Powering the grid, new Canada Research Chair awarded
With the increasing global demand for renewable power generation sources, integrating those sources into existing electrical grid infrastructure is essential to capture that energy.
The appointment of Dr. Carl Ho as the new Canada Research Chair in Efficient Utilization of Electric Power by the federal government will assist the Canadian electrical industry to develop technologies and products in support of the next generation of intelligent energy grids. The University of Manitoba has long been a leader in the field of electrical engineering.
Ho joins the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering as a Tier 2 chair holder with funding of $500,000 over five years. He comes to Canada from Switzerland, where he established a strong industrial research program and demonstrated his ingenuity in developing novel grid-connected converters for renewable energy sources. His research has been widely adopted and used in products such as solar inverters, uninterrupted power supplies and power electronic dimmers that have sold worldwide.
“This funding will allow Dr. Ho to integrate energy power electronic converters and modern communication techniques, ultimately reducing energy losses and support the switch from non-renewable to renewable energy sources,” said Dr. Digvir Jayas, vice-president (research and international) and Distinguished Professor at the University of Manitoba. “We are excited to welcome such strong expertise to our team of researchers.”
Ho’s funding will support the establishment of a modern high power grid-connected converter laboratory and will allow Ho to train engineers in cutting-edge high power electronics and intelligent energy control techniques. These skills will be critical in Canada continuing to maintain its globally competitive position in the electrical industry.
There are currently 43 CRCs at the University of Manitoba.