-Ecuador in 1984, where he held different academic and administrative positions between 1983 and 1993, and his MSc (1988) and PhD (1991) degrees in Electrical Engineering are from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.  His research activities focus on the study of stability, control, optimization, modeling, simulation, and computational issues in bulk power systems, microgrids, and energy systems in the context of competitive energy markets and smart grids.  In these areas, he has led or been an integral part of many grants and contracts from government agencies and private companies worth millions of dollars, and has collaborated with multiple industry and university researchers in Canada and abroad, supervising/co-supervising dozens of research fellows and graduate students.  He has authored/co-authored numerous publications with large citation indices, including journal and conference papers, technical reports, book chapters, disclosures and patents, and has been invited to deliver keynote speeches, seminars, tutorials, and presentations at many institutions and conferences worldwide.  He is the Editor-In-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, the 2021-2023 IEEE Division VII Director-Elect and Director of the IEEE Board, and a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineering (IEEE), a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, where he was the Director of the Applied Science and Engineering Division of the Academy of Science from 2017 to 2020, and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering.  He is also the recipient of the 2017 IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) Outstanding Power Engineering Educator Award, the 2016 IEEE Canada Electric Power Medal, and of multiple IEEE PES Technical Council and Committee awards and recognitions, holding leadership positions in several IEEE-PES Committees, Working Groups, and Task Forces.  

Bikash Pal Friday Oct 22, 2021, 11:30am – 12:20 pm (EST)
Keynote: Volt-Var Control in Power Distribution System

Abstract: Electrical generation, transmission and distribution systems all over the world have entered a period of significant renewal and technological change. There have been phenomenal changes/deployments in technology of generation driven by the worldwide emphasis on energy from wind and solar as a sustainable solution to our energy need.  Increasingly energy demand from heating and transportation are being met by electricity. These changes have significantly influenced the planning, design, operation and control of the power distribution system. Accommodating uncertainties in renewable generation and demand forecast in a cost-effective manner is now a very complex optimization problem. This talk will share our recent research efforts Volt/VAr control (VVC) strategy in distribution systems to address the uncertainties. Efficient chance constrained conic optimisation technique accelerated through scenario reduction approach will be discussed to demonstrate the significant reduction of voltage violations when compared with the deterministindc cases while not relaxing the conservativeness of the final solutions. It will also touch upon treatment of certain types of load characteristic in the proposed solution framework.  Future research challenges and opportunities will be highlighted.
Bio:Bikash Pal is a Professor of Power Systems at Imperial College London (ICL). He is research active in power system stability, control, and estimation. Currently is leading a six university UK-China research consortium on Resilient Operation of Sustainable Energy Systems (ROSES) as part of EPSRC-NSFC Programme on Sustainable Energy Supply.  He led UK-China research consortium project on Power network stability with grid scale storage (2014-2017): He also led an eight- university UK-India research consortium project (2013-2017) on smart grid stability and control. His research is conducted in strategic partnership with ABB, GE Grid Solutions, UK, and National Grid, UK. UK Power Networks. GE commissioned sequel of projects with him to analyse and solve wind farm HVDC grid interaction problems (2013-2019).  Prof Pal was the chief technical consultant for a panel of experts appointed by the UNFCCC CDM (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Clean Development Mechanism). He has offered trainings in Chile, Qatar, UAE, Malaysia and India in power system protections, stability and control topics. He has developed and validated a prize winning 68-bus power system model, which now forms a part of IEEE Benchmark Systems as a standard for researchers to validate their innovations in stability analysis and control design.  He was the Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy (2012-2017) and Editor-in-Chief of IET Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2005-2012). He is Vice President, PES Publications (2019-).  In 2016, his research team won the President’s outstanding research team award at Imperial College London (ICL). He is Fellow of IEEE for his contribution to power system stability and control. He is an IEEE Distinguished Lecturer in Power distribution system estimation and control. He was). He has published about 100 papers in IEEE Transactions and IET journals and authored four books in power system modelling, dynamics, estimations and control. Two of his papers in power system stability and control topics have received annual best journal paper award. He was Otto Monstead Professor at Denmark Technical University (DTU) (2019) and Mercator Professor sponsored by German Research Foundation (DFG) at University of Duisburg-Essen in 2011. He worked as faculty at IIT Kanpur, India. He holds a Visiting Professorship at Tsinghua University, China.  

