November 16, 2012:-Technical Lecture (Sprint Series)
Title: SPECIAL TECHNICAL PRESENTATION (part of the ECE Sprint Lecture Series): “Design of Modern Microgrids: Architecture Control and Protection,” Dr. Joydeep Mitra , Michigan State University
Attendance:
Number of Attendees: 50
Number of IEEE Member Attendees: 10
Number of Non-Member Attendees: 40
Description:
In just over a decade, microgrids have evolved from a novelty concept to a rapidly growing component of modern energy systems. With increasing penetration of rooftop solar, community wind, building-scale storage, and other embedded distributed energy resources (DER), many of today’s distribution systems will evolve into microgrids. Microgrids can potentially make electric power systems highly reliable and secure, and at the same time offer consumers a multitude of choices ranging from reliability differentiated services to “clean energy” options. Indeed, microgrids have established themselves as an important part of the “smart grid.” However, in order to realize the potential benefits of microgrids, certain considerations need to be applied to their design in terms of network architecture, control and protection. This presentation discussed the tremendous potential of microgrids as tomorrow’s energy delivery systems, and the need for cross-cutting research to enable this technology. The speaker described his contributions to microgrid architecture, in the areas of reliability-centered design, autonomous control, and integrated protection. He presented applications of both evolutionary and traditional methods in reliability-centered expansion planning, and discussed his present work on multi-agent control and observer-based protection of microgrids. He enumerated directions for future research on microgrid architecture, and some of the challenges and opportunities in this emerging field.

November 8, 2012:-IEEE Tallahassee Area Section and PES Chapter Meeting
Title:
“Obstacles to Real-Time Measurement and Control,” William Ackerman, PhD (2012 IEEE PES Distinguished Lecturer)
Attendance:
Number of Attendees: 53
Number of IEEE Member Attendees: 32
Number of Non-Member Attendees: 21
Description:
Dr. Ackerman, a 2012 IEEE Distinguished Lecturer for the Power & Energy Society, discussed major challenges in feedback and correction facing the US Power Grid. PES chapter event sponsorship. Topic: We get more and more information from the power system due to better communications, faster communications and other factors, but we still do not get enough information to truly have real-time control with no blackouts. In other words, the deeper we dig, we still seem just a shovel-full away from knowing the ‘true’ dynamics of a power system.

October 16, 2012:-Section Meeting
Title: “Where Nanotechnology Meets Fuel Cells,” Bing Energy Inc.
Attendance:
Number of Attendees: 66
Number of IEEE Member Attendees: 37
Number of Non-Member Attendees: 29
Description:
Representatives of Bing Energy International discussed the significant progression & impact nanotechnology it has brought to the fuel cell industry, and how it affects the Big Bend region and Wide Area Measurements for Smart Grid.

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