Events
Dec 10-11, 2024

EMH 2024 Annual Forum

We are excited to announce the 2024 EMH Annual Forum, co-hosted once again with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) on December 10-11 at the National Art Centre in Ottawa. This year, our forum is set to provide a platform for critical insights and forward-thinking discussions over two dynamic days.

Day one is packed with sessions on Modelling Emerging Technologies, Model Comparison, addressing Innovations and Challenges in Distribution Systems, and panels on Data Driven Decision Making, as well as AI and Optimization.

Day two shifts focus to Policymaking and Decision-Making Discussions, featuring topics on Strengthening System Reliability, the Economic Realities of Energy Transitions, and Sustainability Considerations in Energy Transitions. Continuing our tradition, we will spotlight the Energy Modelling Ecosystem Initiative, and we are excited to introduce a new feature this year: a poster pitch competition.

While each day is geared toward specific interests, the forum is structured to be valuable and engaging for all attendees, anticipating 250-300 in-person participants.

Join us for this pivotal event, designed to arm both technical modellers and policy professionals with the latest tools and insights necessary to influence the energy sector’s evolution. Connect with peers, engage in critical debates, and be part of pioneering solutions at the forefront of energy transformation.

 



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EMH 2024 Annual Forum
Dec 10-11, 2024|National Arts Centre|Ottawa
Canada's Path Forward: Leveraging Advanced Modelling to Enhance Energy Resilience and Prosperity
Agenda
Day
1
Dec 10, 2024
Technical & Modelling Discussions
7:45-8:45
Lobby

Registration & Coffee

8:45-9:00
Canada Room

Welcome Remarks & Introduction

Edouard Clement – Executive director – Energy Modelling Hub

Larissa P. Pupo Nogueira- Team Lead – Energy Planning and Modelling – IRENA

9:00-10:30

Session 1: Modelling Emerging Technologies

Chair : Drew Leyburne  – Assistant Deputy Minister (NRCan)

This session brings together expert modellers to discuss challenges and innovations in emerging technologies, including Direct Air Capture (DAC), Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), Hydrogen, and Biofuels to name just a few.

Speakers:

  • Etienne Bernier – CanmetENERGY
  • Brendan Danaher – University of Victoria
  • David Layzell – University of Calgary
  • Melissa Lemire – Hydro-Québec
  • Eric Stewart – Environment and Climate Change Canada
10:30-11:00
Foyer

Networking & Poster Break

11:00-12:30

Session 2: Navigating the Energy Transition: Innovations and Challenges in Distribution Systems

Chair: Julia McNally – Toronto Hydro

Outline & Topics: This panel will concentrate on the energy transition and the distribution system. The discussion will address key challenges facing the distribution system, including how to expand to support new loads like electrification and data centres, understanding the value that distributed resources bring to the grid, and the costs and difficulties of integrating distributed solar and battery storage.

Speakers:

Amara Slaymaker – Dunsky Energy + Climate
Brian McMillan – NRCan
Jotham Peters – Navius Research
Jeremy Keen – NREL
Michael Swift – Hydro Ottawa

12:30-13:30

Lunch Break

13:30-14:00
Canada Room

Session 3: Poster Pitch Competition

Join us for thePoster Pitch Competition, where you’ll get a quick and engaging overview of the dozen-plus posters on display at this year’s forum. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the latest research and innovative ideas!

14:00-15:30

Session 4: Model Calibration, Validation and Comparison 

Chair: Madeleine McPherson – Associate Professor at UVIC & co-director at EMH

This session will highlight key outcomes from the first Multi-Model Comparison Forum, focusing on the purpose, process, and use of tools like CODERS and IDEA. Discussions will cover the alignment on general assumptions and how well teams adhered to specified inputs. High-level comparisons will draw out trends in Clean Electricity Regulation and Net Zero scenarios, including the impact of constrained transmission, and explain why results differ between models, linking variations to differences in model formulation and input alignment.

