ORGANIZERS:
Prof. Marija Ilic (CMU-ECE)
Prof. Lester Lave (CMU-TSB)
CO-ORGANIZERS:
Prof. Simon Haykin (McMaster University)
Dr. Eugene Litvinov (ISO-NE)
This conference focuses on the unintended consequences of changes in the electricity system.
Papers are solicited concerning causes, modeling and dynamics of hard-to-predict emerging phenomenon. Of particular interest are papers that relate unintended consequences to investments in smart grid, dynamic pricing, decentralized generation (including net metering for an area with a high penetration of solar self generation). Papers are also solicited on fundamental approaches to transforming today's operating and planning industry practices, and the supporting policies, to manage such short-and long-term uncertain problems to ensure sustainable electricity services.
As unconventional technologies (many of them new) get connected to the electric power grid, and the system is driven by qualitatively new economic and environmental objectives, new phenomena will emerge. Some of these may lower cost and improve reliability, but some will challenge the stability and reliability of the electricity system. For example, if a large proportion of residential and commercial customers have solar panels that feed electricity into the grid when the sun is shining, but abruptly require power when a cloud passes over the sun, the dynamic stresses on the grid will increase, perhaps to unmanageable levels. A system based on minimizing costs with current rules for preserving stability and reliability could lead to unacceptable service.
Before making these changes in technology and management practices, it would be prudent to understand the challenges that the current system faces, the reasons for its relatively good record of reliability, and how the system will be challenged by the changes.
The Carnegie Mellon Conference on the Electricity Industry is now in its seventh year of offering networking on timely topics, co-sponsored by A123 Systems, ABB, Bosch, the Carnegie Mellon Electricity Industry Center (CEIC), the Carnegie Mellon Dept of ECE, Nexans, NSF, SRC-ERI, and the Tepper School of Business.
See Archives link, page bottom.