Boštjan Blažič received the BSc, MSc and PhD degrees, all in electrical engineering, from the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, in 2000, 2003 and 2005, respectively. He is currently an associate professor at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Ljubljana where he teaches modules in the fields of power-network elements and operation and high-voltage engineering. His main research interests are focused on: distribution networks, renewable energy sources, e-vehicles and smart grids; power converters; power quality. Boštjan Blažič is also involved in a number of EU projects and closely collaborates with the industry.
Lecture: Energy transition and the smart grids
Over 100 years, the existing electric power system has been providing efficient, reliable and safe services to its users. However, today it is facing a host of new challenges that arise from integration of new elements (renewable power sources, electric vehicles, etc.) into the system. To avoid costly network reinforcements, smart grids concept allows for efficient integration of new elements by using advanced network control approaches. The lecture will start with the background for the increasing share of renewables, offer an insight on the influence of renewables on network operation and markets functioning and focus on smart grids, as an approach to efficient integration of distributed energy sources. Some of the advanced network control concepts will be presented and challenges will be discussed.