Invited Speakers-REPE 2025
Prof. Hirohito YAMADA, International Research Institute of Disaster Science, Tohoku Univ. (Visiting Professor), Japan
Hirohito Yamada received his B.E. degree in electronics engineering from Kanazawa University, Japan in 1981, and his M.E. and Ph.D. degrees in electronics engineering from Tohoku University, Japan in 1983 and 1987, respectively. In 1987, he joined NEC Corporation, where he conducted research on semiconductor lasers and Si nano-photonic devices for optical fiber communication systems. In 2006, he became a professor at Tohoku University, where he has been dedicated to teaching communication engineering and researching photonic integrated devices. Following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, he expanded his research to include solar power generation and DC microgrids. He even built an off-grid house and has lived without purchasing electricity from the utility company for over eight years. Although he retired from Tohoku University in March 2024, he still continue his research on autonomous decentralized cooperative controlled microgrids at the International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS), Tohoku University, from April onwards.
Speech Title: Proposal of a hierarchical structure for standardization of DC grid systems
Speech Abstract: Demonstration experiments and social implementation of DC microgrids are being conducted worldwide, but their installation purposes, configurations, baseline voltages, and other factors vary widely. Consequently, interconnection, let alone standardization of the devices used, has not been achieved, nor have DC microgrids become open systems that allow individuals to freely construct their own grids. In this lecture, a hierarchical structure of the system is proposed to classify roles and functions for the standardization of DC microgrids. Specifically, inspired by the OSI reference model in communication systems and internet protocols, the DC grid system hierarchy is divided into three major layers. The lowest layer, the physical layer, is the baseline, represented by power lines, whose primary function is the exchange of power between devices. The next layer, the control layer, involves distributed power sources with DC/DC converters that provide fundamental control and functionality to maintain the grid, such as stabilizing the grid with electrical inertia, coordinating operations between devices, equalizing power distribution within the grid, detecting grid anomalies, and implementing safety features. The highest layer, the application layer, hosts applications like energy management systems (EMS) or power trading, which fulfill the primary purposes of the grid. By segmenting the grid system into these hierarchical structures, it is expected that standardization and openness will advance, like communication systems.
Prof. Kaile Zhou, Hefei University of Technology, China
Kaile Zhou, Director of the Smart Energy Management Laboratory in Hefei University of Technology (HFUT), Hefei, China. He was a joint PhD student with HFUT and University of Arizona, U.S., and a postdoctoral research fellow at City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. He is currently a professor at the School of Management, Hefei University of Technology, where his research mainly focuses on the energy cyber-physical-social system. His research interests include smart energy management, integrated energy services, complex system modeling and system engineering. He is the recipient of the NSFC-Excellent Young Scientists Fund, and he has been recognized as one of the Elsevier Highly Cited Scholar in China.
Assoc. Prof. Xueqian Fu, China Agricultural University, China
Xueqian Fu (Senior Member, IEEE) is the Vice Chairperson of the IEEE Smart Village-China Committee, and an active member of IEEE Young Professionals. He is currently an Associate Professor at China Agricultural University. He has been recognized as one of the Stanford/Elsevier Top 2% Scientists in the field of energy for both the 2023 and 2024 rankings. Prof. Fu received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from North China Electric Power University in 2008 and 2011, respectively, and his Ph.D. degree from South China University of Technology in 2015. From 2015 to 2017, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher at Tsinghua University. His current research interests include statistical machine learning, agricultural energy internet, and PV system integration. He serves as the Deputy Editor-in-Chief for Information Processing in Agriculture and is also the founding chair of the 2025 IEEE International Symposium on the Application of Artificial Intelligence in Electrical Engineering.
Speech Title: The Agricultural Energy Internet: Theories, Methods, and Future Prospects
Speech Abstract: The Agricultural Energy Internet: Theories, Methods, and Future Prospects provides a pioneering guide to the grid integration and impact of agricultural energy systems for a distributed and sustainable power grid. This book begins with an introduction to fundamental concepts that is followed by a comprehensive safety analysis considering crop physiological characteristics. Subsequent chapters delve into enhancing the synergy of agriculture, energy, and the environment through carbon monitoring, optimal management strategies for rural microgrids, and distributed energy planning.
