Industrial Session (new)

Industrial Session

Dr. Stella Maris Oggianu
Project Leader
United Technologies

Smart Controls in Integrated Energy-efficient Buildings and Distributed Power Sources

Commercial and residential buildings represent about 40% of the total energy consumed worldwide. Therefore, buildings present a tremendous opportunity for energy conservation. New standards, incentives and initiatives are being created to support energy goals towards Net-Zero or even positive energy buildings and districts. Methodologies, processes and technologies exist today that follow these new standards and the design and operation of new and existing buildings. These technologies can help reducing energy demand, supplying energy locally to buildings, shifting peak energy consumption, and improving the decision-making process throughout the building value chain. In particular,  building automation and improved controls have been demonstrated to reduce energy demand by 15%-30% and – when coupled to distributed  power sources - provide a viable path towards net-zero by loads prioritization, improved resource utilizations, and secure communications and energy supply. However, there exist challenges associated with the deployment of smart system controls related to system scalability and robustness, variability and uncertainty of renewable resources and loads, and the exposure to cyber-physical threats by connecting the system to external networks. Dr. Oggianu will present advanced control technologies applicable to integrated buildings and the challenges associated with their scalable deployment.

Speaker Bio:
Dr. Oggianu holds a Ph.D. in Energy and Nuclear Systems and an M.S. in Business and Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.). Stella has been working for United Technologies Research Center, UTRC, for the last 10 years where she is a Project Leader for Energy Systems. In that position, Stella has developed, executed and leading innovative programs for advanced energy microgrids and integrated buildings in the United States, China and Europe.  Stella has served as thesis reviewer for M.I.T. System Design Management program and for the University College Cork, in Ireland. Stella has also served as Assistant Professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She has over 10 papers in recognized journals and conferences, and has filed 12 patents.