Blockchain and Grid Modernization
Discussions on the use of blockchain technology for energy applications have grown exponentially over the last two years, indicating the potential impact of this technology on the energy industry. A number of indicators demonstrate that blockchain is set to disrupt the energy sector given its transactional nature and the inherent need for security. The proliferation of IoT energy technologies and applications, and distributed energy resources (DERs) also support opportunities for blockchain to modernize the electricity grid. Given its nascent state, this panel will focus on the potential benefits, values and uses for, as well as key technological and regulatory challenges facing blockchain as a commercially viable and utility ready product.
Speakers:
University of Illinois at Chicago
Dr. Elizabeth Kocs develops and strengthens UIC Energy Initiative programming by expanding its presence on all scales, growing a like-minded network across institutions and industry, and identifying supporting partners and affiliates. She builds relationships with local, regional, national, and international energy, technology, innovation, sustainability, environmental and policy entities and identifies private and public funding opportunities to grow UIC Energy Initiative curriculum, research and collaborative efforts.
Dr. Kocs develops and implements curricular and research training programs, including an undergraduate minor in Sustainable Cities, unique topics courses in energy, sustainability, energy storage and sustainable mobility, and collaborative undergraduate research training internship programs within UIC and with partner institutions, such as the UIC Office of Sustainability, Argonne National Laboratory and the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research. Dr. Kocs prepares grant proposals to seek funding for intensive interdisciplinary educational institutes, forums in interdisciplinary and STEM foundations of energy, from national agencies such as National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Department of Education, as well as local, regional, national and international private foundations, philanthropic institutions and institutional partners. more
ComEd
Kristen is a Principal Business Technology Specialist in the Utility of the Future team at ComEd. As part of the Utility of the Future team, her efforts focus on the technology, policy, and regulatory implications of realizing the vision of the Utility as a Platform. Prior to ComEd, she was a Fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy. She identified new opportunities to reduce the long-term and high-risk technological barriers in the development of transformative energy technologies. She has experience sourcing and evaluating technologies across diverse sectors, including power generation, chemical storage, and energy efficiency.
Kristen received her PhD in Chemistry from Northwestern University where she was awarded the Northwestern Presidential Fellowship, the top award given to NU graduate students. She has a B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Energy and Innovation Policy, Bluenote World AG
Andrew Barbeau is President of The Accelerate Group, a Midwest-based strategic consulting and innovation firm focused on accelerating large civic change initiatives. Through The Accelerate Group, Mr. Barbeau has helped companies, governments, and not-for-profits working to advance clean tech , smart cities, innovative government and economic development projects at a local and global scale. He is also in charge of energy and innovation policy at Bluenote World AG, a company focused on the application of blockchain for reducing energy usage and emissions in large commercial buildings.
General MicroGrids
Larisa Dobriansky is Chief Business & Regulatory Innovations Officer at General MicroGrids. She focuses on regulatory, institutional and financial changes that can leverage the capabilities of advanced microgrids to deliver integrated energy solutions to power systems and communities. Drawing upon over 20 years of experience in the Energy, Environmental and Financial regulatory fields, she helps shape new financing mechanisms, market designs, and utility regulatory reforms that can capture the value that an intelligent, dynamic microgrid system can provide to the Grid, Market and Communities. Her efforts are aimed at incentivizing investment in Advanced Microgrids that optimize distributed resources, expand "energy-sharing" parameters, and foster transactive energy markets.
Ms. Dobriansky has served in senior management positions within the private sector and U.S. Government. She formerly served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for National Energy Policy at the U.S. Department of Energy, where she spearheaded and secured legislative authorization for the Department's first loan guarantee program for clean energy technologies to address the "Valley of Death" and move technologies out of demonstration and into the marketplace.
Speakers:
Dr. Elizabeth A. Kocs
Director, The Energy InitiativeUniversity of Illinois at Chicago
Dr. Elizabeth Kocs develops and strengthens UIC Energy Initiative programming by expanding its presence on all scales, growing a like-minded network across institutions and industry, and identifying supporting partners and affiliates. She builds relationships with local, regional, national, and international energy, technology, innovation, sustainability, environmental and policy entities and identifies private and public funding opportunities to grow UIC Energy Initiative curriculum, research and collaborative efforts.
Dr. Kocs develops and implements curricular and research training programs, including an undergraduate minor in Sustainable Cities, unique topics courses in energy, sustainability, energy storage and sustainable mobility, and collaborative undergraduate research training internship programs within UIC and with partner institutions, such as the UIC Office of Sustainability, Argonne National Laboratory and the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research. Dr. Kocs prepares grant proposals to seek funding for intensive interdisciplinary educational institutes, forums in interdisciplinary and STEM foundations of energy, from national agencies such as National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Department of Education, as well as local, regional, national and international private foundations, philanthropic institutions and institutional partners. more
Dr. Kristen Brown
Principal Business Technology SpecialistComEd
Kristen is a Principal Business Technology Specialist in the Utility of the Future team at ComEd. As part of the Utility of the Future team, her efforts focus on the technology, policy, and regulatory implications of realizing the vision of the Utility as a Platform. Prior to ComEd, she was a Fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy. She identified new opportunities to reduce the long-term and high-risk technological barriers in the development of transformative energy technologies. She has experience sourcing and evaluating technologies across diverse sectors, including power generation, chemical storage, and energy efficiency.
Kristen received her PhD in Chemistry from Northwestern University where she was awarded the Northwestern Presidential Fellowship, the top award given to NU graduate students. She has a B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Andrew Barbeau
President, The Accelerate GroupEnergy and Innovation Policy, Bluenote World AG
Andrew Barbeau is President of The Accelerate Group, a Midwest-based strategic consulting and innovation firm focused on accelerating large civic change initiatives. Through The Accelerate Group, Mr. Barbeau has helped companies, governments, and not-for-profits working to advance clean tech , smart cities, innovative government and economic development projects at a local and global scale. He is also in charge of energy and innovation policy at Bluenote World AG, a company focused on the application of blockchain for reducing energy usage and emissions in large commercial buildings.
Larisa Dobriansky
Chief Business & Regulatory Innovations OfficerGeneral MicroGrids
Larisa Dobriansky is Chief Business & Regulatory Innovations Officer at General MicroGrids. She focuses on regulatory, institutional and financial changes that can leverage the capabilities of advanced microgrids to deliver integrated energy solutions to power systems and communities. Drawing upon over 20 years of experience in the Energy, Environmental and Financial regulatory fields, she helps shape new financing mechanisms, market designs, and utility regulatory reforms that can capture the value that an intelligent, dynamic microgrid system can provide to the Grid, Market and Communities. Her efforts are aimed at incentivizing investment in Advanced Microgrids that optimize distributed resources, expand "energy-sharing" parameters, and foster transactive energy markets.
Ms. Dobriansky has served in senior management positions within the private sector and U.S. Government. She formerly served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for National Energy Policy at the U.S. Department of Energy, where she spearheaded and secured legislative authorization for the Department's first loan guarantee program for clean energy technologies to address the "Valley of Death" and move technologies out of demonstration and into the marketplace.