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Conference Overview A sincere thank you to all our speakers for sharing your experience with us... (Request Presentations) Welcome Prof Udaya Annakkage, Department Head, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Manitoba Inaugural Address Hon. Dave Chomiak, Minister of Innovation, Energy and Mines Province of Manitoba Keynote address Gary Rackliffe, Vice President Smart Grids North America, ABB Inc Smart Grid Overview This session gave an overview of smart grid applications and their impact, and challenges of deploying smart grid technologies. It set the tone for further discussions on how utilities, technology providers and consumers should prepare for the grid of the future. The views of two key organizations, the ISO’s and NASPI, on how they see future developments in managing power flows and transmission were presented. Speakers:
Panel #1 – "Integrating Smart Grid Technologies into Transmission Networks" Chairman: Grant Gilchrist, Principal Consultant Smart Grid Engineering, EnerNex This panel discussed how instrumentation and intelligence can be added to the existing bulk power transmission infrastructure to optimize power flows and make the system more flexible, resilient and efficient. The panel also discussed the challenges of integrating the abundant renewable energy resources of this region and how the smart grid can improve load factors and achieve better utilization of generation capacity. Speakers and Panelists:
Panel #2 – "Smart Grid and the Consumer" Chairman: Bill Pratt, Smart Grid Customer Program Director, National Grid This session explored how the Smart Grid will be able to increase consumer choice and respond efficiently to these choices. Presentations included, pilot project deployments of smart meters and AMI and the effectiveness of time of use pricing and demand response in reducing peak load factors based on these projects. Distributed generation, the two-way flow of energy between the utility and the consumer enabled by plug-in electric vehicles and the smart home of the future were also discussed. Speakers and Panelists:
"Integrating the Grid - The Role of Communications and IT" The smartness of the grid comes from a two way flow of timely information and energy and the communications enabling this flow. Digital intelligence is the key. The technologies, protocols and shape of IT and communications are perhaps one of the biggest areas of change this industry will witness. This session gave a broad view of these changes. Speakers:
Panel #3 – "Smart Grid and Stakeholder Benefits" Chairman: Dave Fedirchuk, ERLPhase Power Technologies Any major change needs strong driving forces. Which stakeholder group drives the smart grid will depend on the benefits to the various stakeholders. This panel discussed questions such as: How are the costs and benefits of smart grid deployment going to pan out to providers and consumers? What kind of incentives and consumer education will be needed to change consumption habits? What are the political and regulatory policies necessary to facilitate this change? Panelists:
ESAM Presentation Ralph Kurth, Director ESAM and President, Teshmont Consultants LP Vote of Thanks Professor Udaya Annakkage Dinner’s Guest Speaker: Pierre Guimond, President and CEO, CEA |