News & Events

AGM 2013

Posted on

On July 26th, 2013 NSMG-Net researchers, partners and guests gathered in Vancouver, BC to share research and plan collaborations.


Our first speakers set the scene, by describing the modern microgrid context. Mark McGranaghan from EPRI spoke on “The role of the Microgrid in the electric distribution system”, Sara Bavarian described “Utility Telecommunication Strategic Planning” and Network Leader Hassan Farhangi provided an update on “The BCIT Campus Microgrid”.

This was followed by Theme Leader presentations, summarizing research progress to date, and presentations by students on select research highlights. All presentations are available for download from the publications page.

In the afternoon, students pitched their posters in quick succession, just four minutes and two slides each. This innovative session was a great way to cover a wide range of work, and allow the audience and poster judges to hear directly from students the core import of their work.

Our judging panel of Heather Quinn, Dave Michelson, Hassan Farhangi, Geza Joos and Sol Lancashire visited the posters, scored them against four objective criteria, and finally chose the following three winners:

  1. Michael Ross, McGill University, for his poster Multi-Objective Optimization Dispatch for Microgrids with a High Penetration of Renewable Generation
  2. Ahda Pionkoski Grilo Pavani of University of Alberta, for her poster Microgrid Load Monitoring Using State Estimation Techniques
  3.  Moien Manbachi of Simon Fraser University, for his poster Smart Grid Adaptive Solution for Volt/VAR Optimization (VVO) of Distribution Networks Using VAR Dispatch
The first prize is a the chance to represent NSMG-Net at the Symposium on Microgrids in Santiago Chile. The second and third prizes were generously donated by NSMG-Net partner Schneider Electric were a suitcase and high-performance jacket respectively.

Thanks to all the student who submitted posters for the competition, and everyone who contributed to make our 2013 the most dynamic AGM yet!