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Frede Blaabjerg, IEEE Fellow Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark |
Title - Power Electronics Technology - Quo Vadis
Abstract - The world is becoming more and more electrified combined with that the consumption is steadily increasing – at the same time there is a large transition of power generation from fossil fuel to renewable energy based which all together challenges the modern power system but also gives many opportunities. We see also now big steps being taken to electrify the transportation – both better environment as well as higher efficiency are driving factors. One of the most important technologies to move this forward is the power electronics technology which has been emerging for decades and still challenges are seen in the technology and the applications it is used. This presentation will be a little forward looking (Quo Vadis) in some exciting research areas in order further to improve the technology and the systems it is used in. Following main topics will be discussed
- The evolution of power devices
- Renewable Generation
- Reliability in power electronics
- Power Electronic based Power System stability
At last some discussions about other hot topics will be given.
Frede Blaabjerg (S’86–M’88–SM’97–F’03) was with ABB-Scandia, Randers, Denmark, from 1987 to 1988. From 1988 to 1992, he got the PhD degree in Electrical Engineering at Aalborg University in 1995. He became an Assistant Professor in 1992, an Associate Professor in 1996, and a Full Professor of power electronics and drives in 1998 at AAU Energy. From 2017 he became a Villum Investigator. He is honoris causa at University Politehnica Timisoara (UPT), Romania in 2017 and Tallinn Technical University (TTU), Estonia in 2018.
His current research interests include power electronics and its applications such as in wind turbines, PV systems, reliability, Power-2-X, power quality and adjustable speed drives. He has published more than 800 journal papers in the fields of power electronics and its applications. He is the co-author of ten monographs and editor of twenty books in power electronics and its applications eg. the series (4 volumes) Control of Power Electronic Converters and Systems published by Academic Press/Elsevier.
He has received 46 IEEE Prize Paper Awards, the IEEE PELS Distinguished Service Award in 2009, the EPE-PEMC Council Award in 2010, the IEEE William E. Newell Power Electronics Award 2014, the Villum Kann Rasmussen Research Award 2014, the Global Energy Prize in 2019 and the 2020 IEEE Edison Medal. He was the Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON POWER ELECTRONICS from 2006 to 2012. He has been Distinguished Lecturer for the IEEE Power Electronics Society from 2005 to 2007 and for the IEEE Industry Applications Society from 2010 to 2011 as well as 2017 to 2018. In 2019-2020 he served as a President of IEEE Power Electronics Society. He has been Vice-President of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences.
He is nominated in 2014-2021 by Thomson Reuters to be between the most 250 cited researchers in Engineering in the world.
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Hosein Farzanehfard, IEEE Senior Member Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran |
Title - Soft Switching Techniques: From Classical Approaches to Emerging Topologies in High-Efficiency Power Conversion
Hosein Farzanehfard (Senior Member, IEEE) was born in Isfahan, Iran, in 1961. He received his B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Missouri, Columbia, USA, in 1983 and 1985, respectively, and earned his Ph.D. from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, USA, in 1992.
Since 1993, he has been with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Isfahan University of Technology, where he currently serves as a Full Professor. Prof. Farzanehfard is the author or co-author of over 300 technical papers published in leading journals and conference proceedings. His contributions have been widely recognized through numerous awards for both academic excellence and industry-oriented research.
Prof. Farzanehfard’s research interests span a wide range of power electronics, including high-frequency soft-switching converters, high step-up and step-down converters, power factor correction, multi-input and bidirectional converters, renewable energy conversion systems, resonant converters, battery chargers, gate drivers, and LED drivers.
With decades of experience bridging cutting-edge research and practical innovation, Prof. Farzanehfard brings deep insight and inspiration to the field of power electronics.
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Mohamed Benbouzid, IEEE Fellow University of Brest, Institut de Recherche Dupuy de Lôme, Brest, France |
Title—Exploring Energy Management in Microgrids: Approaches, Challenges, and Emerging Opportunities
Abstract—Renewable energy sources are increasingly being deployed at a large scale to meet rising energy demands, reduce environmental pollution, and support sustainable socio-economic development. The integration of these distributed energy resources into the utility grid has led to the emergence of microgrids—self-sufficient systems capable of operating independently (in islanded mode) during grid outages. Within a microgrid, an effective energy management system (EMS) is crucial to ensure the intelligent, secure, reliable, and coordinated utilization of distributed energy resources. This keynote will critically examine decision-making strategies and solution methodologies for energy management in microgrids. Special attention will be given to the challenges posed by the variability and intermittency of renewable energy sources and load demand, addressed through uncertainty quantification techniques. Additionally, the keynote will include a comparative analysis of communication technologies to evaluate their suitability for cost-effective implementation of microgrid EMS solutions.
- Mohamed Benbouzid completed his Ph.D. in electrical at the National Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble, Grenoble, France, in 1994. He further earned his Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches degree from the University of Amiens, Amiens, France, in 2000.
- Following the completion of his Ph.D., Dr. Benbouzid joined the University of Amiens, where he held the position of Associate Professor in electrical engineering. Since September 2004, he has been affiliated with the University of Brest, Brest, France, where he currently serves as a Full Professor in electrical engineering.
- Benbouzid primary research interests and expertise include control of electric machines, variable-speed drives for traction, propulsion, and renewable energy applications, and fault diagnosis of electric machines.
- Benbouzid is an IEEE Fellow and a Fellow of the IET. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal on Energy Conversion and the Applied Sciences (MDPI) Section on Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering. He is a Deputy Editor for the IET Renewable Power Generation.
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Behrooz Bahrani Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia |
Title -Inverter-based Grids: Stability through Grid-Forming Inverters
Abstract - This presentation focuses on the critical aspects of small signal and large signal stability in grid-forming inverters (GFMIs), which are essential for maintaining reliability and efficiency in modern power systems. The presentation will cover theoretical foundations and practical implications of small signal stability, exploring how minor perturbations affect the system's ability to maintain synchronicity with the grid. It will then transition to large signal stability, discussing the system's response to significant disturbances such as faults or sudden large load changes.
Objectives:
- Understand the fundamental principles of small and large signal stability in GFMIs.
- Explore the specific challenges and solutions related to GFMIs.
- Apply theoretical knowledge to analyse stability issues and design appropriate control mechanisms.
Prof. Behrooz Bahrani started his academic journey at Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, where he received his B.Sc. degree. He then continued to expand his knowledge at the University of Toronto, Canada, earning an M.Sc. degree. He completed his educational journey at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland, where he obtained his Ph.D. degree in 2012. His academic focus throughout these years remained firmly rooted in electrical power engineering. After spending a few years as a postdoctoral researcher at several well-known institutions, such as EPFL, Georgia Institute of Technology, and the Technical University of Munich, Germany, in 2015, he joined Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Currently, he is serving as a Professor and is also the Director of the Grid Innovation Hub at the same institution. Prof. Bahrani's research interests lie in inverter-dominated power systems. Specifically, he is engaged in investigating inverter-based resources, their control and applications in power systems, and how to integrate renewable energy resources into the grid. In recent years, Prof. Bahrani has been increasingly focused on grid forming inverters and their applications in power systems.
