ARI Training

Training workshop for engineers from the Indonesian Government, Industry and Academia (BPPT B2TE) 16-29 October 2016. Topics included technology transfer on renewable energy and microgrids with special focus on the operation and maintenance of smartgrid networks.

Short course prepared for visiting engineers from Yildiz Technical University Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute
Arlington, VA, Sept. 7-16, 2012.

This short course was designed to provide basic and intermediate level content dealing with the technology, standards, regulations and best practices in connection with the smart grid and home energy management systems. The teaching and research staff from the Yildiz Technical University in Istanbul, Turkey attending this course were provided with a working knowledge about the design and operation of the smart grid and the smart plug including its various sensing, communication, control and operating protocols. The first five days of the workshop were conducted at the Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute in Arlington, VA and the remaining part took place at Syracuse University in New York state. The daily program is shown below:

Training program for Engineers and Managers from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)

Arlington, Virginia
Nov 26, 2007 – Dec 21, 2007

The following topics were covered in this workshop:

• Admin and Personnel
• Marketing and Customer Services
• Power Distribution Management (Technical)
• Power Distribution Management (CEO)
• Finance & Accounts

Training in Engineering and Management Efficiency Improvements in Electric Power Distribution Networks Workshop for Engineers and Managers from the Electricity Company of Ghana

Alexandria, Virginia
Nov 27 2006 – Dec 01 2006

The following topics were covered in this workshop:

• Topic 1:  Service Restoration and Customer Satisfaction Issue, by Saifur Rahman, Virginia Tech.
  
  
• Topic 2:  Technical Loss Reduction, by Daniel J. Ward, Dominion Virginia Power
  
  
• Topic 3:  Power Theft and Strategies to Deal with this Issue, by Paul Clark, Bob Saint and Michael Pehosh,
  • National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
  • Trends in Power System Design, by Mike Marshall, InfraSource Technology.
  • High Voltage Distribution Systems, by Mike Marshall, InfraSource Technology.

Engineering and Management Efficiency Improvements in Electric Power Distribution Networks: Training Program for NEPA (Nigeria) Engineers and Managers

Alexandria, Virginia
4-8 April 2005

The training was organized over a five-day week. The workshop-type layout allowed structured interactive decisions between the participants and presenters. The three-hour time slot for each of the four topics was used for formal presentations, best practices in the United States, seeking to find opportunities for applications in Nigeria and discussions with the presenters. Additional time was spent on site visits and discussions.

The following topics were covered in this workshop:

• Introductions, overview of the workshop content
  Saifur Rahman, Virginia Tech
  
  
• Topic 1: Power system distribution focusing on high-voltage distribution with small-capacity transformers (increase efficiency and discourage wire theft), Mike W. Marshall, Synergetic Design, Inc
  
  
• Topic 2: Customer data mining (identify highest-value customers as well as highest-payment-risk customers; setting appropriate tariffs for customer mix), Olivia Parr Rud, OLIVIAGroup
  
  
• Topic 3: Combined meter-reading and spot billing with handheld computer printer and remotely-accessed digital meters
  Jeff McWhirt, Dominion Power
  
  
• Topic 4: Customer service center (trouble-call management, connections, disconnections),  Dan Ward, Dominion Power
  
  
• NRECA presentation, Mike Ganley, NRECA
  
  
• Site visit atNRECA, Mike Pehosh, NRECA
  
  
• Participant presentations and discussions, Michael Willingham, Virginia Tech