Agenda |
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Note: All times are CDT
9:00 - 10:15 am The State of Grid Modernization: Utility Updates and Insights
As the need to move away from traditional energy sources and strengthen the grid intensifies, distributed energy resources (DERs) are increasingly becoming part of the solution. As utilities strive to incorporate DERs and modernize their networks, various technologies are being deployed, including utility-scale solar, battery storage, microgrids, wind resources, demand response and more. This opening panel will provide an update from a range of utilities across the U.S. regarding where we are currently in the move toward grid modernization, and where we're going.
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Gary Brinkworth Senior Advisor, Innovation & Research Tennessee Valley Authority profile |
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Michael Daniels Director of Digital Grid of the Future and Analytics Ameren profile |
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Stephen Lasher Principal Engineer National Grid profile |
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Valentina Dabic, P.Eng. Team Lead, Strategic Planning, Future Grid and Modernization, LAP, Integrated Planning BC Hydro profile |
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James Mater Director and General Manager, Smart Grid QualityLogic profile |
10:15 - 10:45 Coffee Break
10:45 - 12:00 Beneficial Electrification: What Do Consumers Need and Want?
As electric utilities and policymakers look for ways to address climate change and decarbonize the economy, widespread electrification is likely on the horizon. This session will provide attendees with takeaways on consumer interest in electrification, the factors that would motivate them to adopt electric alternatives, the reasons why this transition is happening and the benefits it can provide to consumers. Panelists will also share some examples of electrification programs in the field today.
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Richard G. Medina Vice President, Grid Transformation and Engineering CPS Energy profile |
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Jason McGrade Senior Program Manager, Strategic Operations Touchstone Energy Cooperatives profile |
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Jennifer McWilliams Senior Engineer DNV GL profile |
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Keith Dennis Vice President, Business and Technologies Strategies Division National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) profile |
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Nathan Shannon President and CEO Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative profile |
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch Break
1:00 - 2:30 Resilience, Cost Savings, Sustainability - Can Microgrids Really Achieve All 3?
Microgrids are touted as being able to provide multiple value streams -- resilience, cost savings, and reduced carbon emissions -- but at times these values are in contention with one another. Can microgrid projects really optimize on all three at once? Renewable based DERs and automation are keys to the puzzle as well as a strong customer understanding of project goals and operational strategy.
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Matt Goss Senior Vice President, MEP/Energy Practice Leader CDM Smith profile |
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Nkiruka Avila Expert Innovation Engineer - Microgrids Pacific Gas and Electric profile |
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Bob Wengel Senior Vice President of Facilities and Security John G. Shedd Aquarium profile |
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Jake Friedman Director of Project Development GreenStruxure profile |
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Caitlin Bonney Microgrid Solution Architect Schneider Electric profile |
2:30 - 3:00 Coffee Break
3:00 - 4:00 Financing of Microgrids and T&D Modernization in Post-Covid Recovery
The microgrid market is expected to reach $30.9 billion by 2027, according to Guidehouse Research. This session will discuss new issues , perspectives and trends in the funding and financing of transmission and distribution (T&D) modernization and business models for the future. Regulatory and policy considerations will be examined, as well as funding, market-based issues, and the importance of private equity and specialty fund capitalization for new microgrid structures, business models and solutions. The directions of the new Biden administration, the electric utility sector, state and local strategies will be reviewed as a matter of energy, climate and infrastructure policy. Key projects and states' leadership will also be examined.
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Michael J. Zimmer Washington Counsel Microgrid Institute profile |
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Thomas S. Stanton Principal Researcher for Energy and Environment National Regulatory Research Institute profile |
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Steven W. Pullins SVP, Chief Technology Officer AlphaStruxure profile |
4:00 - 4:15 Coffee Break
4:15 - 5:00 Preparation of Distribution Circuits for Distribution System State Estimation and Smart Grid Applications
Many utilities are in the process of implementing Smart Grid applications on the distribution grid such as Fault-Location, Isolation and Service Restoration (FLISR) and Volt-Var Optimization (VVO) to improve reliability and asset utilization, avoid DER-caused problems, and predict load response to market or other signals. A Distribution System State Estimator (DSSE) is a foundational application for providing situational awareness and is a de facto requirement for running these Smart Grid applications without causing capacity and voltage violations. A well-performing DSSE is of particular importance on distribution circuits in which the violation-free and optimal execution of these applications is challenged by large numbers of DERs due to their variable production levels and, potentially, Behind-The-Meter (BTM) locations. EnerNex collaborated with utilities to develop a simulation-based methodology to inform sensor deployment decisions that avoid costly investments in "too much" telemetry and overloading and voltage violations that can be consequences of "not enough" telemetry.
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Jens Schoene Director of Research Studies EnerNex, a CESI Company profile |
5:00 - 6:00 Drink Reception
9:00 - 10:30 am AI and Agent-based Optimization for the Future of Energy
In this interactive panel, four professionals from the power industry and academia will present their most recent research, development and applied projects outcomes that have used artificial intelligence (AI) and multi-agent distributed optimization (MADO) methods for modern power systems real-time optimization and control. With the recent power interruptions in Texas and rolling blackouts that ERCOT (the electricity system operator in Texas) have experienced, the importance of analytical SaaS/software tools with embedded AI and distributed autonomous agents capable of real-time monitoring and optimization of the power grid is acknowledged more than ever before.
Key takeaways:
- Most recent research & development work on distributed agent-based optimization methods for integrated microgrids of the future
- Real project demonstrations with focus on distribution grid automation and real-time optimal control of distributed energy resources, demand response, and voltage regulator assets
- The future of energy roadmap for utilizing sustainable integrated microgrids with AI and optimization SaaS/software for real-time monitoring, control and energy trading
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Ashkan R. Kian, PhD, P.Eng, IEEE Senior Member Founder & CEO IEMS Group profile |
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Javad Mohammadi Systems Scientist, Electrical and Computer Engineering Carnegie Mellon University profile |
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Amin Kargarian Marvasti Assistant Professor Louisiana State University profile |
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Angie Schuler Vice President, Power Systems Solutions S&C Electric Company profile |
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Saeed Kamalinia Senior Manager, Power Systems Solutions S&C Electric Company profile |
10:30 - 11:00 Coffee Break
11:00 - 12:30 pm Technology as a Catalyst for Accelerating a Clean-Energy Future
Increasing reliance on the operating and information technologies that allow utilities to integrate and deliver a diverse portfolio of clean energy sources is reshaping how energy service providers plan, build and operate energy delivery infrastructure. A diverse panel of energy industry leaders will discuss how they are rethinking their organizational missions and increasing their reliance on information and technology to accelerate a clean energy future.
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Steven Rupp Director of Utility Consulting EnerNex, a CESI Company profile |
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Urmi Kavi, PMP IT Architecture Manager Puget Sound Energy profile |
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Ananth Sundaram Chief Architect/Principal Manager of Integrated Grid Portland General Electric profile |
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Ricardo Montano Smart Grid Systems Engineer Southern California Edison profile |
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Abraham Jose, GICSP, CISA, TOGAF Cybersecurity Architect - Industrial Control Systems & IoT Pacific Gas and Electric Company profile |
12:30 - 1:15 Break
1:15 - 1:45 Development of Virtual Power Plant Management System using Machine Learning Technology – The South Korean Experience
The South Korean Government has taken the initiative in investing in renewable energy via its Korea Renewable Energy 3020 Plan, setting a goal to produce 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. When the plan to dramatically grow the share of renewable energy resources in the power generation mix is realized, it will weaken grid security and controllability and can cause serious challenges for power grid operators.
A Virtual Power Plants (VPP) can solve this problem by integrating intermittent distributed energy resources (DERs) through information and communication technologies to deliver a single generation profile. This session will focus on two core technologies for the VPP system: renewable energy forecasting and schedule optimization for electricity sales. Work done by VGen Co (part of KEPCO)., Ltd. on the development of a VPP using state-of-the-art technologies such as machine learning and optimization, as well as an application compiler provided by MATLAB platform, will be discussed.
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Shishir Shekhar Global Utilities & Energy Industry Segment Lead MathWorks Inc USA profile |
1:45 - 2:15 Anticipating and Preventing Physical Equipment Damage from Cyber Attacks
Power system operators and Cyber security defenders need to be cross trained so that they can work together to recognize when a cyber breach may make critical power system equipment vulnerable to permanent damage. The PowerSimulator product, jointly developed by IncSys and PowerData, is used extensively by system operators throughout North America for NERC-mandated system restoration and emergency operation drills. This presentation will cover how real-time power system simulations with cross functional participants can enhance a utility's preparedness for responding to cyber-attacks. This presentation will also make the case for cyber security defenders to become trained and certified as NERC System Operators so that they have a deeper appreciation of the value and strategic importance of the critical assets that are being monitored and controlled by their cyber systems.
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Dr. Robin Podmore IEEE Fellow, Member NAE, NERC Certified System Operator President and CEO IncSys profile |
2:15 - 2:45 Coffee Break
2:45 - 4:15 Planning for Grid Resiliency in a Climate-Changing World
With the growing threat of grid instability and outages caused by weather-related incidents, there is urgent need for technology innovations that can help guarantee grid resiliency and flexibility. The move to incorporate increasing amounts of intermittent renewables into the energy mix also adds to this requirement for better control, coordination and backup of distributed energy resources. This panel of innovators will discuss the kinds of challenges faced by new grid environments as well as developments in the areas of energy storage, communications, and distribution network technologies designed to meet them. The goal is to prepare the grid of the future for a distributed, challenging, climate-changing world.
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Gary Rackliffe Vice President, Market Development and Innovation North America Hitachi ABB Power Grids profile |
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Joe Sullivan Head of Sales - North America PXiSE Energy Solutions profile |
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Gil Shavit President & Chief Business Development GenCell Energy profile |
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Rolf Bienert Technical Director OpenADR Alliance profile |