In 2015 Elsevier launched a new series of research books on Sustainable Electric Power and Energy Systems. Professor Bikash Pal, Series Editor tells us about how the Energy industry has changed over recent years, and what makes this new series so relevant to the energy industry today.

What do you think are the key areas for Energy systems moving forward?

Renewable energy integration to grid is and will continue to be fundamental, solid integration methods maximize the cost effectiveness of incorporating renewable energies into the power system and ensuring that system stability and reliability is imperative. Electric transportation continues to grow and cost effective wind and solar generation technologies are essential if we are to implement any kind of sustainable, robust and dependable energy network.

 What are the main challenges the Energy industry and academia face?

As an industry operating a vast electrical energy network when driven by renewable energy is the biggest challenge we are facing, that and ensuring security of energy network operation under various uncertain operating environments – a very sunny and windy day is a really challenging situation.

For academia the shortage of  power academic PhD and post doc opportunities to work with industry to enable a move into the renewable energy development field is a challenge. We are always trying to improve on the lack of solid collaboration between the renewable energy industry and research organizations, including universities.

Why did you want to create a research series on Sustainable Electric Power and Energy Systems?

The energy systems all over the world have been rapidly moving towards low carbon technologies. The world’s total connected wind power has exceeded 300 GW. Solar energy is also developing very rapidly – for example in 5 years’ time India will have 100 GW of solar. There are many publications in sustainable energy areas like IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, IET Renewable Power Generations, Wind Energy journals, they are all for communication of concept in limited size of the document. There are several books that cover generic aspects of renewable energy – so we have two extremes.  We thought it was important to have a short research publication, around 100 pages, where the concept is elaborated clearly through examples, while keeping the topic technically specific.  Most of the time readers approach the journal paper authors enquiring detailed explanations of their technical model and concepts, which is not available in their short technical papers – many authors respond and by large many do not. We realized there was a really good opportunity to meet the needs of these aspiring researchers, to deeply understand the topic technically and to build on what researchers and academics are addressing.

Why you think the series will be useful for the energy industry

The skill base of energy industry has to move up in the technology value chain. The engineers in industry need to understand the advance concept supported through mathematical modelling, analysis and insight and this is exactly the kind of content they need to do it. It is bridging the critical gap between research and industry.

The titles already published in the series are in the topic of Variable Speed Wind Generator and Energy Storage for Sustainable Microgrid. The first one is authored by Prof Lingling Fan and Prof Miao from University of south Florida. It has a very detailed dynamic modelling of doubly fed induction generator (DFIG), making it useful for researchers and practicing engineers to understand how a DFIG when connected to a grid dynamically interacts and influences. Many large wind farms are unable to inject full capacity to the grid despite generation being available. I am sure the dynamic interaction between grid and wind farm is playing a significant role here, and this title is useful to understand component model to develop insights into understanding the problem well.
The microgrid has been a very active topic of research and implementation in many parts of the world for quite some time, and it cannot sustain on its own because it has low inertial energy, so any disturbance in the system will easily disturb the synchronous operation of the system. Storage plays an important role, and the author of this book, Professor Gao, is an expert in energy storage modelling and control. This monograph will supply the need of the aspiring engineer interested in exploring microgrid operation control through storage.

What you are looking for in new titles for the series?

Elsevier understands best the requirement of its readership. It always offers a relevant and timely publication program in energy and is constantly proactive in engaging with academia and industry to explore opportunities. Energy Editor Lisa Reading and I are looking for specific technical topics for the series, from protecting a wind turbine against electrical fault, developing a clear rule for regulating frequency in power network through renewable energy sources  or covering droop control and synthetic inertia.  Like these we are looking at all areas for the series that cover advances in theories, developments, principles and applications in renewable energy technologies and systems.

Books in the series    

Save up to 30% on these titles, simply enter the STC215 at the checkout when you shop on the store!

About the Editor

Professor of Power Systems, Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Imperial College London, for 24 years Professor Bikash Pal has been at the forefront of Electrical  Engineering. Fellow of IEEE, IET, Visiting Professor, Tsinghua University, China and Editor in Chief of IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy, he has spent his academic career focusing on research in Electric power network control and computation,  renewable energy modelling  and smart  grids.