Electrical Engineering & the Power and AI Initiative Joint Seminar

Friday, February 6 | 11am - 12pm

SEC LL2.224

"AI in Smart Grid"

Speaker: Professor Chen-Ching Liu, American Electric Power Professor Emeritus and Research Professor, Virginia Tech

Abstract: Many applications of Artificial Intelligence to power systems have been proposed over the last 40 years.  The maturity of these basic AI technologies, including expert systems, artificial neural networks, fuzzy logic, and multi-agent systems, varies from proof-of-concept R&D to practical implementation and use in real-world power grids. Although the technical feasibility of AI technologies has been established, success is limited in widespread commercialization and adoption by the power industry. In this seminar, the presenter will provide an explanation of the AI applications to power grids that he and his group have conducted over decades, including on-going projects The purpose is to demonstrate the applicability and feasibility of AI technologies as well as their limitations. The seminar will include a discussion of the lessons learned and future opportunities for new AI tools in smart grids. 

Speaker Bio: Chen-Ching Liu is American Electric Power Professor Emeritus and Research Professor at Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Virginia Tech. He is also an Emeritus Ful Professor of University College Dublin, Ireland. During 1983-2017, he was on the faculty of University of Washington, Iowa State University, University College Dublin, Ireland, and Washington State University.  Professor Liu received an IEEE Third Millennium Medal and PES Outstanding Power Engineering Educator Award. He received the Dale Douglass Award for Technical Achievement in 2024 and Attwood Associate Award in 2006, from the CIGRE U.S. National Committee. Dr. Liu received a Doctor Honoris Causa from Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Romania. He chaired the IEEE PES Fellow Committee and Technical Committee on Power System Analysis, Computing and Economics. Professor Liu is the U.S. Member on CIGRE Study Committee D2: Information Systems, Telecommunication, and Cyber Security. He co-founded the series of international symposia on Intelligent System Applications to Power Systems (ISAP). Dr. Liu is a Life Fellow of the IEEE and Member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering.