Prof. Pierluigi Mancarella
(Keynote Speaker)
IEEE Fellow
University of Melbourne, Australia

Keynote Lecture: The demand-side “Copernican revolution”: flexibility, security and resilience from distributed energy resources

Abstract: Distributed Energy Resources (DER) are becoming widespread in most countries worldwide. For instance, at the household, building, and community levels, rooftop solar photovoltaics, battery energy storage systems, electro-thermal storage, and electric vehicles are poised to play an essential role towards power system decarbonisation and more consumer-centric markets. This represents a “Copernican revolution” relative to traditional power system operation and planning from multiple perspectives. More specifically, in this keynote we will discuss how DER, particularly through different forms of aggregation such as virtual power plants, energy communities, and microgrids, can become key actors in providing flexibility, security and resilience services in the context of low-carbon grids.

Biography: Pierluigi Mancarella is the Chair Professor of Electrical Power Systems at the University of Melbourne, Australia, and Professor of Smart Energy Systems at the University of Manchester, UK. His key research interests include techno-economic modelling and analysis of multi-energy systems, grid integration of renewables and distributed energy resources, energy infrastructure planning under uncertainty, and security, reliability, and resilience of low-carbon networks.

Pierluigi is the Energy Systems Program Leader at the Melbourne Energy Institute, a Fellow of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), an IEEE Power and Energy Society Distinguished Lecturer, the Convenor of the CIGRE (International Council of Large Electric Systems) C6/C2.34 Working Group on “Flexibility Provision from Distributed Energy Resources”, holds the 2017 veski innovation fellowship for his work on urban-scale virtual power plants, and is a recipient of the international Newton Prize 2018 for his work on power system resilience in Chile. He is author of several books and over 300 research papers and reports, and is a Senior Editor of the IEEE Transactions on Power Systems, and the Oxford Open Energy journal.

Pierluigi is the Australian principal investigator of the US-UK-Australia Global Center in Climate Change and Clean Energy “EPICS” (“Electric Power Innovation for a Carbon-free Society”). In the past few years, he has supported the Finkel Review panel, the Australian Energy Market Operator, the Australian Energy Market Commission, and the Australian Energy Regulator on relevant research and consultancy projects on power system security, reliability, and resilience, and has led and been involved in several projects via the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Cooperative Research Centres, and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

Prof. Yonggang Wen
(Keynote Speaker)
IEEE Fellow
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore

Keynote Lecture: AI and Digital Infrastructure for a Sustainable Future: A Tale of Twin Transition

Abstract: The advent of generative AI, exemplified by multimodal large language models (MLLMs) such as GPT-4o, Gemini 1.5, and Claude Sonnet, has heralded a new era of technological innovations with profound societal implications. Yet the rapid proliferation of AI systems has intensified concerns over their environmental impacts, particularly with respect to energy consumption and carbon emissions. As global demand for AI capabilities continues to surge, the construction of large-scale AI data centres (AIDCs) is poised to escalate dramatically, placing mounting pressure on already strained energy infrastructure and ecosystems. This talk presents a narrative of Twin Transition, wherein digitalisation and sustainability are not competing imperatives but mutually reinforcing forces. Grounded in this premise, we introduce a dual paradigm — Sustainability for AI and AI for Sustainability — and examine both the environmental ramifications and the transformative potential that emerge at their intersection. Under the first paradigm, we conduct a rigorous analysis and modelling of the electricity consumption and carbon emissions attributable to prominent large language models (e.g., GPT, PaLM and LLaMA), situating this analysis within the evolving landscape of data centre sustainability. We further extend our investigation to forecast future energy trends for generative AI across both training and inference phases, noting that inference workloads will increasingly dominate aggregate demand as adoption scales. Cost models leveraging alternative energy sources, including renewables, small modular nuclear reactors, hydrogen fuel cells, and space-based solar infrastructure, are presented as viable pathways to power future AIDCs sustainably. Under the second paradigm, we advocate for harnessing advanced AI capabilities to catalyse the transition towards sustainable industrial practices. Through the exemplar of Physics-Informed Machine Learning (PIML) and digital twin frameworks applied to AIDC operations, we demonstrate how AI-driven optimisation strategies can significantly mitigate energy consumption and carbon emissions in real-world deployments. Empirical results from commercial data centres across Singapore and Europe confirm that AI-guided cooling optimisation can yield cooling energy savings of 10–21%, PUE reductions of up to 3.5%, and carbon footprint reductions equivalent to tens of millions of tonnes of CO₂ annually at global scale. Finally, we present The AI Wears PRADA — a comprehensive strategic framework integrating Platforms, Researchers, Algorithms, Data, and Applications — to orchestrate a unified and efficient AI ecosystem. By leveraging this holistic approach, we aspire to foster the responsible utilisation of AIDCs, facilitate the seamless integration of AI into sustainable development initiatives, and propel the growth of the digital economy and GDP. Together, these efforts chart a course toward a future that is simultaneously intelligent and sustainable — one where AI drives sustainability, and sustainability enables AI.

