Friday, March 9 │ 9:00 am - 10:15 am
Plenary Panel: The Smart Microgrid paving the future at UCSD
Integrating distributed renewables and other resources presents challenges and risks to grid operators; however, intelligent coordination of multi-tiered microgrids will fortify rather than compromise- electricity grid integrity. The 43 MW microgrid at UCSD is unique in its makeup and its 'smartness'. Implementing the vision of a customer asset that can be used as a 'virtual power plant' to be a flexible resource to the power grid operator, the UCSD microgrid can be deployed to act as a throttle, rather than a switch, allowing for firming of variable generation. Three partners have come together- Power Analytics, OSIsoft, and Viridity Energy - with their unique applications of power flow, data management, and resource optimization to deploy campus resources in harmonious coordination. Engaging all flexible resources - supply, storage, building management systems, data centers, electric vehicles - to deploy in a cost-effective, carbon-effective and reliable manner, paves the way for a paradigm shift creating 'pro-sumers' that can effectively respond to electricity market price signals and reliability signals. With increasing percentages of renewable supply connecting to California's grid, the key to smart grid success is coordination and optimization at all layers of the network, including the customer side of the meter. This notion is being expanded for scalability in other locations, including Maui, Hawaii.
Chair:
Byron Washom is responsible for energy management policy to achieve the campus' goals for quantum improvements in energy management and Greenhouse Gas reductions. Prior to UCSD, Mr. Washom was the CEO for twenty years of a due diligence firm that specialized in CleanTech, and he served as Sr. International Advisor to the World Bank and DOE. He is a four time Rockefeller Foundation Grantee and a former Heinz Endowment Grantee for early commercialization of CleanTech into developing countries. Mr. Washom was also Founder and President of Advanco Corp which in 1984 set the long-standing world records for solar electric conversion efficiency at 29.4% and subsequently achieved an IR100 Award. He was the 2008 Recipient of UCSD’s Citizen of the Year Award for Sustainability, and he was a Visiting Faculty Member at the Rady School of Management while teaching the graduate level course, The Business of Renewable Energy.
Panelists:
 | Jennifer Chirico
Executive Director
Sustainable Living Institute of Maui
University of Hawaii |  |  |
Jennifer Chirico is the Executive Director of the Sustainable Living Institute of Maui (SLIM) at the University of Hawaii Maui College. As the Executive Director, she develops and directs programs and projects, including non-credit certification training programs in various areas of sustainability. She is involved in a wide range of community outreach activities related to increasing understanding of sustainability and how it can be adopted and implemented at both organizational and individual levels. She is the president of the Maui Chapter of WiRE (Women in Renewable Energy). Her research expertise is in renewable energy, air quality, green building, transportation, and sustainable waste management. She holds a PhD in environmental policy and a master's in public health.
| | Raj Chudgar
VP Business Development
Power Analytics | |  |
Raj Chudgar was born in the USA on June 30, 1973. He graduated from University of Louisville Speed School. His employment experience includes ExxonMobil, Black & Veatch, SunGard, ERCOT, and numerous clients while working as a consultant. His special fields of interest include SmartGrid and Microgrid development, Power System market development and strategy, Business development for power management companies, and assisting innovative power technology companies around energy market entry and energy market capabilities .
 | Laura Manz
Senior Vice President
Western Region
Viridity Energy | |  |
Laura Manz is a recognized leader in transmission system design and integration and operations. She joined Viridity Energy from the California Independent System Operator where she successfully launched the nodal energy market, published the first renewable integration transmission plan and was the executive-in-charge of policy for smart grid and demand response. In this role she also served as the ISO industry sector representative to NERC's Board of Trustees. Previously, Ms. Manz held the position of Director of Federal and CAISO Regulatory Affairs for SDG&E and Southern California Gas Companies, where she formalized reliability compliance programs with mandatory standards for several organizations including the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
 | Dave Roberts
Vice President
Business Development
OSIsoft | |  |
Mr. Roberts joined OSIsoft in May 2005. Today, as OSIsoft’s Vice President for Business Development, Mr. Roberts manages OSIsoft’s various vertical industries, including Power, Transmission & Distribution, Oil & Gas, Metals&Mining, Chemicals, Pharmaceutical and other process industries. Mr. Roberts is also OSIsoft’s Industry Principle for Renewable Power Generation, and participates in many industry thought leadership groups including American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), Utility Wind Integration Group (UWIG) and most recently Sandia National Labs and the US Department of Energy. He remains very active in the renewable energy industry, and works with many works in both private and public sector initiatives regarding high-penetration renewable energy scenarios.