Opening Ceremony and Keynote Addresses
Conference Opening Ceremony Tuesday, 25 November 2008 / 09:00 – 9:20 hrs SMU Conference Hall One |
Keynote Address 1: | Why Energy Storage? |
Speaker: | Dr. Michael Quah |
Abstract
The applications of energy storage in portable and mobile power systems are obvious to consumers in this market space in the form of batteries and UPS's in all shapes and sizes. However, as distributed power / distributed generation begins to play an increasing role in the electrical grid, energy storage technologies will emerge as a critical enabler for greater insertion of alternative and renewable energy technologies into our legacy infrastructure. This paper will review the current advances in energy storage systems, some already in use, others emerging with great promise (but with some critical challenges) for the future.
Speaker Biography
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Dr. Michael Quah joins ESI on a short-term assignment as a Visiting Principal Fellow, October 20, 2008. He is taking a leave of absence from his position as Executive Director /Corporate Technology Fellow in Concurrent Technologies Corporation, a non-profit R&D and technical services company in the U.S. |
Dr. Quah holds the following degrees from Yale University: Ph.D. (1980), M. Phil. (1978), M.Sc. (1975), Chemical Engineering and has a B.A. [magna cum laude] (1974), Chemistry and Physics, from Harvard University.
His working career of almost 30 years was primarily in industry, where he worked for the DuPont Company for about 20 years (1979 – 1999), including a stint with DuPont Japan and Singapore (1990 to 1993). At DuPont, Dr. Quah held positions in R&D, product and business development, and management and his technical work revolved around membrane technologies for reverse osmosis, gas separations, and electrochemical processes, the last area stimulating his interest in alternative energy innovations. When Dr. Quah worked for DuPont in North Carolina (1993 – 1999), he also served as Adjunct Professor, Chemical Engineering, at North Carolina State University.
After early retirement from DuPont, he held management positions in several companies: Lydall Technical Papers, Ocean Power, and NextEnergy, all in areas related to materials, components, and devices for alternative energy systems. He has worked as an independent consultant and served in the US Army RDECOM/CERDEC (Research, Development, and Engineering Command, Communications and Electronics Directorate) in 2003/2004, Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
Dr. Quah is a member of the American Chemical Society and the Association of the United States Army. He is married with two children and he is a lector at his parish church.
Keynote Address 2: | Solar Electric Energy Supply — Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal |
Speaker: | Prof. Joachim Luther |
Abstract
A future global sustainable energy system will be based to a large extent on solar energy. In the area of electricity supply, solar photovoltaic and solar thermal energy conversion will play a decisive role. In order to realise sustainable electricity supply structures in due time, a strong cost reduction in solar electricity is essential.
The talk will cover (i) the general characteristics of sustainable energy systems, (ii) photovoltaic and solar thermal energy conversion technologies and (iii) the integration of solar electricity into electricity supply systems.
In particular cost reductions through higher energy conversion efficiency, lower material consumption, application of new materials and the optimisation of manufacturing technologies will be addressed.
Speaker Biography
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Prof. Joachim LUTHER is the CEO of SERIS. He is a Full Professor of Physics since 1974. From 1993 to 2006 he was heading the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE) in Germany, one of the world's largest and best-known solar energy institutes. He has been a member of various energy research associations/councils and has won several prestigious awards and prizes, including the European Becquerel Prize for Outstanding Merits in Photovoltaics (2005) and the Fraunhofer Coin for Outstanding Merits within the Fraunhofer Society (2006). |
Keynote Address 3: | Towards “integrated energy systems” — challenges and directions |
Speaker: | Prof. HO Hiang Kwee |
Abstract
Integrated energy systems offer immense opportunities for improving the efficiency, and therefore reducing the environmental impact, of energy production and use. They are typically distributed energy systems that are configured to supply energy in more than one form (for example, power, heating and cooling) that are well matched and optimized to the needs of end users in time, space and energy carriers. However, the additional cost, complexity and relative inflexibility of such systems pose significant challenges to their increased adoption and competitiveness. In many jurisdictions and markets, existing policies, codes and regulations may also work against their wider adoption. These challenges can be addressed through technical and policy innovations that will incorporate renewable, clean and sustainable technologies - for energy supply, conversion, utilisation and storage advanced computer-based and info-comm technologies for management of energy technologies and energy flows rational techno-economic energy analysis and optimization that incorporate both 1st and 2nd Law concepts, and competitive (though not necessarily fully laissez-faire) policy and market approaches.