Biography: Yonggang Wen is a Professor and President’s Chair in College of Computing and Data Science at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. He serves as the Associate Provost (Graduate Education) and Dean of Graduate College at NTU. Previously he has served as the Associate Vice President (Capability Building) at President’s Office (2023),the Associate Dean (Research) at College of Engineering(2018-2023), the acting Director for Nanyang Technopreneurship Center (NTC) (2017-2019) and the Assistant Chair (Innovation) at the School of Computer Science and Engineering (2016-2018), all at NTU. He received his PhD degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (minor in Western Literature) from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, USA, in 2008. Dr. Wen has published over 300 papers in top journals and prestigious conferences. His systems research has gained global recognitions. His work in Multi-Screen Cloud Social TV has been featured by global media (more than 1600 news articles from over 29 countries) and received ASEAN ICT Award 2013 (Gold Medal). His work on Cognitive Digital Twin for Data Centre, has won the 2015 Data Centre Dynamics Awards – APAC (the ‘Oscar’ award of data centre industry), 2016 ASEAN ICT Awards (Gold Medal), 2020 IEEE TCCPS Industrial Technical Excellence Award, 2021 W.Media APAC Cloud and Datacenter Technology Leader Award, and 2022 Singapore Computer Society Digital Achiever Tech Leader Award. He was the winner of 2019 Nanyang Research Award and the sole winner of 2016 Nanyang Awards for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, both of which are the highest recognition at NTU. He is a co-recipient of multiple Best Paper Awards from top journals, including 2019 IEEE TCSVT and 2015 IEEE Multimedia, and at international conferences, including 2023 ASPLOS, 2016 IEEE Globecom, 2016 IEEE Infocom MuSIC Workshop, 2015 EAI Chinacom, 2014 IEEE WCSP, 2013 IEEE Globecom and 2012 IEEE EUC. He is the Editor in Chief of IEEE Transactions on Multimedia (TMM), serves or has served on editorial boards for multiple IEEE and ACM transactions, and was the elected Chair for IEEE ComSoc Multimedia Communication Technical Committee (2014-2016). His research interests include cloud computing, green data centre, big data analytics, multimedia network and mobile computing. He is a Fellow of IEEE and Singapore Academy of Engineering, and an ACM Distinguished Member.

Prof. Chul-Hwan Kim
(Keynote Speaker)
IEEE Fellow
Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea

Keynote Lecture: Hybrid AC/DC Distribution System and Protection

Abstract: As DC power sources and DC loads are connected to the power system on a large scale, the conventional AC distribution systems are reaching their limitations. In response, medium-voltage DC (MVDC) distribution systems are emerging as an alternative for the next-generation distribution system. In Republic of Korea, the goal is to operate an AC/DC hybrid distribution system by 2030, and partially replacing existing AC distribution system with DC distribution system is being considered. With the same conductor and insulation ratings, a DC line can transmit roughly twice the power of an AC line. Medium-voltage DC (MVDC) distribution is also expected to substantially increase the hosting capacity for renewable resources, DC sources, and DC loads. Operationally, MVDC avoids frequency-related stability constraints, experiences lower voltage drop and reduced losses because reactive power is absent, enables more efficient integration of DC sources and loads through direct interconnection, and improves overall asset utilization by enabling controllable power flows via power-electronic converters.

The concept and method of fault current in hybrid AC/DC distribution is different from conventional AC power system. Also, for the protection of hybrid AC/DC distribution system, we need to consider some consideration in it.

Biography: Prof. Chul-Hwan Kim is an IEEE Fellow, KIEE Fellow and earned his B. S., M. S., and Ph. D. degrees in electrical engineering from Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea, in 1982, 1984, and 1990, respectively. In 1996, 1998, and 1999, he was a visiting academic at the University of Bath, U.K. Currently, he serves as a professor at School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering of Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea(south).

He was technical program committees co-chair of IPST(International Conference on Power System Transients) 2023 and the local program committee chair of IPST 2017. Also, he is a steering committee member of IPST. He was president of Power Engineering Society of KIEE and Korea Institute of Electrical Engineers(KIEE, 50th) in 2018 and 2021, respectively.

