Speaker
Dr. Claudio Canizares
University Professor at the University of Waterloo
Title
"Microgrids Overview "
Abstract
Microgrids are not new to power systems, since these local and small grids have been widely deployed and utilized for decades to supply electricity in remote and isolated communities such as islands and remote villages throughout the world. However, more recently, there has been a rapid development and deployment of microgrids in the context of smart and resilient power networks and cities, in good part motivated by the need to integrate distributed generation, especially if powered by renewable resources such as wind and solar, to reduce operational costs and environmental impact, as well as increase energy resiliency, particularly in diesel-depended isolated microgrids.
The presentation will provide a general overview of microgrids and the research work being carried out by Prof. Canizares’ group at the University of Waterloo on the area, including a summary of a survey carried out by the group on remote microgrids in Canada, and a detailed description of the microgrid in one of these communities, namely, the Kasabonika Lake First Nation (KLFN) community microgrid in Northern Ontario, where a one-year measuring campaign was carried out to identify main technical issues associated with these kinds of microgrids.
A general description of the group’s main research contributions and findings in the area of microgrids, with several practical examples, will be provided, focusing on dispatch, control, stability, and optimal planning. In particular, the following subjects will be discussed in some detail: Energy Management Systems (EMS) considering renewable power uncertainty; thermal energy system integration in microgrids with high penetration of variable renewable power; voltage and frequency control and stability and its definitions, modeling, simulation, and analysis; optimal placement and sizing of renewable power equipment for minimization of costs and diesel use, considering secure system operation; and a dc microgrid EMS.
About Speaker
Dr. Claudio Cañizares is a University Professor, Hydro One Chair, and Executive Director of WISE at Waterloo, where he has been since 1993. His work on modeling, simulation, computation, stability, control, and optimization of power and energy systems is highly cited and recognized. He is the past IEEE Trans. Smart Gird EIC and an IEEE and PES Boards’ Director, and is a Fellow of the IEEE, Royal Society of Canada, Canadian Academy of Engineering, and Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering.
He has received the IEEE PES 2025 Ramakumar Family Renewable Energy Excellence and 2017 Outstanding Educator Awards, the 2016 IEEE Canada Electric Power Medal, and various other awards, recognitions, and leadership appointments from IEEE, PES, Waterloo, and Chinese universities.