The Saga of Electric Energy Networks: From Ode to Lament and Back

This talk aims to outline salient features of renewable energy integration and coming electrification. Electric energy systems (EES) are an infrastructure that is the focus of a slowly evolving energy landscape. Reliability and resilience encapsulate the key performance criteria, while new technologies such as sensing, storage, and power electronics reshape future prospects. First, we propose to analyze energy systems as multi-layer structures involving flows of material, energy, information, capital, and policy. Next, we outline some aspects of the new wave of sustainable electrification that aims to include transportation, energy-intensive industries, and agriculture. Finally, we propose integrated multi-carrier energy systems with EES as the core enabler, and conclude with two vignettes. The first is about integrating offshore wind into the grid, and the second is about global approaches to dynamic model development, reduction, and identification.

Bio

Alex Stankovic obtained the Dipl. Ing. Degree from the University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia, in 1982, the M.S. degree from the same institution in 1986, and the Ph.D. degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1993, all in electrical engineering. He serves as a Distinguished Staff Scientist at SLAC. Previously, he served as the A.H. Howell Professor at Tufts University (2010-2021) and was with Northeastern University, Boston (1993-2010). He is a Fellow of IEEE and is an Associate Editor for the Proceedings of the IEEE and Annual Reviews in Control. He previously served IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, Smart Grid, and Control System Technology in the same capacity (1996-2018). He has held visiting positions at the United Technologies Research Center (sabbaticals in 2000 and 2007) and L'Universite de Paris-Sud and Supelec (in 2004). He is a co-editor of the book series on Power Electronics and Power Systems for Springer (since 2002).