Keynote Speakers_2025
Prof. Gerard LEDWICH (Fellow, IEEE), Queensland University of Technology, Australia
Gerard Ledwich is a professor in Electrical Power Engineering at QUT, Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia and Fellow IEEE. He has held positions at University of Queensland, and in the Queensland Electricity Commission and the University of Newcastle His research interests include control systems, power electronics, power systems, condition monitoring and distributed generation. He has published extensively, and is on the editorial panel of Modern Power and Clean Energy.
Speech Title: Customer Responsiveness for Enhancing Renewables
Abstract: As the level of domestic solar power is rising in many parts of the world there are growing issues of interaction with the network. This is in a risk of overloading the distribution network and a lack of support for the evening peak of demand. Currently we are seeing evening rise of price but a narrow and growing risk of spike. With coal fired power stations reaching end of life and not finding sufficient return from the market options are required to meet this demand. One option is to retain a substantial fleet of gas fired generation at a substantial subsidy or to have grid investment in storage. Large scale grid storage is expensive but the extent of customer response is currently low. This presentation will show that with correct market signals customer load and storage responsiveness can make a strong contribution. The forms of load flexibility and mechanisms to implement a low overhead market system will be explored. Issues of network controls such as voltage and flow limits can be incorporated.
Prof. Vladimir Strezov, Macquarie University, Australia
Bio: Prof Vladimir Strezov is professor in environmental science at the School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. He holds degrees in Mechanical and Chemical Engineering with expertise in renewable energy, environmental assessment, air and water quality, and sustainable development. He has published 6 scholarly books and over 300 publications. Prof Strezov is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia, and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Energy.
Speech Title: Environmental, Economic and Regulatory Framework Assessment of Renewable Hydrogen Production
Abstract: Hydrogen is one of the promising energy carriers for global decarbonisation. Hydrogen can be produced by natural resources and renewable energy sources, including solar, wind and biomass or from fossil fuels with or without integrating carbon capture technologies. This study provides an overview of hydrogen production, application, economic and environmen-tal assessment of various hydrogen production technologies, as well as in-ternational regulatory frameworks. The immediate to medium term applica-tion of hydrogen includes use of blends of hydrogen with natural gas in ex-isting gas networks, the use in electricity production, and in green steelmak-ing. The currently higher production cost of renewable hydrogen comparing to fossil-produced hydrogen is expected to decrease along with lower cost of renewable electricity, while transport of renewable hydrogen via ammo-nia or liquid organic hydrogen carriers provides potential for sustainable hydrogen supply chain. For cost-competitiveness and market dominance of renewable and clean hydrogen, national strategies and policy support will be important.
Prof. Belkacem Ouldbouamama, University of Lille, France
Bio: Belkacem OULD BOUAMAMA is full Professor of automatic control at Graduate School of Engineering Polytech Lille (France), where he has been Director of the Research. He is the leader of research PERSI group at the CRIStAL laboratory of the National Center for Scientific Research in Lille, where his research activities concern Integrated Design for Supervision of System Engineering based on multiphysics Bond graph modelling. Their industrial applications are mainly process engineering, renewable energies and green hydrogen. He has authored and co-authored more 65 peer-reviewed journals, 180 conference papers and 20 books and book chapters in Diagnosis, Prognosis and bond graph modeling of mechatronic systems. He has given more than 20 invited talks and tutorials and keynotes around the globe. More details are given in https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hxUxTA9ZKY5Ol44WoTUS2eXZOTTABlgW/view?usp=sharing
Speech Title: Green Hydrogen: Energy for the Future?
Abstract: Green hydrogen is undoubtedly the most promising energy vector of the future because it is captured by renewable and inexhaustible sources, such as wind and/or solar energy, and can be stored over the long term in high-pressure cylinders by an electrolyzer to then produce electricity by fuel cells or other valorizations (power to X, where X is different transformations) without emitting any pollutants (see figure). However, even if great investments are devoted by European Union Countries, the technology for stationary or automotive applications does not manage to impose itself. This situation is due of scientific and technological issues because of obstacles dues to its production by complex and costly Hybrid multi-source system (HMS) platforms using intermittent sources (overproduction of electricity at certain times but insufficient at others), material cost, energetic efficiency, societal reluctance, …
The plenary talk exposes a scientific result developed and validated in the framework of European and industrial projects.
