The EMerge Alliance, Armstrong World Industries, the Center for Power Electronic Systems (CPES), Nextek Power Systems, and the Korea Electrotechnology Institute will be represented during the Plenary Session of Darnell’s third-annual Green Building Power Forum (GBPF ’11) in San Jose, California, on January 24-26. Brian Patterson, Chairman of the EMerge Alliance and General Manager of Armstrong World Industries will open GBPF ’11 with a presentation of how "DC Microgrids Hold the Key to Net Zero Energy Buildings." Paolo Mattavelli, Professor at CPES will review the latest developments related to "DC Power Systems for Sustainable Buildings." Paul Savage, CEO of Nextek Power Systems will continue the session with a paper titled, "Double Duty: How local storage in a DC Microgrid can solve some of the grid’s problems and the customers’ problems at the same time," Ju-Won Baek, Principal Researcher, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, will close the session with a discussion of "Compatibility of Conventional Server Power Supplies with DC Powering."
"This is an exciting time for dc power distribution. The initial standard has been approved, products have been certified and momentum for commercialization is beginning to build," stated Jeff Shepard, President of Darnell Group. "As occurred at last year’s GBPF, the EMerge Alliance will again host a post-conference workshop at GBPF ’11, and this time there will be in-depth discussions of next steps for commercialization of the technology and continued adoption of dc power standards."
Among the companies and organizations presenting papers at GBPF ’11 will be Armstrong World Industries, Anderson Power Products, Center for Power Electronics Systems, Delta Power Products, Direct Power Technologies, Ericsson Power Products, IBM, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Intel Energy Laboratory, Nextek Power Systems, Philips Research Laboratories, ROAL, Seoul National University, Tyco Electronics, ZBB Energy Corp., and others.
GBPF ’11 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." An open meeting of the EMerge Alliance will follow directly after the close of the event on Wednesday afternoon.
A convergence of technologies is occurring that is beginning to 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 ’11 include: Optimizing the Integration of On-site Renewable Generation Sources; Combined Solar and AC-Powered LED Lighting; IBM’s 380Vdc Server Technology; Optimizing Energy Savings from DC Power in Residential Buildings; Nanogrids: Evolving Our Electricity Systems from the Bottom Up; System Effects of Polarity in DC Distribution Systems; Making and Breaking Live DC Power with Electrical Connectors and Switches; Large Channel Letter Sign with DC Distribution; Digital Power Saves Energy and Reduces Carbon Footprint; and more.
The EMerge Alliance is a Platinum Sponsor of GBPF ’11. 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.
The GBPF ’11 web site is here.
