Many smart grid stakeholders have promoted the benefits of distributed generation and microgrids over the past several decades. With the recent American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) smart grid stimulus awards, both distributed generation and microgrids have seen a renewed level of focus from utilities, industrial users, and the Department of Defense. Furthermore, with the latest growth of renewable distributed generation such as solar PV and wind the need to mitigate the impact of variable generation on the distribution grid can be met by implementing DER control strategies that a microgrid control system is uniquely capable of managing.

With the recent convergence of market drivers such as energy efficiency, energy security, transmission constraints, and renewable energy/decarbonized power - the opportunity for microgrids to take a foothold in the energy sector has arrived. But will the traditional market barriers that have limited the growth of distributed generation over the years continue to plague the adoption of microgrids or will the recent efforts from industry proponents & the US Federal Government to reduce market barriers and incentivize adoption be enough to enable market acceptance of microgrids and the commensurate benefits they bring?

The panel will discuss key Microgrid technology concepts, the microgrid value proposition, and what strategies may be implemented to overcome barriers and promote market adoption.

Chairperson:

Eliot Assimakopoulos,
Market Development Manager, Smart Grid
GE Digital Energy

Mr. Assimakopoulos is Market Development Manager for Smart Grid at General Electric's Digital Energy Business. He has more than 15 years of experience in the construction, energy, and high technology industries. For the past several years, he has led efforts within GE to advance technology development for smart grid & renewable energy and establishing partnerships with State, Federal, and commercial organizations to achieve sustainability objectives. Mr. Assimakopoulos was also a member of the study team that helped frame what eventually became GE's ecomagination initiative.

Speakers:

Anthony Kuh,
Professor and Chair of Electrical Engineering
University of Hawaii, Manoa
Member-at-Large
Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Heads Association (ECEDHA)

Dr. Kuh received his B.S. from University of California, Berkeley, M.S. from Stanford University, and Ph.D. from Princeton University. He has been in the Electrical Engineering Department since 1986 where he is currently Professor and Chair. Dr. Kuh is currently leading a multidisciplinary research and education group in renewable energy and island sustainability. He is an IEEE Fellow.

Joint presentation with Anthony Kuh

Dora Nakafuji
Director of Renewable Energy Planning,System Integration Department
Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO)

Dr. Nakafuji is the director of Renewable Energy Planning in the System Integration Department at Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) and has over twelve years of experience working with various state and national energy efforts to foster collaborations in renewable integration and wind energy research. Prior to joining HECO, Dr. Nakafuji was a staff researcher at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL). She received her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering from U. C. Davis.

 

Gary Fechter,
President and Chief Operating Officer
Princeton Energy Systems

Mr. Fechter has over twenty-five years experience in engineering, project management, operations and technology integration. Mr. Fechter is currently President and Chief Operating Officer of Princeton Energy Systems, Inc. (PES) and is responsible for managing a team of energy professional that combines clean on-site generation systems, renewable energy, and district heating and cooling with advanced efficiency technologies to help customers achieve their energy, economic, and environmental goals. These include solar (photovoltaic) electric generation, cogeneration and combined cycle systems, lighting retrofits, HVAC efficiency retrofits, controls, and energy management systems.

 

Mike Hightower,
Distinguished Member Technical Staff, Energy Security Center
Sandia National Laboratories

Mr. Hightower is a Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff in the Energy Security Center at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is a civil and environmental engineer and has over 30 years experience in research and development projects. His current efforts include research and evaluation of innovative environmental and energy technologies and security and protection of critical water and energy infrastructures. One of Mr. Hightower's current activities is as project leader for development of a Science and Technology Roadmap for DOE for Energy-Water research and development.

 

Paul M. Marks,
Senior Manager, Power Management Business Strategy and Development
Lockheed Martin

 

Kurt Yeager,
Executive Director
Galvin Electricity Initiative