Welcome Message from IEEE EPEC 2020 Co-Chairs
Welcome to the first Virtual EPEC 2020!
On behalf of the Organizing Committee of the IEEE Canada Electric Power and Energy Conference, we warmly welcome you to its first virtual edition. This 20th edition of EPEC would have been the first time that IEEE Canada has held its flagship power and energy conference in Edmonton but, due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, it is the first time the conference is hosted as a fully virtual event. This year, our EPEC will feature more than 100 paper presentations along with tutorials, special sessions, panels, eight plenary keynote talks, and many guest speakers. The program represents the latest technical developments in the field.
Our Conference theme for this year, “Power Systems in Transition,” reflects the current landscape of mandating energy diversification and the technological foundation required to make it a success. Our choice of keynote speakers addresses future paradigms that will shake the electrical utility business.
The EPEC 2020 organizing committee is also running three Industry Sessions and a Women in Engineering Forum with accomplished speakers and leaders. For the second time, IEEE Canada will host the Humanitarian Technology Forum in lieu of its flagship International Humanitarian Technology Conference, bringing in strong alignment with UN goals and displaying advances in First Nations engagement and renewable energy. All these activities are open to conference attendees at no extra charge. The EPEC 2020 will also be co-hosted with two pivotal activities, the Second Richard Marceau Energy Symposium and the Alberta Power Industry Consortium Innovation Forum.
On the financial side, the IEEE Canada, IEEE Northern Canada Section, the IEEE Southern Alberta Section, the North Saskatchewan Section, and the Winnipeg Section are the main supporters of the conference. We also gratefully acknowledge the generous support of our exhibitors.
Finally, we would like to acknowledge the tremendous voluntary efforts of the Organizing Committee members and all other volunteers, who have generously donated their time and experience. We would also like to thank the chairs of the technical program committee and the reviewers. We are also grateful to the plenary keynote speakers, tutorial instructors, and forum panelists and we thank them for helping to make the conference a success. Authors and participants are also key elements and we thank them too.
Alexandre Nassif and Petr Musilek
General Chairs, EPEC 2020