INNOVATION POLICY FOR THE GRID

The development of a smart, advanced power system will require innovation and new technologies to meet the challenges of providing affordable low carbon power, integrating smart end use devices, developing a control architecture that takes advantage of distributed resources, enhancing resilience, and minimizing cyber and physical security risks. This panel will explore the strengths of and gaps in the U.S. energy innovation system and discuss the development of policies that can sustain and advance innovation and the development of new technologies to help meet these and other challenges. Participants have deep experience with energy innovation and will provide a range of perspectives including those of a university researcher, founder of a successful smart grid startup, manager of utility advanced technology evaluation, and a program director for a state research and development authority. Speakers: Munther Dahleh, William Coolidge Professor of EECS, Acting Director of Engineering Systems Division, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Deepak Divan, President and Co-Founder, Varentec, Inc Robert Stewart, Manager, New Business Advanced Technology Evaluation at Pepco Holdings, Inc. Micah Kotch, Director of NY Prize and Strategic Adviser for Innovation, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority