Enabling Sustainable Energy Future through Diversity

The electrical power and energy industry is changing rapidly to meet the increasing load demand and sustainability needs. Load demand is becoming more diverse due to data centers and electrification (transportation, heating, etc.) as well as the overall growth, depending on a region. Serving those loads requires diversity in generation as the optimal way to provide affordable and sustainable energy is through mix of generation resources, its size, as well as deployment of electrical storage.

The electrical grid provides physical connection to the energy system and is the basis for integrating system information and control. Both renewables and the electrical T&D grid are carbon-free and complement each other. Supporting load growth and high levels of renewable integration is not possible with an aging infrastructure and outdated planning, operations and maintenance and requires investment in developing and deploying diverse technologies and improved processes and tools.

Grid flexibility and coordinated transmission, distribution, and resource planning and operation are becoming very important, especially for high levels of EV deployment and data centers. As the impact of EVs and data centers on the grid becoming more prominent, accurate dynamic modelling and forecasting are becoming critical for effective planning and operation of the grid. As we build the grid of the future with high penetration of inverter-based sources, which complement the grid, addressing dynamic changes through real-time situational awareness, analysis, and automation becomes even more important.

Identifying the best strategies to ensure reliable, resilient, and cost-effective delivery of electrical energy is needed to set a path to serve society needs. This diverse panel will discuss success factors address society needs.

Biographies

Damir Novosel is president and founder of Quanta Technology and was also president of Quanta Energized Services. Previously, he was vice president of ABB Automation Products and president of KEMA T&D U.S. Dr. Novosel served on various boards and is presently a member of the Sandia National Laboratories Energy and Homeland Security External Advisory Board and Mississippi State University Industry Advisory Board. Dr. Novosel is also an adjunct professor at North Carolina State University. Dr. Novosel holds 18 US and international patents, published over 200 articles and reports, and contributed to 8 books.

Damir, a member of the US National Academy of Engineers and IEEE Fellow and Life Fellow, served on the IEEE Standards Board and as IEEE PES President, VP of Technology, Executive Advisory Council secretary, and Industry Technical Support Leadership Committee chair. He received the IEEE PES Meritorious Service and Leadership in Power awards. Damir is the CIGRE US National Committee VP of Nominations and received the CIGRE Philip Sporn, Attwood Associate, and Distinguished Member awards.

Damir holds PhD, MSc, and BSc degrees in electrical engineering from Mississippi State University (where he was a Fulbright scholar), the University of Zagreb, Croatia, and the University of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, respectively. Dr. Novosel was selected as Mississippi State University Distinguished Engineering Fellow and received the Distinguished Alumni Award.