How is produced green, yellow and black hydrogen? What are main technological and research opened issues (from process, material and ITC aspects) for hydrogen sector? What is the interest for southern countries in green hydrogen production? Here are the main questions to be discussed during the plenary conference.
Prof. Mohan Lal Kolhe, the University of Agder, Norway
Bio:Prof. Dr. Mohan Lal Kolhe is a full professor in smart grid and renewable energy at the Faculty of Engineering and Science of the University of Agder (Norway). He is a leading renewable energy technologist with three decades of academic experience at the international level and previously held academic positions at the world's prestigious universities, e.g., University College London (UK / Australia), University of Dundee (UK); University of Jyvaskyla (Finland); Hydrogen Research Institute, QC (Canada); etc. In addition, he was a member of the Government of South Australia’s first Renewable Energy Board (2009-2011) and worked on developing renewable energy policies. Professor Kolhe is an expert evaluator of many prestigious international research councils (e.g., European Commission: Erasmus+ Higher Education – International Capacity Building, Royal Society London (UK), Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC UK), Cyprus Research Foundation, etc.). In addition, many international organizations have invited him to deliver keynote addresses, expert lectures, workshops, etc. He has also been a member of many academic promotional committees. Professor Kolhe has been successful in obtaining competitive research funding from prestigious research bodies (such as the Norwegian Research Council, EU, EPSRC, BBSRC, NRP, etc.) for his work on sustainable energy systems. His work on energy systems and electrical & electronic engineering has been recognised in the top 2% of scientists worldwide consistently from 2020 to 2023, according to Stanford University matrices based on Elsevier data. His top 10 publications have received an average of more than 200 citations each, making him an acknowledged pioneer in his profession on a global scale.
Speech Title: Empowering Households: A Scalable, Multi-Disciplinary Approach to Virtual Power Plants through Demand Response
Abstract: Introduction to the Energy Challenge: The global energy landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the urgent need for sustainability, efficiency, and resilience. Households are no longer just passive consumers but active participants in energy production and management. This shift necessitates innovative solutions that optimize energy use while integrating renewable sources.
The EU FP7 Project: Scalable Energy Management Infrastructure for Aggregation of Households
In response to these challenges, the EU FP7 project was conceived to develop a cutting-edge ICT infrastructure for home energy management. This initiative brought together a consortium of leading researchers, industry partners, and policymakers to create an intelligent system capable of optimizing household energy consumption and production.
Key Learnings and Technological Advancements: Throughout the project, we tackled challenges in energy optimization, demand response, and grid integration. By leveraging advanced algorithms, we developed solutions that empower households to manage their energy dynamically, reducing peak demand and enhancing grid stability.
Scalability and Replicability: A crucial achievement of the project was the creation of a scalable energy management framework. This infrastructure can be deployed across diverse energy markets, enabling households globally to participate in demand-side flexibility while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Virtual Power Plants (VPPs): A Game-Changer in Grid Stability
One of the most impactful innovations from the project is the development of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs). By aggregating decentralized household energy resources, VPPs enhance grid reliability, facilitate renewable energy integration, and provide economic benefits to consumers.
Economic and Environmental Benefits: Our findings indicate that effective home energy management can lead to substantial cost savings for consumers and utilities alike. Moreover, by optimizing energy use and promoting renewables, the approach significantly contributes to carbon emission reduction, supporting global climate goals.
Future Outlook and Research Directions: Building on the project’s success, ongoing research aims to further enhance the capabilities of home energy management systems and VPPs. Collaborations with policymakers and industry stakeholders will be critical in accelerating large-scale deployment and adoption.
Call to Action: To fully realize the potential of home energy management and VPPs, we must foster supportive regulatory frameworks and invest in robust ICT infrastructure. Policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers must work together to drive this transformation.
Conclusion: The EU FP7 project has demonstrated that home energy management can be a key enabler of a sustainable, decentralized, and resilient energy future. By embracing these innovations, we have the opportunity to reshape the energy landscape and create a cleaner, more efficient world for future generations.