WIRED Wednesdays Seminar Series shares research findings with the broader scientific, policy and practice community. Seminars are led by our affiliates and subject matter experts from a broad range of institutions.
May 28, 2025
Eveth González from the University of Alberta, working under the supervision of Dr. Petr Musilek, will be delivering a presentation titled "Power System Resiliency: Frameworks, Metrics, and Emerging Solutions from a Global Perspective"
Abstract: Understanding grid resiliency is key in modern power systems. The impact and frequency of weather-related events due to climate change pose significant challenges to grid resiliency. A comprehensive literature review on the evaluation and improvement of power system resiliency is presented, with a particular emphasis on climate-induced hazards and extreme events. Drawing from several studies and technical reports, it synthesizes state-of-the-art methodologies for defining, measuring, and enhancing the resilience of both transmission and distribution networks. First, foundational frameworks are examined that distinguish resiliency from reliability and offer quantifiable performance indicators. To address mitigation and recovery, the review categorizes operational and planning strategies across five key areas: proactive control, distributed energy resource (DER) hosting, microgrid formation, AI-driven fault detection, and emergency restoration planning. Case studies from North America and Europe highlight practical applications in contexts of hurricanes, wildfires, geomagnetic disturbances, and flooding. In addition, emerging approaches are also discussed for their role in future-ready systems. The main objective is to clearly understand resiliency and review metrics, understand existing technology and identify new areas of study.
May 13, 2025
Alireza Esmaeili from the University of Calgary, working under the supervision of Dr. Hamid Zareipour, will be delivering a presentation titled "Uncovering Wildfire Smoke’s Role in Solar Power Losses in Alberta"
Abstract: Wildfire smoke has become a growing concern for solar energy systems in Alberta, reducing solar output in ways that are often masked by other environmental factors. Traditional forecasting models fail to separate these effects, leading to reliability issues. This research aims to identify and quantify the specific influence of wildfire smoke, improving the accuracy of solar forecasts and supporting energy planning across the province.
May 7, 2025
Dr. Hamid Nazaripouya is an Assistant Professor in the School of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE) at OSU, Distinguished Fellow of
ECE, and Assistant Adjunct Professor at UC Riverside. He directs the Power Grid Modernization Lab (PGML), specializing in power grid modernization.
Abstract: Wildfires pose an increasingly critical threat to the reliability and resilience of electric power systems, particularly in areas with aging infrastructure and climate vulnerabilities. As wildfire activity rises, utilities face operational challenges in maintaining service and safety. This presentation explores wildfire impacts on power systems, focusing first on modeling wildfire byproducts–heat, smoke, and ash– and their effects on critical components to support resilience assessments. It then presents strategies and optimization frameworks to enhance grid resilience, such as grid reconfiguration, power rerouting, adaptive control of distributed energy resources, de-energization, and load shedding.
April 2, 2025
Sherry Gao, a graduate student from the University of Calgary presents "Impact of Wildfire and Smoke on Power System - Literature Review"
Abstract: Wildfires and the resulting smoke events can affect power system infrastructure and pose challenges for operations. This presentation provides a literature review on the impact of wildfire and smoke on power systems and the current knowledge gaps of interest for my research.
Any interested parties may reach out directly to Sherry Gao Email: xinhan.gao1@ucalgary.ca
March 5, 2025
Professor W. John Braun, Professor of Statistics at UBC Okanagan, presents "Constrained Data Sharpening and Visualizing Fire Spread Uncertainty"
February 12, 2025
Nicolas Duboc, PhD Student, Weather Forecast Research Team, University of British Columbia presents "Modifying terrain in WRF through spectral methods."
June 13, 2024
Guohui Yuan, program manager for the Systems Integration team in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office, will present "Planning and Operating the Power Grid with Variable and Distributed Renewable Generation"
June 5, 2024
Roland Stull, distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science and director of the Weather Forecast Research Team at the University of British Columbia, will present "BlueSky-Canada—An overview of wildfire smoke forecasting."
April 11, 2024
Adam Birchfield, Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University, presented "Detecting and Mitigating Hidden Failure Modes in Transitioning Electric Power Grids."
Join us in Calgary, Alberta at the University of Calgary in 2025!
Don’t miss your chance to grow connections, expand your professional community, and learn from the leading experts building climate-resilient communities and power grids. Our annual AGM will be hosted at the University of Calgary this summer. More information will be available soon.