CY (Tony) Chung Saturday Oct 23, 2021, 10:30 – 11:20 am (EST)
Keynote: “Advanced Prediction Techniques Applied to Smart Grids” 

Abstract:  The power system industry is shifting towards a new digitalization era to better manage risk within volatile energy commodities, increase customer engagement, and enhance efficiency via grid optimization. Data analytics play a vital role in this transformation and, as such, different measurement architectures have been used and implemented to facilitate data capturing process and supervisory control at the generation, transmission, and distribution levels. This keynote speech will briefly review the recent outcomes of some smart grid challenges addressed by novel prediction techniques. At the generation level, decomposition techniques have been applied to handle the inherent uncertainty in short-term wind power prediction. At the transmission level, dynamic thermal line rating prediction has been studied as a viable solution to reduce congestion and utilize the actual capacity of the line. Considering the high inclusion of phasor measurement units at the transmission level, cutting-edge methods have been proposed to address stability status prediction of the grid following a contingency. Finally, at the distribution level, real-life data obtained from advanced metering infrastructure have been used for load prediction and customer segmentation.
Bio:Prof. Chi Yung CHUNG, BEng(Hons), PhD, P.Eng., FIEEE, FEIC, FIET, FHKIE Prof. C.Y. Chung is a Professor, the NSERC/SaskPower Senior Industrial Research Chair in Smart Grid Technologies, and the SaskPower Chair in Power Systems Engineering in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. He is a prominent leader for advancing academic activities and applied research in power systems engineering development in the province of Saskatchewan. He is now leading a research team, supported by SaskPower and NSERC of Canada, to conduct cutting-edge and long-term smart grid research for SaskPower and address critical technical issues associated with smart grid technologies and their applications to real power systems. Prof. Chung is currently a Senior Editor of “IEEE Transactions on Power Systems”, a Vice Editor-in-Chief of “Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy” and a Subject Editor of “IET Generation, Transmission & Distribution”. He is an IEEE PES Distinguished Lecturer and a member of IEEE PES Fellow Evaluation Committee. He is also the recipient of the 2021 IEEE Canada P. Ziogas Electric Power Award and a Fellow of IEEE, EIC, IET and HKIE.    

Innocent Kamwa Saturday Oct 23, 2021, 11:30am – 12:20 pm (EST)
Keynote: Dealing with high penetration of distributed energy resources in power electronics dominated grids

Abstract: The much-desired emergence of a 100% renewable economy is closely linked to electrical systems dominated by decentralized energy resources, carbon-free and interfaced by power electronics. This radical change requires rethinking the way of designing, protecting, controlling and optimizing the operation of electrical networks, which will have to be smarter to control the uncertainties and risks of instability inherent in the massive switch to autonomous energy systems, capable of interactions. decentralized. Our talk targets several technologies essential to meet these challenges: (a) Transactive energy systems, which empower electricity consumers and encourage the co-adoption of storage, solar and electric vehicles. (b) Controls and automatisms ensuring the stability of power systems dominated by electronics (c) Simulation tools facilitating the implementation of such systems and the optimization of their flexibilities for enhanced network security.  Emerging industrial and academic research trends to enable these technologies will be underlined, with emphasis on the critical role of simulation in this context of growing complexity.
Bio: Innocent Kamwa obtained his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Université Laval in 1989. A full professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Decentralized Sustainable Electricity Grids for Smart Communities at Laval University, he was previously a researcher at Hydro-Québec’s Research Institute, specializing in the dynamic performance and control of power systems. He was Chief Scientist for Hydro-Québec’s Smart Grid Innovation Program and an international consultant in power grid simulation and network stability. Dr. Kamwa is a Fellow of the IEEE for his innovations in power system control and a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering. He is also the 2019 recipient of the IEEE Charles Proteus Steinmetz and Charles Concordia Awards. 

