Thomas Overbye

Professional Development

Now Registering for March Short Course!

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Fundamentals of Electric Transmission System Planning:

Description

High voltage electric grids are some of the world’s most complex machines, whose present high levels of reliability have been achieved through careful planning.  The purpose of this three day short course is to provide a comprehensive coverage of the processes used in doing this planning.  The course philosophy is to provide a practical, hands-on approach to describing electric transmission grid planning, with abundant practical examples illustrating each stage in the process.  Particular attention will be given to those studies driven by regulatory processes relevant to utilities in North America such as by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) or the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).  Throughout the course concepts will be illustrated using common industrial planning tools including PowerWorld Simulator with some hands-on exercises.  Collectively the three course instructors have decades of experience in doing electric power system planning, planning software tool development, and engineering education (Hours: CEU 2.1, PDH 21).

Who Should Attend

The course is designed to provide a comprehensive coverage of the fundamentals of the planning of high voltage electric power systems.  It is ideally suited for electrical engineers who have minimal experience in power system planning, including new graduates and engineers from other areas of the utility industry.   The course will also be useful for managers who would like to gain and understanding of the planning process, for those working in the policy and regulatory areas, for academics wishing to gain a practical understanding of the planning process, and for graduate students interested in careers in the power industry.

Topics

  • Overview of the electric grid and the history of planning
  • The art of planning
  • The power system modeling process
  • Real grid power flow analysis
  • Application of static analysis tools for planning
  • Security constrained optimal power flow and locational marginal prices (LMPs)
  • Power system visualization for planning
  • Operations: what a planner needs to know
  • Advanced power grid transmission technologies and their role in planning
  • Large-scale regional transmission grid planning
  • Generator interconnection studies
  • Techniques for automating the planning process
  • Power system dynamics and the role of PMUs in planning
  • Planning for a high percentage of renewables
  • Dealing with bad data
  • The role of regional planning committees
  • Planning for black sky days
  • Communicating your results

Logistics

Session #1: March 19th-21st, 2019, 8am-5pm

  • Click to Register
  • Location: Texas A&M Center for Infrastructure Renewal (CIR), 1041 RELLIS Parkway, Bryan TX
  • Hotel: The Stella Hotel welcomes you! Call directly at 979-421-4000  for reservations

For More Information

  • For more information about this course, or other upcoming Texas A&M electric power short courses contact Tom Overbye at overbye@tamu.edu

Transportation

  • Air Transportation:
    • Direct flights available at the Texas A&M Easterwood Airport (CLL) from Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) on American and Houston (IAH) on United
    • Other airports within driving distance: Austin (AUS) and Houston (IAH), both about two hours away
    • May rent car or use shuttle service: Airport Ground Shuttle Here

Instructors:

Tom Overbye

  • TEES Eminent Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University (TAMU)
  • BS, MS, and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
  • Before starting his academic career, employed by Madison Gas and Electric Company, working in their planning and operations departments
  • Original developer of PowerWorld Simulator (a widely used power system planning tool)
  • Co-founder of PowerWorld Corporation
  • Author of a widely used Power System Analysis and Design book
  • Recipient of the IEEE Power and Energy Society Outstanding Power Engineering Educator Award, IEEE Fellow
  • Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering

 

 

Tracy Rolstad

  • Senior Power System Consultant at Avista Utilities
  • BSEE from the University of Idaho and a graduate diploma from the Naval War College
  • Early career in power systems in the US Navy.
  • Power system planning and modeling experience at the Joint Warfare Analysis Center, Bonneville Power Administration, and Avista.
  • WECC Technical Studies Subcommittee Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary
  • WECC RAS and Relay Workgroup Chair.
  • Member of the IEEE and the VFW

 

 

José Conto

  • Currently the Principal of the Dynamic Studies group at the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
  • BSEE from the University of Engineers, Lima, Peru and MSEE from University of Tokyo
  • Worked on photovoltaic systems, electromagnetic fields analysis, and geomagnetic disturbance monitoring systems before joining ERCOT in 2000
  • Currently supports power system dynamic studies
  • IEEE Senior Member
  • Active on several industry groups including the NERC System Analysis and Modeling Subcommittee, and the North American Transmission Forum Modeling Group