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The Smart Grid Center-Qatar is an interdisciplinary university environment organized to modernize how electricity is delivered from suppliers to consumers and to enable new electricity products, services, and markets.

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Webinars

 

28 March 2024, Dr. Mohamed Massaoudi, Texas A&M University, USA

Adaptive Strategies for Power Grid Stability Advancement in Renewable-Enriched Power

Monitoring the power system’s stability and detecting early signs of potential instability, which may precede a blackout, is essential for the dependable and secure operation of power systems. With the extensive deployment of phasor measurement units (PMUs)— crucial instruments in wide-area monitoring, protection, and control systems—and progress in information and communication technology, it is now feasible to gather the vital data needed to evaluate the power system stability (PSS) status of the system in a timely manner. We will present the latest research on data-driven methods for PSS assessment while accounting for the unique properties of power grids. Furthermore, we will discuss the advantages and key trade-offs of the emerging computational techniques as powerful tools for the optimal power flow. For all methods outlined, a discussion of their bottlenecks, research challenges, and potential opportunities in large-scale power systems will be presented.

For more information about the webinar, please click here.

25 Aug. 2022, Dr. John D. McDonald, GE Grid Solution, Georgia, USA.

GRID MODERNIZATION: TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS BEYOND SMART GRID

This talk will familiarize participants with a vision for Grid Modernization, focusing on technological advancements beyond Smart Grid. The technological advancements include discussions of key industry/societal trends, Smart Grid concepts, holistic solutions, integration of microgrids and distributed generation, and Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS) software applications. The talk will also cover feeder automation business models, managing different types of data, the big data, analytics, enterprise data management, Smart Grid standards and interoperability, and Smart Grid deployments and lessons learned.

For more information about the webinar, please click here.

1 Sept. 2022, Dr. Josep M. Guerrero, Aalborg University, Denmark.

MICROGRIDS

This talk will present the hierarchical control of AC and DC microgrids, including grid forming and grid following controllers, maximum power point tracking algorithms, grid-connected and islanding operation, frequency and voltage droop controllers, stability analysis and power quality issues. 

For more information about the webinar click here.

8 Sept. 2022, Dr. Frede Blaabjerg, Aalborg University, Denmark.

POWER ELECTRONICS AS THE ENABLING TECHNOLOGY FOR A MODERN CARBON-NEUTRAL SOCIETY

The global energy system is undergoing a transition in order to be carbon neutral — and at least two consequences.

The energy generation will be renewables and much more energy will be carried by electricity. In order to control electricity, we need electrical energy conversion and thereby a key enabling technology called Power Electronics.

The presentation will explain what power electronics is, where it is applied and what are the main future challenges for the technology in the efforts to create a carbon-neutral society.

For more information about the webinar please click here.

15 Sept. 2022, Dr. Said Al-Hallaj, Beam Glabal, USA

Fast Charging of High Energy Li-ion Battery with Integrated Passive Thermal Management

With emerging trends in transportation electrification, fast charging of high-energy Li-ion battery can help to break through the bottleneck of its widespread adoption. Rapid charging 50% of battery capacity within 10-15 minutes, commonly referred to as ‘filling the tank’ experience, could dramatically reduce the vehicle downtime as well as the overall battery pack size, especially for fleet vehicles.To date, such fast-charging capability has been limited to high-power batteries over narrow a window of operating conditions to avoid premature aging of the battery (mainly due to lithium plating) and safety concern.

For more information about the seminar, please click here.

27 Sept. 2022, Dr. I. Safak Bayram, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, U.K.

 SMART TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS TO ENABLE NET-ZERO IN ROAD TRANSPORTATION 

 This presentation will mainly focus on the role of smart transportation systems on reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. A detailed discussion emerging technology and how they facilitate energy reduction will be discussed. Moreover, recent advances on electric vehicles and the role of charging stations on net zero targets will be presented. In the last part of the talk, region-specific challenges for the GCC region will be discussed. 

For more information about the webinar, please click here.

4 Oct. 2022, Dr. Joao Martins, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal.

ENERGY FLEXIBILITY: A TOOL FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Energy flexibility is being regarded as a valuable tool towards a more sustainable electrical system. This tool combined with new paradigms, such as the establishment and operation of energy communities, will provide flexibility, interconnectivity, bi-directionality and complementarity with advantages either to consumers either to the energy grid itself. This talk will address the use of energy flexibility as a tool to achieve a more sustainable electrical system.

For more information about the webinar, please click here.

Recent News

 

4th International Conference on Smart Grid and Renewable Energy by SGC-Q

More than 150 delegates discussed the key role of smart grid integration and renewable energy resources in shaping the future at the 4th International Conference on Smart Grid and Renewable Energy (SGRE24) in January 2024. According to Dr. Haitham Abu-Rub, managing director of Smart Grid Center Qatar and chairperson of SGRE, the organizing committee received more than 172 submissions from more than 300 authors from 27 countries, with 119 papers accepted for publication.