Furthermore, since 2008, he is a member of technical review panel of an international conference on Developments in Power System Protection (DPSP) organized by IET, U.K. Furthermore, he serves as an esteemed editorial board member for IEEE Power and Energy magazine, International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems (IJEPES), and Protection and Control of Modern Power Systems. Additionally, he holds the role of editor in Electrical Power Systems Research (EPSR) at Elsevier. His research includes power system protection, transients, distributed renewable generation, and analysis and protection of MVDC, and LVDC systems.

Prof. Kashem Muttaqi
(Keynote Speaker)
IEEE Fellow
University of Wollongong, Australia

Keynote Lecture: Transforming Power Grids for the Energy Transition

Abstract: Modern power systems are undergoing a significant transformation toward converter-dominated, low-inertia networks driven by the large-scale integration of renewable energy, distributed energy resources, and energy storage. This shift introduces critical challenges in system stability, protection coordination, and real-time operation due to the decline of synchronous generation and increased reliance on power electronic interfaces. Advanced technologies, including grid-forming converters, smart grids, and solid-state transformers, are enabling enhanced controllability, fast dynamic response, and improved power quality. Addressing these challenges requires integrated approaches combining advanced control, optimisation, and market mechanisms to ensure secure, reliable, and efficient operation of future low-carbon power systems.

Biography: Professor Kashem Muttaqi is the Director of the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre in Energy Technologies for Future Grids (ARC Future Grids ITTC), which is sponsored by the Australian Government, and several industries and Universities in Australia. He is also the Director of the Australian Power and Energy Research Institute (APERI) at the University of Wollongong (UOW), New South Wales, Australia. He is a Distinguished Professor and Discipline Leader – Electrical Engineering at the School of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering, University of Wollongong.

Professor Muttaqi received the B.Sc. degree in electrical and electronic engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Dhaka, Bangladesh in 1993, the M.Eng.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Malaya (UM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1996 and the Ph.D. degree in Electrical Engineering from the Multimedia University (MMU), Selangor, Malaysia in 2001. Professor Muttaqi has 28 years of academic experience and has authored or co-authored more than 575 papers in international journals and conference proceedings. He has supervised more than 30 higher-degree research students to completion and is currently supervising 15 higher-degree research students.

Professor Muttaqi is the Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Industry Applications. He is an Executive Member of the IEEE Industry Applications Society (IAS) Board. He is also the Past Chair of the Industrial Automation and Control Committee (IACC) for the IEEE Industry Applications Society (IAS). He has been an Associate Editor for several journals, including IEEE Trans on Industry Applications, IEEE Trans on Sustainable Energy, and IET Generation, Transmission & Distribution. He is the General Chair for the IEEE International Conference on Energy Technologies for Future Grids (IEEE ETFG 2025) to be held on 7–11 December 2025 at Wollongong, Australia. He was the General Chair for the IEEE International Conference on Energy Technologies for Future Grids (IEEE ETFG 2023) held on 3–6 December 2023 at Wollongong, Australia. He is a Member of the EEE Industry Applications Society, IEEE Power & Energy Society, IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, and IEEE Power Electronics Society.

Prof. Dipti Srinivasan
(Keynote Speaker)
IEEE Fellow
National University of Singapore, Singapore

Biography: Dipti Srinivasan is a Professor in the Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering, where she also heads the Centre for Green Energy Management & Smart Grid (GEMS). She is a Fellow of IEEE, and was awarded the IEEE PES Outstanding Engineer award in 2010. She is currently serving as an Associate Editor of IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, IEEE Transactions on Smart Grid, IEEE Transactions on Evolutionary Computation, IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems, and IEEE Computational Intelligence magazine.

Prof. Yi Zhang
(Keynote Speaker)
Ph.D., P. Eng., FCAE, FIEEE, FEIC
RTDS Technologies Inc., Canada

Keynote Lecture: Modelling AI Data Center on Real Time Digital Simulator

Abstract: The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has driven the emergence of AI data centers as a new class of large-scale loads, often reaching gigawatt levels. This unprecedented scenario poses significant challenges for power system operators, particularly due to the extensive use of power electronics within data centers. Accurate modeling and testing at the electromagnetic transient (EMT) level are essential to ensure system reliability and stability. This speech will present the latest progress in modeling data centers on a Real-Time Digital Simulator (RTDS). The discussion will cover key components such as AI computational loads, chillers, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), variable frequency drives (VFD), computer room air handling (CRAH) systems, and co-located battery energy storage systems (BESS). A comprehensive example will illustrate the end-to-end process of developing and validating a data center model for real-time simulation, enabling closed-loop testing of control systems. The objective is to provide a practical framework that can serve as a foundation for modeling diverse data center configurations and supporting robust controller validation under realistic operating conditions.

