> EPEC Background | EPEC Background |
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The
theme for the Electrical Power and Energy Conference (EPEC) 2008 is “Energy Innovation”.
With attention being placed on the following sub-topics: • Extending the Limits of Transmission and Distribution • Expanding Generation and Alternative Energy • Intelligent Grid Technologies • Conservation and Energy Efficient Technologies The topics are designed to highlight the current activities and achievements as well as investigate the future progression and expansion of both the local and global electrical power and energy industries. The conference is sponsored by IEEE Canada and co-sponsored and organised by IEEE Vancouver Section. EPEC 2008 is the result of the Electrical Power Symposia (EPS) that was originally hosted in 2001 by the IEEE Ottawa Section.  Starting in 2001 the EPS addressed the issue of deregulation in the electricity industry. This was a much debated topic of interest that received much attention due to the Ontario Government’s simultaneous deregulation initiative. The EPS naturally developed into an annual event, and so became the host to new topics including: “The increasing debt and the widening gap between demand and supply” and, in 2004, “The tough choices facing Ontario, ranging from large-scale nuclear generation to demand management and distributed energy”. With EPS2005 the focus moved to general issues such as the convergence of power and high technologies. Five major areas of the convergence between the power and high technologies were showcased: communications, real-time applications, wide-area protection, smart metering, and automation in power systems. Due to the presence of the highly developed communication industry that made Ottawa known as the Silicon Valley North, the Symposium draw upon that world class expertise available in Ottawa, but also reached out and had several distinguished speakers from outside of Canada. That approach of addressing the topics of wider interest and to have both Canadian and international speakers, was followed in 2006 as well. The crucial role of Distributed Generation and Smart Grids is increasingly getting recognition in the economy, energy, and environment, which form a basis for nation’s sustainability, security, and development. 2006 marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of Nikola Tesla, the inventor of AC power system who also was a member of the IEEE predecessor - American Institute of Electrical Engineers (AIEE) - its Fellow, and Vice-President 1892-1894. The EPS 2006 was accordingly organized under the theme “From Tesla’s AC Power System to Distributed Generation and Smart Grids”.  In 2007 the symposium was renamed to Electrical Power Conference (EPC) 2007 and focused on Renewable and Alternative Energy Resources. This topic was identified as having received a lot of attention in the recent years worldwide. The conference was sponsored by IEEE Canada and sponsored and organized by IEEE Montreal and Ottawa Sections. It was a natural extension/spin-off of the Electrical Power Symposia (EPS) that started in Ottawa and was successfully organized by the IEEE Ottawa Section for 6 consecutive years. Here is a list of the past Symposiums (EPS) and Conferences (EPC) themes: • 2007: Renewable and Alternative Energy Resources • 2006: From Tesla’s AC Power System to Distributed Generation & Smart Grids • 2005: Convergence of Power and High Technologies • 2004: Ontario's Tough Electricity Choices • 2003: Supply and Demand Challenges • 2002: Tricks and Treats in Evolving Electricity Markets • 2001: Electricity Deregulation (in Ontario) The Electrical Power Symposia (EPS) clearly identified a need for a forum in which the information and ideas related to the Power Systems Engineering can be exchanged among the experts, professionals from the engineering and business communities, and general public. The upcoming Electrical Power and Energy conference 2008 will continue addressing this need. |
