Speakers

Topic of Presentation:

Global Status of Renewable Grid Integration

Career history:

Ruud Kempener is IRENA’s technology roadmap analyst for renewable energy grid integration and energy storage. Before joining IRENA in 2011, Ruud spend two years as a Research Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and two years as a postdoctoral fellow at the Science Policy Research Unit (SPRU) at the University of Sussex, UK. Ruud received his PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Sydney, Australia and an MSc in Technology & Society from Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands.

Areas of expertise:

Renewable Energy, Innovation; Electricity Storage; Renewable Energy Grid Integration

Career history:

Stefano Besseghini was born in Tirano (SO) in 1966, and is married with a son. He graduated in physics at the University of Milan and he is specialized in science and technology of materials with honours, at the same university.

He performed his research at the National Research Council, and since 1996 has been the head of Lecco CNR center, one of the most active Italian research center in the field of physical metallurgy. His research interests have been focused on the properties of the metallic functional materials with particular reference to shape-memory alloys and to the phenomenology of thermo-elastic martensitic transformations of which he investigated the microstructural aspects. In charge of several research projects both national and international, he has always worked from the perspective of a strong interaction with the industrial system. This has allowed the development of some success stories of technology transfer.

He is co-author of seven patents, 60 publications in international journals and numerous presentations at national and international conferences. He has worked and works as evaluator of research projects at international, national and regional levels. He is referee for international journals. He acted as a chairman in several international conferences, he oversaw the organization of Esomat 2000; MRTS 2008; CIMTEC, 2009 and 2012; ECT 2010; and he is in the International Advisory Committee of Esomat (European Symposium on Martensitic Transformation) and ICFSMA (International Conference on Ferromagnetic Shape Memory Alloys).

Since 2007 he has contributed to the development of a scientific animation project promoting the development of the Innovation Pole of the Valtellina (Politec) of which he was CEO from 2007 to 2011. He is the president of Politec Broadband, the start-up company created for the development of broadband in the Province of Sondrio, and he is vice president of CTL – Technological Centre of Wood in Poschiavo (CH) – on whose council he sits as a representative of Politec. CTL is an example of cross-border cooperation with the Swiss Confederation for the development of continuous training to support the wood and furniture industry.

In November 2010 he was appointed CEO of RSE – Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico – confirmed in May 2011 for the period 2011–2013.

In June 2014 he was appointed President and confirmed CEO of RSE - Ricerca sul Sistema Energetico for the period 2014-2016.

Topic of Presentation:

Urban and rural challenges in increasing use of renewables in Indian Electricity Grid

Career history:

• An Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Officer of 1985 Batch, Mr. B.N. Sharma has held several prestigious positions in Rajasthan State Government, United Nations and Government of India. Prior to joining IAS he was a teacher at University of Udaipur, Rajasthan for one year. He holds Bachelor's and Master’s degrees in Financial Management.
• Mr. B.N. Sharma joined Ministry of Power, Government of India in August 2012. In his present role as Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Power, he is in charge of some of the World’s largest transformation projects in the power sector such as the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS) covering 62 utilities across 2945 towns with an outlay of US110 billion; and Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY) with a target to electrify all remaining 18,500 un-electrified villages, providing access to electricity to all rural households and feeder separation with an outlay of US112 billion.

Areas of expertise:

Power distribution, Finance, Industrial Development, Social Sectors, Human Resource Development

Topic of Presentation:

The Smart Grid and Renewable Energy Integration in the City of Oshawa: Cooperation Between the Utility, Local Government and the Consumer

Career history:

Atul Mahajan is the President and CEO at Oshawa Power and Utilities Corporation (OPUC). In his career across North America, Europe, Africa and Asia, Atul has used his entrepreneurial spirit and extensive operational experience to bring innovations to companies in diverse industries.

As the CEO of Oshawa Power and Utilities Corporation, Atul plays a pivotal role in the overall strategic and tactical operations of OPUC and its subsidiaries involved in energy distribution, energy generation and telecom ventures. Atul is leading the team at OPUC through a major “cultural change” and strategic initiative to achieve operational excellence in all its business lines. Atul is also championing the transition of OPUC to a Utility that owns and operates a fleet of clean and green, distributed energy assets, that provide customers enhanced reliability, in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner.

In his career, Atul has worked extensively in negotiating and establishing joint ventures, recruiting and managing teams for such joint ventures and in developing and implementing plans for growth in diverse international markets such as Europe, Africa and Asia

Atul is also very involved in the community. He serves on the Board of Toronto East General Hospital and is active in fundraising efforts for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario.

Areas of expertise:

• Senior leader with success across diverse industries in local and international markets.
• Change agent across corporate cultures ranging from start-up ventures to regulated utilities.
• Entrepreneurial in identifying, structuring and closing deals related to business opportunities.
• Accomplished in developing strategic plans and managing operational performance.
• Motivational management style builds strong and committed teams.
• Results-driven leader who provides clear directions while clearing obstacles to success.
• Comfortable in presenting emerging concepts to diverse audiences.

Career history:

Mr. Shoji Takenaka received his Master degree in Electrical Engineering from Yokohama National University in 1978. He joined Toshiba in 1978, and his technical background is Substation Control and Monitoring System.
He is currently a VP and Chief Fellow in Social Infrastructure Systems Company after having been working as Chief Technology Executive in Transmission, Distribution & Industrial Systems Company, and then General Manager of Photovoltaic Systems Division.
He is a Member of IEEJ (The Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan).

Areas of expertise:

Application of power system planning, Smart Grid, Smart Community