TITLE: Recent Progress and Current Challenges in Optimization for the Smart Grid

SPEAKER: Miguel Anjos

ABSTRACT:

A smart grid is the combination of a traditional power distribution system with two-way communication between suppliers and consumers. This combination is expected to deliver energy savings, cost reductions, and increased reliability and security, but smart grids introduce numerous challenges for the management of the resulting system. These include integrating renewable energy sources such as wind and solar electricity generation, managing bidirectional flows of power, and incorporating demand-response. We will present an overview of the challenges in this area, examples of how optimization is helping to meet these challenges, and important directions for future research.

Bio:
Miguel F. Anjos is Full Professor and Canada Research Chair in the Department of Mathematics & Industrial Engineering of Polytechnique Montreal, and is the Founding Director of Polytechnique’s Trottier Institute for Energy. He received his degrees from McGill University, Stanford University, and the University of Waterloo. He is Editor-in-Chief of Optimization and Engineering and serves on the editorial boards of several other journals.  He recently completed a 3-year term as Program Director for the SIAM Activity Group on Optimization, and currently serves on the Council of the Mathematical Optimization Society. He is also a member of the Research Review Committee of Mitacs. He received the Méritas Teaching Award from Polytechnique in 2012. He was awarded a Humboldt Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers in 2009, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for significant contributions to mathematical optimization and its industrial applications.