Assoc. Prof. Leijiao Ge, Tianjin University, China
Dr. Ningning Ma, Tsinghua University, China
Dr. Ningning Ma is an Assistant Researcher at Tsinghua University, where his work focuses on power system stability, wide-area monitoring, and wideband oscillation analyses in power systems with high renewable penetration. He received his Ph.D. from Southwest Jiaotong University and has since led multiple national research initiatives, significantly advancing theories and methodologies in frequency stability, dynamic performance, and control of modern power grids. Dr. Ma’s achievements have been widely recognized. In 2021, he received the Second Prize of the Technological Invention Award from the China Electrotechnical Society. The following year, he was honored with both the First Prize of the Electric Power Science and Technology Award by the China Electricity Council and the Third Prize of the Electric Power Science and Technology Progress Award by the Chinese Society of Electrical Engineering. In 2023, he earned the Best Paper Award at the 12th International Conference on Renewable Power Generation. Most recently, in 2024, he secured the Second Prize of the Electric Power Science and Technology Progress Award from the Chinese Society of Electrical Engineering. In addition to these distinctions, Dr. Ma has been recognized with multiple Excellent Reviewer Awards, including those from Proceedings of the CSEE and Power System Technology, highlighting his strong commitment to scholarly excellence. His current research aims to advance monitoring, diagnosis, and control strategies to ensure the efficient and stable operation of power grids in the era of clean energy transition.
Speech Title: Wideband Oscillation Analysis, Monitoring and Suppression in Converter-Dominated Transmission and Distribution Systems
Speech Abstract: The rapid transition toward renewable energy has led to an unprecedented integration of power electronic converters into transmission and distribution networks. These converters offer significant benefits through their fast and flexible controllability, which enhances system responsiveness and adaptability. However, their unique operational characteristics—especially the multi-time scale dynamics inherent in their switching and control mechanisms—have introduced wideband oscillations, with frequency components ranging from a few Hz to several kHz. Such oscillations can pose severe challenges by destabilizing power systems, compromising the performance of network equipment, and reducing overall system reliability.
Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive re-evaluation of traditional modeling and analysis techniques, which were originally designed for systems dominated by synchronous machines. This speech will delve into innovative approaches for accurately modeling the complex dynamics of converter-dominated systems, emphasizing the need for advanced simulation methods that can capture interactions across multiple time scales. Furthermore, it will explore cutting-edge strategies for real-time monitoring and effective suppression of wideband oscillations, highlighting recent research breakthroughs and practical implementations. By integrating these novel methodologies, the goal is to develop robust control frameworks that not only mitigate current oscillatory issues but also enhance the stability and resilience of future power systems with high renewable energy penetration.
Attendees will gain insights into both the theoretical underpinnings and practical challenges associated with wideband oscillation phenomena, paving the way for more secure and efficient operation of modern transmission and distribution networks.
Assoc. Prof. Tian Zhao, North China University of China, China
Dr. Tian Zhao is an Associate Professor at School of Energy Storage Science and Technology, North China University of China, where he focuses on integrated energy system, thermal management of battery, and large-scale thermal energy storage. He received his Ph.D. degree from Tsinghua University, 2019. After that, he worked at The University of Tokyo and Tsinghua University as a postdoctoral researcher, and received the support of Shuimu Scholar project from Tsinghua University. His research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and National Key R&D Program. He has published more than 70 peer-reviewed journal papers on prestigious journals, including Nature Communications, IEEE Transactions of Sustainable Energy, Applied Energy, and Energy. He received the Second Prize of the Electric Power Science and Technology Progress Award from the Chinese Society of Electrical Engineering in 2021. Most recently, he was selected for Young Elite Scientists Sponsorship Program by CAST in 2024. He is currently a member of Early Career Editorial Board of Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer.
Asst. Prof. Rao Fu, Shandong Jianzhu University, China
Dr. Rao Fu received his B.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from Chongqing University, Chongqing, China, in 2005, and M.Sc. and Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from State University of New York at Buffalo, NY, USA, in 2013 and 2020, respectively. He is currently an Assistant Professor with School of Information and Electrical Engineering in Shandong Jianzhu University, Jinan, China. His research interests include DER integrated micro/nano-grid optimization, non-intrusive load monitoring, and electrical energy network visualization. He is also a member of IEEE-USA, Buffalo Section.
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