An Announcement and Call for Papers has been issued for the First Annual Green Building Power Forum (GBPF ’09) to be held June 1-3 at the Anaheim, California, Sheraton Hotel. The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is a Platinum Sponsor of GBPF ’09. This focused three-day international conference will serve an audience of decision-makers who are interested in learning about and contributing to the latest practical advancements related to the use of dc power distribution in commercial, industrial, government and residential buildings; critical facilities such as data centers; and the creation of a dynamic power infrastructure.
GBPF ’09 will encompass high-voltage and low-voltage dc power distribution as well as hybrid ac and dc distribution architectures and dc microgrids. It will be tightly focused on "Identifying Challenges, Progress and Opportunities for the use of DC Power Distribution in Facilities and the Creation of a Flexible and Dynamic Power Infrastructure."
"While a lot of attention is being paid to the potential use of high-voltage dc distribution in large facilities such as data centers, there are even larger opportunities for the use of low-voltage dc distribution as part of a hybrid ac and dc power structure for industrial, commercial, government, and even residential buildings," stated Jeff Shepard, President of Darnell Group. "The use of dc distribution can complement other trends in building power including the growth of ’green’ energy sources, use of wireless building automation systems, demand side management, the implementation of high-efficiency lighting, and more. And it can reduce construction and operating costs, improve flexibility and enhance sustainability."
A convergence of technologies is occurring that will change how buildings are powered. These technologies include the continued rapid growth of distributed generation resources (photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, fuel cells, micro turbines, etc.), the emergence of high-efficiency lighting technologies (especially solid-state LED lighting), wireless building automation systems, demand-side management of building energy use by electric utilities, and so on.
Examples of the topics to be addressed at GBPF ’09 include: Selection of the optimal dc distribution voltage; Integration of distributed generation resources; DC lighting systems; DC HVAC and other building systems; DC appliances; Building automation and controls; DC microgrids; Combined heat and power; Advanced components and hardware; Safety considerations; Standardization issues; Hybrid ac and dc power distribution architectures; Implementation of demand-side management; Implications for power quality; and more.
Submissions are being sought in three areas: 1) Case Studies/Industry Examples: outstanding examples of recent applications of dc power distribution or hybrid ac and dc power distribution in commercial, industrial, government, and residential buildings, or in critical facilities such as data centers, including field tests as well as full production systems. 2) Implementation and Operational Process: return on investment scenarios and analysis of benefits for implementation of new and improved dc power distribution technologies, with special focus on the role of power electronics and applications systems; directions and developments in utility interface and integration; needed and/or anticipated changes in regulatory environments. 3) Technology Developments: projections and forecasts for changes in core power electronic, distributed generation, and building automation technologies, including new designs/implementations, new applications and new methods for implementing solutions.
More information on GBPF ’09 can be found here .
