Keynote Speaker I

Prof. em. Dr. Christoph Ruland, University of Siegen, Germany
Chair for Data Communications Systems and proxy Chair for Communications Engineering & Security

Karl Christoph Ruland studied mathematics, computer science and physics. He received a Diploma and Dr.-degree in mathematics at the University of Bonn, Germany. After 6 years in the industry as developer and manager for network products with AEG Telefunken he became professor for Data Communications at the University for Applied Sciences, Aachen, Germany, in 1982, and a full professor at the University of Siegen, Germany, in 1992. He founded KryptoKom, company for cryptographic information security and communication technology in 1988. His research focus is the integration of cryptography based security into communications systems, preferably real-time and industrial oriented systems e.g. Smart Grids, Smart Manufacturing. He is a member of international standardization groups (ISO/IEC) for security, station control and AI. He supervised more than 40 Dr.-students and 250 diploma students. Actual research topics include AI in industrial control, process control over 5G and security for data spaces.

Speech Title: Quo Vadis Smart Grid Security?

Keynote Speaker II

Prof. Saikat Chakrabarti, University of New Brunswick, Canada
Emera Research Chair in Smart Grid Technologies
Director of the Emera and NB Power Research Centre for Smart Grid Technologies
Fellow (INAE, India), Fellow (IE, India)

Dr. Saikat Chakrabarti is working as Professor and Emera Research Chair in Smart Grid Technologies and the Director of the Emera and NB Power Research Centre for Smart Grid Technologies, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Brunswick. He is a Fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers (India). His research interests are in the areas of power system state estimation, power system dynamics and stability, smart grid, and microgrid.

Speech Title: Recent Trends in Operation, Control, and Protection of Microgrids

Keynote Speaker III

Prof. Zhixin Wang, Shanghai Jiao Tong University China
Vice President of Shanghai Energy Saving Engineering Technology Association, China

Dr. Zhixin Wang is Professor and Ph. D Supervisor at Dept. Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong Univ. China, and also Vice President of Shanghai Energy Saving Engineering Technology Association, China. He was ever Deputy Director of Mechanical Electrical Control Institute, Associated Dean to School of Mechanical Engineering, Deputy Director of Scientific Research Division, and Deputy Chair of Dept. Electrical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China. He is reviewer for international Journals, such as Applied Energy, ENERGY, International Journal of Electrical Power & Energy Systems, Protection and Control of Modern Power Systems, Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, Transactions on Industrial Electronics, etc. He ever was Conference Chair for Asia Power and Electrical Technology Conference， APET 2022, APET 2023, The International Conference on Power and Renewable Energy，ICPRE 2020, ICPRE 2023, etc. Dr. Zhixin Wang’s research interests are located in the areas of wind power, photovoltaic generation and control technology, distributed generations of smart grid and intelligent distribution system, motor control system and energy-saving system. He teaches courses at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China to both Post Graduated Student and Undergraduate Program, i.e, Renewable Energy Generation System, Control Technique of Electrical Machines. In 2020, Control Technique of Electrical Machines y was rated as a high-quality textbook for electrical majors in colleges and universities of China Electric Power Education Association.
Dr. Zhixin Wang has ever hosted more than six Projects, which were supported by China Government, including Sub-Project of Key-note National Natural Science Foundation of China in 2009, General Project of National Natural Science Foundation of China and Sub-Project of National 863 Program of China in 2014, etc. He also have hosted more than fifteen Projects, which were supported by Government of Shanghai City, such as Fund of Shanghai Science and Technology Development, Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission Project, Shanghai Municipal Economic and Information Commission Industrial Foundation Plan Project, etc.
Dr. Zhixin Wang received many honorary titles, i.e Young scientific and technological expert in China machinery industry，former Ministry of Machinery Industry, China，1995, 21st century talents of the Ministry of Machinery Industry, former Ministry of Machinery Industry, China，1995, and Expert in China's power industry, China Electric Power Education Association,2022, etc.

Speech Title: Intelligent Building Energy System and Application Based on DC Microgrid Technology

Keynote Speaker IV

Prof. David Blekhman, California State University, USA
Technical Director for Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility

Dr. David Blekhman is a professor of Sustainable Energy and Transportation in the College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology and a founding technical director for the Hydrogen Research and Fueling Facility at Cal State LA. The station is the only facility in the world on an academic campus that produces its own hydrogen via electrolysis. An internationally recognized expert in hydrogen transportation, Blekhman has received multiple awards recognizing his contributions to clean transportation research and community outreach. He was also selected for the prestigious 2019-20 Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Alternative Energy Technology at Chalmers University, Sweden. He was also recognized as a 2022 Cal State LA Outstanding Professor and 2023 CSU-wide Wang Family Excellence Award for Outstanding Scholarship. As a PI and Co-PI, Dr. Blekhman has helped to secure multi-million funding for projects in hydrogen infrastructure and advanced transportation from NSF, DOE, CEC, CARB, ANL, and others, including most recently a grant from the California Energy Commission to collaborate with Cerritos College on hydrogen workforce development. Blekhman earned his BS and MS degrees in Thermal Physics and Engineering from Saint Petersburg State Polytechnical University in Russia and a PhD. in Mechanical Engineering from SUNY Buffalo.

Speech Title: Revolutionizing the US Hydrogen Economy: Unprecedented Investments and Emerging Long-Duration Energy Storage Technology

Keynote Speaker V

Mr. Marko Kroenke, President, International Monorail Association, Canada

Marko Kroenke has more than 25 years’ experience in the railway business on a global scale. He started at Deutsche Waggonbau, which was later taken over by Bombardier Transportation, leading the independent and certified testing facilities for railways. Afterwards, he was responsible for global standardization in the head quarter, managing engineering for locomotives and production optimization. In 2012 he was appointed to Product Management of fully automatized and driverless transport systems. He led all research developments, including innovative autonomous People Mover. Finally, he was overall responsible for global technology, innovation, and research. In recent years he founded his own company, KroenkeConsulting, with service and project delivery for airports, battery technology, and autonomous systems. In addition, he is co-founder and CEO of iMRail (Innovative Monorail Technology) developing a new and total turnkey Monorail System. He was than responsible for Ricardo Rail building and leading business activities in Canada and is now working as Principal Consultant. Further on, he is President of the International Monorail Association.

Speech Title: Smart Energy in Rail Applications