Biography: Dr. Yi Zhang joined RTDS Technologies Inc. in 2000, where he now serves as Vice-President R&D and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). He has over 32 years of experiences working in power system simulation and analysis. His expertise includes Real Time EMT Simulation, Voltage Stability and HVDC, etc. As a principal member of the RTDS development team, he developed many simulation models on RTDS Real Time Simulator in the past 23 years. At present, Dr. Zhang leads the research and development activities in RTDS Technologies. He also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Manitoba Canada and Hunan University China, and an editor of IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery. Dr. Zhang is a Fellow of IEEE, a Fellow of Canadian Academy of Engineering and a registered professional engineer in the province of Manitoba.

Prof. Yi Ding
(Keynote Speaker)
Zhejiang University, China

Keynote Lecture: Research on the trading strategies of multiple source-side and load-side participants in the electricity-carbon market

Abstract: As key market mechanisms for constructing new power systems and achieving carbon reduction goals, electricity and carbon markets in China are developing rapidly. In the context of electricity and carbon markets, power generation companies and energy-intensive industrial consumers are primary participants. Research on the decision-making of these participants is of great significance for refining market mechanisms and ensuring the stability of participants' revenues. Taking this context as a background, this report aims to explore the research on the trading strategies of multiple source-side and load-side participants in the electricity-carbon market.

Biography: Professor Yi Ding is the Vice Dean of the College of Electrical Engineering at Zhejiang University, as well as a recipient of the National Outstanding Youth Fund, a National Young Distinguished Expert, and an awardee of the China Electric Power Outstanding Scientific and Technological Worker Award. He is committed to research in areas such as intelligent power grid design and optimized operation, renewable energy planning and operation, risk analysis of complex engineering systems, demand-side management, and electricity markets, and has achieved a series of original and systematic research results, including 1 National Second Prize for Progress in Science and Technology, 6 provincial and ministerial-level awards such as the First Prize for Progress in Science and Technology from China Electric Power and Zhejiang Province, and 6 published works (including the first international monograph in the field of power grid temperature-controlled load regulation); he has published over 250 academic papers in renowned academic journals and conferences such as IEEE Transactions on Power Systems and IEEE Transactions on Reliability, with 6 ESI Highly Cited Papers (Top), and his papers have been cited 1,320 times in SCI in the past five years, with an h-index of 33 and an i-10 index of 99, 11 papers ranking among the top 5% in citation counts and 25 among the top 10%—his papers have also been selected into the "Top 20 Most Attention-Grabbing Papers" in the "Smart Grid" column of Proceedings of the CSEE and the "Top 10 Most Cited Papers of 2020" in Proceedings of the CSEE, and he holds more than 60 authorized invention patents. In addition, he serves as an editorial board member for several international journals including Applied Energy and Journal of Modern Power Systems and Clean Energy, and holds positions such as Member of the China Steering Committee of the International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIRED), Member of the Zhejiang Electricity Market Management Committee, Standing Member of the Professional Committee on Reliability System Science and Engineering of the Chinese Association of Command and Control, and Vice Chairman of the System Reliability Professional Committee of the Systems Engineering Society of China; since returning to China full-time, he has presided over 4 National Natural Science Foundation projects, participated in 2 National Natural Science Foundation projects, and participated in 1 National Key R&D Program project as both a project leader and a core team member.

Prof. Zhao Xu
(Keynote Speaker)
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China

Keynote Lecture: Low-Carbon Transition and Resilience Evolution of Modern Power Systems under Climate Change

Abstract: To mitigate global warming, power systems must develop weather-sensitive green energy for a low-carbon transition. However, this shift poses challenges to reliable power supply, especially during extreme weather events. This presentation provides an overview of global climate change and decarbonization trends, followed by an analysis of climate-induced resilience risks engaged in low-carbon power systems. Subsequently, an integrated meteorological-electrical framework is developed for online assessment of power system short-term resilience under extreme weather. Finally, the evolution of power system resilience theory under long-term climate change is explored.

Biography: Prof. Zhao Xu received the B.Eng. degree from Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, in 1996, the M.Eng. degree from the National University of Singapore, Singapore, in 2002, and the Ph.D. degree from The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, in 2006, all in electrical engineering. From 2006 to 2010, he was an Assistant and then an Associate Professor with the Department of Electrical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark. Since 2010, he has been with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, where he is currently a Professor with the Department of Electrical Engineering and the Leader of Smart Grid Research Area. He is also a foreign Associate Staff of the Centre for Electric Technology, Technical University of Denmark. His research interests include smart grid, renewable energy, and applications of AI and big data analytics. He has extensive research project experiences involving collaborations with academia, industrial, and business sectors. Prof. Xu was the recipient of several awards for research excellence, including the 2017 State Award in Nature Science from MOE, China. He is currently the Chairman of the IEEE Hong Kong Joint Chapter of PES/IELS/IAS/PELS. He has served/is serving as an editor for a number of IEEE Transactions and IET journals.

Prof. Jin Lin
(Keynote Speaker)
Tsinghua University, China

Keynote Lecture: Green Hydrogen–Ammonia Systems and Power Grid Interactions

Abstract: Green hydrogen has become an important pathway for decarbonization, large-scale integration of wind and solar power, and the development of downstream industries such as ammonia and methanol. Yet electricity-related investment accounts for about 70% of total capital cost, while electricity expenditure represents nearly 90% of operating cost, making access to low-cost, low-carbon power central to system viability. Against this backdrop, the report on green hydrogen–ammonia systems and power grid interactions establishes a systematic framework that characterizes three grid-integration modes—grid peak-shaving-oriented, grid-friendly, and process off-grid—and clarifies their tradeoffs in flexibility, carbon emissions, and grid dependence. It further introduces representative projects in China to demonstrate the engineering feasibility and practical value of these configurations. Overall, the report provides a structured pathway for the coordinated deployment of green hydrogen–ammonia systems and grid interaction mechanisms.

Biography: Professor Lin Jin is a Mingtao Chair Tenured Associate Professor and Doctoral Supervisor at the Department of Electrical Engineering, Tsinghua University. He has long been engaged in research on power and hydrogen energy systems. He currently holds the positions of Secretary of the General Party Branch and Vice Dean of Weiyang College, Assistant Director of the National Key Laboratory of New Power Systems, and Director of the Smart Hydrogen Energy System Laboratory at Tsinghua Sichuan Energy Internet Research Institute. He has won the Second Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award and the First Prize of the Natural Science Award of the Ministry of Education.

Prof. Vladimir Terzija
(Tutorial Speaker)
Newcastle University, UK

Tutorial Lecture: Smart Technologies and Data Analytics for Integrating Data Centres with Power Grids

Abstract: This invited lecture explores the transformation of modern electrical power systems under the pressure of digitalisation, renewable integration, and emerging load types. It begins with an overview of key operational challenges—reduced inertia, lower fault levels, and increased system complexity—before introducing smart grid concepts for enhanced data acquisition, monitoring, and protection. Particular attention is given to the role of intelligent electronic devices, communication standards (IEC 61850, IEEE C37.118), and time-synchronised measurement technologies that underpin advanced system integrity protection schemes.
The second part highlights how data science and artificial intelligence are reshaping grid operation and control, leading to the digital twin concept and wide-area monitoring architectures. The lecture then focuses on modern data centres as both major energy consumers and potential active participants in power system operation. Through examples of geo-distributed workload scheduling, carbon-aware computing, and integration with renewable and ancillary services, Professor Terzija illustrates how smart technologies and data analytics can turn data centres from passive loads into intelligent, grid-supporting prosumers within future net-zero energy systems.

Biography: Professor Vladimir Terzija was born in Donji Baraci (former Yugoslavia). He received the Dipl-Ing., M.Sc., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia, in 1988, 1993, and 1997, respectively. He is a Professor of Energy Systems & Networks at the Newcastle University, UK. He is also a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Shandong and Tsinghua Universities, China, as well as a Guest Professor at the Technical University of Munich, Germany. In the period 2021-2023 he was a Full Professor at Skoltech, Moscow, Russian Federation. In the period 2006-2020 he was the EPSRC Chair Professor at The University of Manchester, UK. From 2000 to 2006, he was a Senior Specialist for switchgear and distribution automation with ABB, Ratingen, Germany. From 1997 to 1999, he was an Associate Professor with the University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. His current research interests include smart grid applications, wide-area monitoring, protection and control, multi-energy systems, data analytics, and complexity science applications in power systems. Prof. Terzija is Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Electrical Power and Energy Systems, Humboldt Fellow, IEEE Fellow and the recipient of the National Friendship Award (China).