John McDonald  Oct. 31, 2021, 10:30 – 11:20am (EST)
Keynote: The Future Requirements of Smart Grid => Grid Modernization

 Abstract: This talk will familiarize participants with a vision for Grid Modernization, focusing on technological advancements beyond Smart Grid. The technological advancements include discussions of key industry/societal trends, Smart Grid concepts, holistic solutions, integration of microgrids and distributed generation, and Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) software applications. John will also cover feeder automation business models, managing different types of data, big data, analytics, enterprise data management, Smart Grid standards and interoperability, and Smart Grid deployments and lessons learned.
Bio: John D. McDonald, P.E., is Smart Grid Business Development Leader for GE’s Grid Solutions business. John has 46 years of experience in the electric utility transmission and distribution industry. John received his B.S.E.E. and M.S.E.E. (Power Engineering) degrees from Purdue University, and an M.B.A. (Finance) degree from the University of California-Berkeley. John is a Life Fellow of IEEE (member for 50 years), and was awarded the IEEE Millennium Medal, the IEEE Power & Energy Society (PES) Excellence in Power Distribution Engineering Award, the IEEE PES Substations Committee Distinguished Service Award, the IEEE PES Meritorious Service Award, the 2016 CIGRE Distinguished Member Award and the 2016 CIGRE USNC Attwood Associate Award. John is Past President of the IEEE PES, the VP for Technical Activities for the US National Committee (USNC) of CIGRE, the Past Chair of the IEEE PES Substations Committee, and the IEEE Division VII Past Director. John was on the Board of Governors of the IEEE-SA (Standards Association) and is on the IEEE Foundation Board of Directors. John received the 2009 Outstanding Electrical and Computer Engineer Award from Purdue University. John teaches a Smart Grid course at the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Smart Grid course for GE, and Smart Grid courses for various IEEE PES local chapters as an IEEE PES Distinguished Lecturer (since 1999). John has published one hundred fifty papers and articles, has co-authored five books and has one US patent.  

Shay Bahramirad Oct 22, 2021, 12:30 – 1:30pm (EST)

Keynote: Climate Change and Resilience Planning of Electric Power System

Abstract:. The electricity sector is the key enabler of all critical infrastructure sectors that billions of people across the world depend on. However, electricity sector is under increased threat due to the ever-evolving impacts of climate change and weather events that are becoming more frequent and severe. Disruptions to the electrical infrastructure propagate to other sectors creating a domino effect. Climate change and its consequences have direct impacts on the electric grid; e.g., heat waves and record breaking winter temperatures cause demand surges beyond expectations and distribution substations are highly vulnerable to flooding. These threats are compounded in the face of aging infrastructure.  The direct impacts from climate change put great emphasis on developing resiliency planning frameworks to adapt to the impacts of severe events on the functions of the electric grid. Increasing frequency of events make it inevitable for resiliency planning and solutions to become a part of coordinated planning functions in the electricity sector and investment prioritization frameworks including generation, transmission, and distribution. Resiliency planning is even more critical since not only the climate change and its impacts are evolving, but also the grid is evolving toward a more sustainable and renewable future with emerging solutions including Microgrids and distributed energy resources. More importantly, a resilient infrastructure is the building block of incorporating renewables and emerging technologies into the grid.

  

Bio:Dr. Bahramirad has held several positions in the Energy Sector, including Vice President of Engineering  and Smart Grid at ComEd: the electric utility in Illinois. In these roles, she has overseen and/or executed  “grid of the future” visions, technical roadmaps, analytical frameworks, and investment strategies of  distribution system and communication network; Fiber of over $4B. She has also been responsible for  system reliability, DER integration, grid strategy and analytics, standards, maintenance inspection,  emerging technologies, STEM programming, and reimagining the power grid to mitigate and adapt to  climate change. She has also developed talent strategies, industry engagement plans, and advocacy  programs to support business objectives. She has been the expert witness and testified on several state  and federal regulatory proceedings around microgrids, energy storage, investment strategies, and  Distributed generation interconnection; 1547.  Dr. Bahramirad is an editorial board member of the Electricity Journal, US CIGRE Executive member, an  adjunct professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology, and the IEEE/PES Vice President of New Initiatives  and Outreach, overseeing the organization’s engagement with policymakers globally around technical  issues, investment strategies, emerging technologies, and developing plans for the next generation of  frameworks including smart cities, and clean energy and running the philanthropy activities of IEEE/PES;  Smart Village. She is the contributor to the United Nations SG7, Affordable and Clean Energy. She is responsible  for assisting cities and utilities with climate change risk assessments for their assets, operations, and  services and for developing mitigation strategies and investment strategies for adapting to climate  change. Dr. Bahramirad will address global impact of climate to electric infrastructure and local resilience plan to address it.