Speaker Biography
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HO Hiang Kwee is the Director of SINERGY Centre at A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology & Research), which is a new energy centre that is being set up, focusing initially on distributed energy and microgrid technologies. He is concurrently an Associate Professor at the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University (NTU). His research interests are primarily in the assessment and analysis of energy systems and technologies. He has been consulted by both government agencies and industry, and serves on many energy-related committees (such as the Energy Policy Group, Clean Energy Program Office, Energy Efficiency Program Office, CDM Technical Committee, and R&D Workgroup of the National Climate Change Committee) that discuss and formulate important energy and climate change policies for Singapore. He is also a member of the Advisory Committee for Temasek Polytechnic’s Engineering School. |
Keynote Address 4: | Efficient Operation of Distributed Energy Resources in Microgrid |
Speaker: | Dr. Toshihisa Funabashi |
Abstract
A concept of microgrid was proposed and is being developed in many laboratories and organizations. Microgrid is defined as a small grid in which distributed energy resources and loads are placed together and controlled efficiently in an integrated manner. In many microgrids, new energy is used as a core power source. We believe that the development of technologies relating to this energy supply system contributes to the accelerated introduction of new energy resources. Microgrid also contributes to utility grid’s load leveling by controlling power flow between utility grid and microgrid according to a predetermined power flow pattern. Also, it will be able to contribute to an efficient operation of distributed generations by operation planning considering grid economics and energy efficiency. In addition, microgrid is useful for the area with no power system or weak power system in rural area. It can be operated in an islanded manner with appropriate control scheme.
In this presentation, microgrid field test experiences in Japan are outlined. The NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) started three research projects, which deal with new energy integration to local power system field test in 2004. The sites are in Aomori, Aichi and Kyoto. And, in Sendai projects, special concern is the use of series compensation devices (Dynamic Voltage Restorers or DVRs) to compensate for voltage sags to some loads, and the use of an AC:DC:AC inverter (‘Integrated Power System’) with battery backup.
Then, a microgrid control system developed by Meidensha Corporation is explained. In this control system, operation planning is realized based on generation and load forecasting by using neural network and fuzzy systems. It includes multi-objective evaluation of generation cost and CO2 gas emission with some constraints. Unit commitment of generations includes start/stop of power generations and storages. Load following function is accomplished based on PI control scheme. Power Systems Stabilizer (PSS) for microgrids has been developed with an Electric Double Layer Capacitor (EDLC). Rapid fluctuations of renewable generations are compensated with PSS. It enables rapid and frequent charge/discharge and realizes a long lifetime. PSS compensates both active and reactive power and it can also realize constant reactive power supply and consequently it can decrease reactive power of generators in microgrids.
Speaker Biography
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Toshihisa Funabashi was born in Aichi, Japan, on March 25,1951. He graduated in March 1975 from the Department of Electrical Engineering, Nagoya University, Japan. He received, in March 2000, a Doctor degree from Doshisha University, Kyoto, Japan. He joined Meidensha Corporation in April 1975 and has engaged in research and development on power system simulations and integration of distributed generation. Currently, he is a Senior Fellow of the Power Systems Solutions Sales and Engineering Division. Dr. Funabashi is a chartered engineer in UK, a senior member of IEEE, a member of IET and the IEE of Japan. |