The conference offered an opportunity for participants — industry leaders, researchers and academia — to discuss ongoing and prospective research, paving the way for collaborations that can drive the development of next-generation smart grid and renewable energy technologies. The overarching goal of the event was to formulate a comprehensive smart grid research agenda, contributing to the creation of a smarter electric grid essential for sustained economic development, improved social lifestyles and a greener living environment.

For details please visit https://www.sgre-qa.org/

Prof. Samir Kouro visited SGC-Q and delivered a lecture

Professor Samir Kouro, the Deputy Director of the Advanced Center of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (AC3E), paid a visit to SGC-Q between October 1st and October 14th, 2023. During his stay, discussions were held to explore collaborative opportunities between SGC-Q and AC3E. Additionally, on October 11th, 2023, Professor Kouro delivered a lecture titled “Green Hydrogen: An Introduction from a Power Electronics Perspective” at TAMUQ.

New Book Published

Advanced Control of Power Converters Unique resource presenting advanced nonlinear control methods for power converters, plus simulation, controller design, analyses, and case studies Advanced Control of Power Converters equips readers with the latest knowledge of three control methods developed for power converters: nonlinear control methods such as sliding mode control, Lyapunov-function-based control, and model predictive control. The book is organized into three clear sections: introduction of classical and advanced control methods, design of advanced control methods, and case studies.

For more information about the book please click here.

Training for KAHRAMAA Engineers with TAMUQ and HBKU Students has been completed

We are thrilled to announce the successful completion of the Training on Smart Grid, held from May 21-25, 2023, in Doha, Qatar. Organized by Texas A&M University at Qatar and Hamad Bin Khalifa University, the workshop provided attendees with a comprehensive understanding of smart grid fundamentals, enabling technologies, and future prospects. Certificates were awarded to all participants, recognizing their dedication and commitment to enhancing their knowledge in this rapidly advancing field.

Training for KAHRAMAA Engineers with TAMUQ and HBKU Students

It gives us great pleasure to invite you to the Training on Smart Grid, which will be held on May 21-25, 2023, in Doha, Qatar. The workshop is being organized by Texas A&M University at Qatar and Hamad Bin Khalifa University. The training presents the smart grid basics, its enabling technologies, current state, and the future perspectives.

For more information about this training please click here.

Kindly ensure that you finalize your registration before May 10th, 2023 using the provided link.

https://forms.gle/fkUATX1TLs7M4Xc58

New Course

TAMUQ and HBKU students have had the opportunity to attend an undergraduate course offered at TAMUQ by Smart Grid Center – Extension in Qatar members Haitham Abu-Rub, Sertac Bayhan, and Mohamed Abdallah. Special Topics in Smart Grid is an undergraduate course offered as part of the multiversity activities (jointly by TAMUQ and HBKU faculty) to enrich learning and success of students across Qatar Foundation’s partner universities. Smart Grid is bound to give aspiring electrical engineering and computer science students the best academic path for building and developing the core areas of smart grid – microgrids, renewable energy, electric vehicle integration, and communication.

For more information about the seminar please click here.

New Book Published

Smart Grid and Enabling Technologies delivers a complete vision of smart grid technology and applications, including foundational and fundamental technologies, the technology that enables smart grids, the current state of the industry, and future trends in smart energy. The book offers readers thorough discussions of modern smart grid technology, including advanced metering infrastructure, net zero energy buildings, and communication, data management, and networks in smart grids.

For more information about the book please click here.

Recent Publications

  • A. Sharida, S. Bayhan and H. Abu-Rub, “Enhancing Scalability of Fast Electric Vehicle Charging Stations: Solutions for AC–DC Side Integration and Regulation,” in IEEE Open Journal of the Industrial Electronics Society, vol. 4, pp. 720-731, 2023, doi: 10.1109/OJIES.2023.3349094.
  • S. M. Kameli, S. S. Refaat, H. Abu-Rub, A. Darwish, A. Ghrayeb and M. Olesz, “Ultra-Wideband Vivaldi Antenna with an Integrated Noise-Rejecting Parasitic Notch Filter for Online Partial Discharge Detection,” in IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, doi: 10.1109/TIM.2024.3353284.
  • A. Sharida, S. Bayhan, H. Abu-Rub and U. Fesli, “Voltage-Sensorless Open-Switch Fault-Tolerant Control of Three-Phase T-Type Rectifier,” in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 38, no. 12, pp. 15365-15376, Dec. 2023, doi: 10.1109/TPEL.2023.3312116.
  • A. Sharida, S. Bayhan and H. Abu-Rub, “Fault-Tolerant Self-Tuning Control for Three-Phase Three-Level T-Type Rectifier,” in IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, vol. 38, no. 6, pp. 7049-7058, June 2023, doi: 10.1109/TPEL.2023.3254649.