NSERC/Hydro-Québec Industrial Research Chair on the Integration of Renewable Energies and Distributed Generation into the Electric Distribution Grid

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In the electric power sector, recent years have seen an increasing deployment and integration of renewable**energy sources, such as wind and solar. These are a complement and substitute for power produced by large**conventional generating plants, many remote and using fossil fuels. These smaller distributed power plants can**be installed closer to load centers, allowing a reduction of transmission needs and losses, improving the**reliability and resilience of the electric power delivery system, and reducing its vulnerability to extreme**atmospheric events. The accelerated deployment of information and communication technologies in all areas of**industry and society has in turn led to a number of smart grid initiatives. Distributed energy resources, which**include generation and storage, can be embedded in distribution grids or included in geographically delimited**smaller grids or microgrids. These entities manage their own generation and loads. They are either grid**connected and interact with distribution grids, or can be operated in islanded mode, when required, as for**remote communities. The research program proposes microgrid energy management systems and controllers to**provide ancillary services to the grid. It develops strategies for active control and protection of distributed**energy resources, using advances in intelligent control, sensing, information and communication technologies.**It proposes power electronic control devices to improve the quality of the electricity supply provided by**distributed generation and controllers for demand side management and storage systems. The research will help**Canadian utilities exploit the benefits of the integration of distributed energy resources into their electric grids**and deploy microgrids and interactive distribution systems. Engineers will be trained in new techniques of**electricity generation and load management, including smart grid technologies. The research program will**strengthen research collaborations between the utilities and industry, and the university and foster innovation in**the electric power grids, a critical infrastructure.