SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
SMART GRID

Topic 15:

Thursday, September 9, 2010. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; discussion starts at 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Happening in ECHO's salon, ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, Burlington Waterfront, Burlington, VT.

As we consider sustainable energy sources, how do we manage their input into a smart grid? Because the wind blows at fluctuating speeds, how do we integrate its energy into our existing power grid? What is our risk for failure? Join Paul Hines, Assistant Professor, UVM, CEMS, as he answers questions like these and more.

Cash bar with themed drink. FREE hors d'oeuvres. Event for 21+.

Here is a little about Paul:

Paul Hines is an Assistant Professor in the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (CEMS), at the University of Vermont. He is also a member of the Carnegie Mellon Electricity Industry Center Adjunct Research Faculty and a commissioner for the Burlington Electric Department. He received his PhD in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University in 2007 and his MS degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington in 2001. Formerly he worked at the U.S. National Energy Technology Laboratory, where he participated in Smart Grid research; the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, where he studied interactions between nuclear power plants and power grids; Alstom ESCA, where he developed load forecasting software; and Black and Veatch, where he worked on substation design projects. His research focuses on complex systems and networks, the control of cascading failures in power systems, and energy security policy.

Some questions to get you thinking about the topic:

1. Wind power:  Should we invest in small, home-sized wind turbines (at much higher cost) or large, industrial wind farms?
    
2. Wind and solar: How do we keep the power grid from falling apart if we get a large portion of our power from fluctuating wind and solar sources?
    
3. Smart grid: What is the smart grid?  Will it enable a new energy future or just add to electricity rates?
    
4. Big blackouts: How is it that poor tree trimming in Ohio can lead to blackouts in Toronto, Detroit, and New York City?
    
5. Electricity in Vermont: How do we replace Vermont Yankee? What effect will this have on local electricity prices?

Here is an article that Paul wrote recently about cascading failure plus a link to a fabulous podcast he did about the topic for VPT’s Emerging Science.

• Cascading failures in power grids.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFRot88312E
   

Cafe Scientifique questions or topic suggestions?
Please contact Linda Bowden at lbowden@echovermont.org

Our next Cafe Scientifique will be Thursday, September 9, 2010.

Café Scientifique is sponsored by: