Keynote Speakers

Professor Thomas M. Jahns

US National Academy of Engineering, IEEE Fellow

Grainger Emeritus Professor of Power Electronics and Electrical Machines

University of Wisconsin – Madison, USA

Speech Title: Meeting the Challenges of Embedded Power Electronics in Tomorrow’s Sustainable World

Abstract: Power electronics engineers are facing the challenge of finding more effective techniques for embedding power electronics in an ever-expanding constellation of consumer, residential, industrial, and transportation equipment. Many of the most appealing candidates for embedded power electronics require power levels that are many orders of magnitude higher than our hand-held devices, and they live in environments that are far more hostile in terms of their thermal, vibrational, and corrosive operating conditions. Despite these daunting challenges, incredible progress has already been made during the past 70 years, and extraordinary new developments in wide-bandgap switches, materials, and manufacturing processes are beckoning us to push well beyond the limits of today’s embedded power electronics technology. By looking both backward and forward in time, this presentation will issue a call to all power electronics engineers and our professional colleagues in adjacent fields to engage in this exciting but daunting multi-disciplinary quest to more completely fulfill the destiny of embedded power electronics. We can only succeed by working together, and future generations will thank us for our efforts.

Bio.: Dr. Thomas Jahns received his PhD in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) in 1978.

In 1998, Dr. Jahns joined the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as a Grainger Professor of Power Electronics and Electric Machines, where he served as a Director/Co-Director of the Wisconsin Electric Machines and Power Electronics Consortium (WEMPEC) for 14 years from 2007 to 2021. Prior to joining UW, he worked at GE Corporate Research and Development in Niskayuna, NY, for 15 years. Since his retirement from the active faculty in 2021, Dr. Jahns is continuing to pursue research as a Grainger Emeritus Professor on high-performance permanent magnet machine drives using wide-bandgap switches, including integrated motor drives.

Dr. Jahns received the 2005 IEEE Nikola Tesla Technical Field Award and the William Newell Award from the IEEE Power Electronics Society (PELS) in 1999. He has served both PELS and the IEEE Industry Applications Society (IAS) as a Distinguished Lecturer. Dr. Jahns is a PELS Past President and served two years as Division II Director on the IEEE Board of Directors (2001-2002). He was elected as a member of the US National Academy of Engineering in 2015 and received the IEEE Medal in Power Engineering in 2022.

Professor Faz Rahman

Life-Fellow IEEE

Emeritus Professor, School of Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications

The University of New South Wales, Australia

Speech Title: Recent Development in IPM Synchronous Machines for Traction and other Emerging Applications

Abstract: The interior permanent-magnet synchronous machines have now become the mainstay of electric vehicles up to a few hundred kilowatts capacity. The wide constant-power speed range, high efficiency and compact size are the reasons for its wide adoption in the traction industry. The availability, cost and supply issues of the PM materials notwithstanding. This keynote traces the developments over the recent past that led to this and discusses future developments of the IPM motor and its controls that are in the horizon. One of the emerging applications of compact and hence light-weight motors will be in the future aviation industry with vertical take-off aircrafts and drones for personal and commercial transport. These applications are expected to employ multitudes of high-speed machines far beyond the calls of land-based electric vehicles. Another emerging application is for compressors in the air-conditioning industry, especially in data-storage centers, where high speed of operation increases the efficiency of compressors. The trend towards reduced usage of PM materials in machines, with elimination of PM materials in rotor excited machines will also be described.

Bio.: Faz Rahman graduated in in 1972 from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. He obtained his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in 1975 and 1978 from University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, UK. He joined the General Electric Co, in UK as a Systems Design Engineer in September 1978 for developing automation software for electrical drives in the steel and aluminum rolling mills. He joined the National University of Singapore in 1980 as a lecturer, after two years at the GEC. He joined the University of New South Wales, Australia in 1988 as a Senior Lecturer, from where he retired as a full Professor in Energy Systems in December 2020. He has authored 4 books, 24 invited chapters in books, 128 journal and more than 384 conference papers. He is a Life-Fellow of the IEEE. His significant contributions are in the research in the high-performance control techniques, design of compact IPM machines with wide field-weakening range, model predictive and sensorless control. He has 16774 Citations and h-index of 58 in Google Scholar.

Professor Wei Xu

IEEE Fellow and IET Fellow

Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

Speech Title: Advances in Design and Control for Linear Induction Machines and Drives

Abstract: Starting from a brief structural description of single-sided linear induction machines (LIMs), their main applications will be exposed with specific reference to transportation (such as linear metro, light railway, MAGLEV), launchers, actuators for industry, etc. As a first step, the main differences between rotating and linear induction motors will be highlighted, focusing on the aspects end effects in details. Design criteria of LIMs will be specifically discussed, emphasizing the main differences with the classic rotating induction motor design, caused by end effects, large air-gaps, half-filled slots, high leakage inductances, etc. Afterwards, in order to improve the working efficiency, it will share advancements in the accurate modelling, loss minimization control strategy, multi-objective optimization technique, etc., for LIMs and drives. Researchers and engineers from electrical, mechanical and information fields may find this speech very useful when dealing with transportation motor and drive related design, control, system integration, which can be extended to other industrial applications.

Bio.: Prof. Wei Xu has mainly focused on design and control for linear machines and drives since 2005. He received the double B.E. degree from Tianjin University (TJU), China, in June 2002, and M.E. degree from TJU in February 2005, and the Ph.D. degree from Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IEECAS), in July 2008, respectively, all in electrical engineering. From 2008 to 2012, he made Postdoctoral Fellow with University of Technology Sydney, Vice Chancellor Research Fellow with Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Japan Science Promotion Society Invitation Fellow with Meiji University, respectively. From October 2013 to December 2023, he was Professor with Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China. Since January 2024, he has been Professor and Director for Key Laboratory with IEECAS. Prof. Xu has been one IEEE Fellow since 2024, and one IET Fellow since 2018. Prof. Xu is the General Chair for 2021 International Symposium on Linear Drives for Industry Applications (LDIA 2021) and 2023 IEEE International Conference on Predictive Control of Electrical Drives and Power Electronics (PRECEDE 2023). He is the funding chair for Wuhan Chapter in IEEE Industrial Electronics Society, and one International Steering Committee member for LDIA. He has been (associate) editor for 10 IEEE Journals, including IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics, and so on. Till May 2024, Prof. Xu has published over 170 journal papers in IEEE Series, and 11 books, and been granted for over 150 Invention Patents, which has been cited by over 9800 times with H-index 48 based on Google Scholar.

Professor Zhe Chen

IEEE Fellow and IET Fellow

Aalborg University, Denmark

Speech Title: Advancing Energy Technologies for Clean and Sustainable Energy Systems

Abstract:The global energy landscape is undergoing a profound transition toward cleaner, sustainable systems driven by renewable energy and technological innovation. Electrification is to play a pivotal role in future energy systems, while hydrogen is emerging as a significant energy carrier. Traditional fossil-fuel-based technologies are being phased out in favour of clean energy solutions like wind turbines, photovoltaic (PV) panels, power-to-hydrogen systems, and carbon capture technologies. These advancements are reshaping the structure and characteristics of modern energy systems while introducing new challenges.

This speech will provide a brief overview of the current state of clean energy solutions, describe the potential infrastructures and the evolving feature, outline the challenges of future energy systems. It will also explore some research and technological developments that contribute to sustainable energy solutions.

Bio.: Dr Chen is a Professor with the Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, Denmark. Professor Chen’s main current research interests are wind energy, power electronics, power system and modern energy systems and AI applications in energy system. In these areas, he has led many international and national research projects and has supervised many PhD, Postdoctoral researchers and visiting PhDs/scholars, he has more than 1000 technical publications.

Dr Chen is a member of editorial boards for many international journals. He is a Fellow of IET, a Chartered Engineer in the U.K., a Fellow of IEEE, a member of the Danish Academy of Technical Sciences and a member of European Academy of Sciences and Arts.

Professor Li Qi

IEEE Fellow

Xi'an Jiaotong University, China

Speech Title: Recent developments in LVDC and MVDC

Abstract: With increasing implementations of renewables and battery energy storages, LVDC and MVDC resurge in recent years for their competitive solutions to AC counterparts. This keynote speech traces recent trends in LVDC and MVDC applications and development of key technologies. Three key technologies in successful operation of LVDC and MVDC systems include: 1) multi-port converters and energy routers for controllable integration and power flow, 2) converter control and hierarchical control architecture for safe operations and interoperability, and 3) reliable and economical DC protection devices and methods.

Bio.: Prof. Li “Lisa” Qi received her B.E. degree from Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU), China, in 1994, and M.E. degree from Zhejiang University (ZJU) in 1997, and the Ph.D. degree from Texas A&M University, in 2004, respectively. All in electrical engineering. From 2004 to 2009, Dr. Qi was a research faculty at Florida State University, USA. In 2009, Dr. Qi joined ABB Research Center in Raleigh, NC, USA. From 2017 to 2024, she was a Senior Principal Scientist at ABB. Being an industrial researcher, Dr. Qi worked on various types of AC and DC commercial and industrial systems, DC distribution protection, and integration of renewables. In April 2024, Dr. Qi joined XJTU as a professor in College of Electrical Engineering.

Dr. Qi became IEEE Fellow in 2024 for contributions to DC distribution protection and architectures of DC shipboard power systems. Dr. Qi is the Co-Chair of technical committee of 2021 and 2024 IEEE International Conferences on DC Microgrid (ICDCM). She has been (associate) editors for several IEEE Journals, including IEEE Transactions on Power Delivery. Dr. Qi has 20 granted international patents and published >80 journal and conference papers.

Professor Jizhong Zhu

Foreign Academician of Academy of Sciences of Bologna Institute

Foreign IEEE Fellow, IET Fellow, CSEE Fellow, AAIA Fellow, AIIA Fellow

South China University of Technology, China

Speech Title: Application of Power Electronic Technology in Integrated Smart Energy System

Abstract: Integrated Smart Energy System (ISES) is a complex multi-network system based on the power system, the Internet and other cutting-edge information technologies. The primary energy of ISES is renewable energy and ISES coupled with other systems tightly such as natural gas networks and transportation networks. Power electronic technology provides a good technology platform for contemporary power production and supply. It also supports the integrated smart energy system. Power electronic technology is an important supporting technology for the rapid development of the national economy, which can efficiently convert various energy sources into high-quality electric energy. Facing such a huge demand for manufacturing and energy needs of China, we must not only follow the world's advanced level in power electronic technology, but also need to carry out innovative development combine with domestic actual needs, so that technology can be better applied in the integrated smart energy system.

Bio.: Jizhong Zhu is a Professor of South China University of Technology, National Distinguished Expert, and Foreign Academician of Academy of Sciences of Bologna Institute, Italy. He is an IEEE Fellow, IET Fellow, CSEE Fellow, AAIA Fellow, AIIA Fellow, Chair of IEEE PES Smart Building, Loads, Customer Systems Technical Committee (China), Chair of IEEE Standard P2781 - Load Modeling and Simulation, Chair of IEEE Standard P2783 – Quick Response System, Chair of IEEE Standard P3436 – EV Charging Load Prediction, IEEE SMC Technical Committee member on Intelligent Power and Energy Systems. He is also an Expert of International Electrotechnical Commission WGs IEC SEG6, IEC TC22 AHG1, IEC TC22 AHG2, respectively. Dr. Zhu has worked at ALSTOM Grid Inc. in Washington State, Howard University in Washington, D.C., the National University of Singapore, Brunel University in England, Chongqing University in China, and China Southern Power Grid. He was a Fellow with ALSTOM Grid Inc., and an honorable advisory professor of Chongqing University. He has hosted and participated in more than 20 international large-scale power engineering projects, as well as led and participated in the compilation and formulation of 6 IEC and IEEE international standards. He has published six books, as well as over three hundred papers in the international journals and conferences. He has authorized more than 20 national patents and won more than 10 international and domestic academic awards. His research interest is in the analysis, operation, planning and control of power systems, integrated energy systems, smart grid, power markets as well as applications of renewable energy.