Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Smart System Design | Energy & Transportation
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Opening Remarks
8:30 – 8:45 AM
Opening Remarks
Keynote Address
8:45 – 9:30 AM
Keynote Address: Power System Reliability, Resiliency and Values
Alison Silverstein, Lead Technical Author of DoE Grid Reliability Study • Click to view PDF slides
Grid of the Future
9:30 – 10:30 AM
Panel 1: Grid of the Future – Balancing Diversification and Reliability
The electricity grid is facing unprecedented pressure from the declining cost of renewables and energy storage, cheap and abundant natural gas and increasing political and financial constraints on coal and nuclear power generation. The Grid of the Future panel aims to explore recent assessments of grid diversification, reliability, and stability. Discussion topics will include: evaluation of impacts of accelerating penetration of distributed resources, particularly solar and wind; proposed subsidies for coal and nuclear generation facilities; and the “optimal” mix of resources in a potential zero marginal fuel cost scenario.
Moderator: Ross Baldick, Professor, UT Austin Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering • Click to view PDF slides
Featured Panelists:
- Wesley Cole, Forecasting and Modeling Group, NREL • Click to view PDF slides
- Elaina Ball, Deputy General Manager and Chief Operating Officer, Austin Energy • Click to view PDF slides
- Ken Ragsdale, Market Operations, ERCOT • Click to view PDF slides
Georgetown Discussion
10:30 – 11:00 AM
Quick Chat: Achieving the Possible – Georgetown, TX Quest for 100% Renewable Energy
A 1-on-1 discussion between UT Energy Institute’s Dr. Beach and Georgetown City Manager Jim Briggs. They will discuss the factors that led to Georgetown’s decision to be powered by 100% renewable energy. They will then discuss energy storage and Georgetown’s future energy plans.
Moderator: Fred Beach, Assistant Director for Policy Studies, UT Austin Energy Institute
Jim Briggs, CEO, Georgetown Utility Systems
Resilient Infrastructure
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Panel 2: Hold Fast: Resilient Infrastructure and Protecting against the Worst Case Scenario
Moderator: Robert Hebner, Director, Center for Electromechanics
Featured Panelists:
- Dan Smith, Vice President, Electric Service Delivery, Austin Energy • Click to view PDF slides
- Skip Zahn, Vice President Asset Management Gulf Region, NRG Energy • Click to view PDF slides
- Pliny Fisk, Co-Director, Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems • Click to view PDF slides
Lunch Keynote
12:15 – 1:15 PM
Lunch Keynote: Case Study – Austin Smart Mobility Roadmap
Rob Spillar, Director of Transportation, City of Austin • Click to view PDF slides
Smart Mobility
1:15 – 2:15 PM
Panel 3: Novel Systems for Integrated Transportation – An Austin, TX Smart Mobility Roadmap Case Study
How can ridesharing, autonomous vehicles, and electrified transport options integrate into existing transportation infrastructure? What new models or systems are needed to make this transition a reality? How can we capture the impact on energy consumption?
Moderator: Todd Davidson, Research Associate, UT Austin Energy Institute • Click to view PDF slides
Featured Panelists:
- Chandra Bhat, Director, Center for Transportation Research
- Aaron Fox, General Manager for Central Texas, Lyft
- Jeruld Weiland, Managing Director, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)
Alternative Transport
2:30 – 3:30 PM
Panel 4: Market Dynamics and the Tipping Point for Alternative Transport
Where / When will a tipping point be reached in the mass adoption of EVs? What are the implications for the automotive industry and/or O&G community as this market transition occurs? What are market trends for alternative transport options in the rail, aviation, and shipping segments?
Moderator: Alan Lloyd, Research Fellow, UT Austin Energy Institute
Featured Panelists:
- David Raney, General Manager – Portfolio and Compliance Strategy, Toyota Motor North America, Inc. • Click to view PDF slides
- Alex Keros, Smart Cities Chief for Maven • Click to view PDF slides
Closing Remarks
3:30 – 3:45 PM
Closing Remarks
UT Energy Tours
4:00 – 5:00 PM
UT Energy Tours
- UT Stadium Sustainability Tour
- UT MakerSpace in EERC
- UT Power Plant