Speakers:

Pascal Lesage – Environment and Climate Change Canada
Michel Denault– HEC Montréal
Mislav Rogosic – ESMIA
Madeleine Seatle – SESIT – University of Victoria
Cameron Wade – Sutubra Research
Steven Wong – NRCan

15:30-16:00

Networking & Poster Break

 

16:00-17:30

Session 5: Energy System Optimization Models and AI Panel

Chair: Kathleen Vaillancourt – ESMIA

This session will explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can be leveraged to improve energy system modeling and inform decision-making. The discussion will feature innovative uses of neural networks and approaches for supporting decisions in complex, uncertain scenarios. The panel will also address AI’s role in forecasting and its transformative impact on energy modeling, emphasizing strategies to build trust and ensure reliability in AI-driven solutions for the energy sector.
Speakers:
Mackenzie Judson- University of Victoria
Behdad Ehsani – Artelys
Antoine Lessard-Landry – Polytechnique Montréal
Sara Seguin – GERAD & Université du Québec à Chicoutimi

 

17:30-20:00

Welcome Reception & Cocktail

 

Day
2
Dec 11, 2024
Policymaking and Decision-Making Discussion
8:00-9:00

Registration and Coffee

9:00-10:30

Session 6: Collaborative Approaches to Strengthening System Reliability

Chair: Scott Barfield-McGinnis – NERC

This session will address the complexities of system reliability in energy modeling, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among diverse stakeholders. The discussion will explore integrating reliability metrics and climate projections into energy models to better manage and predict system stability. Experts will share methodologies for improving model responsiveness to extreme weather and resource shifts, while also discussing how climate data integration enhances future planning and reliability assessments. Case studies and research insights will align model advancements with strategic policy planning.

Dheepak Krishnamurthy – EPRI
Pierre-Olivier Pineau – HEC Montreal
Mike Risavy – IESO
Mashael Yazdanie – EMPA

10:30-11:00

Networking & Poster Break

11:00-12:30

Session 7: Sustainability Considerations in Energy Transitions

Chair: Mark Winfield – York University

This session will explore balancing carbon and non-carbon sustainability factors in energy transitions. It will highlight the importance of life-cycle perspectives and emphasize avoiding ‘carbon tunnel vision.’ By considering environmental, economic, and social dimensions, the session will showcase how comprehensive assessments can guide strategic energy planning while addressing trade-offs and benefits.

Jamie Kneen – MiningWatch Canada
Sudeshna Mohanty – RMI
M. V. Ramana – UBC

12:30-13:30

Lunch Break

 

13:30-14:45

Session 8: Spotlight on the Energy Modelling Ecosystem Initiative

Chair – Normand Mousseau – Institut de l’énergie Trottier & co-director at EMH

This lightning round session will showcase various energy modeling initiatives and innovations.

Peter Johnston – ECCC: Assessing the Landscape of Public Sector GHG Estimation Tools
Jessica Webster – CanmetENERGY – TaNDM
Mark Chapeskie – EHRC – Electricity Sector Workforce Projections
Brett Kerrigan – Building Decarbonization Alliance: Open-Source Model
Da Huo & Sourabh Jain – City of Toronto: Modelling Toronto’s Net Zero Strategy Using LENZ Modelling Suite
Richard Hendricks – University of Toronto: CODERS
Muhammad Awais – UVIC: MessageiX Canada
Jonas Kraasch & Deven Azavedo – UVIC & EMH: Open Insights & IDEA

14:45-15:15

Networking & Poster Break

15:15-16:45

Session 9: Economic Efficiency and Political Acceptability

Larissa P. Pupo Nogueira- Team Lead – Energy Planning and Modelling – IRENA

This panel will discuss the economic and social implications of the energy transition, focusing on affordability, energy poverty, and consumer impacts. Topics will include how rising energy costs affect public and political acceptance, strategies for mitigating rate increases, and the integration of financial considerations into energy modeling to support robust decision-making. The session will draw on examples from regions implementing rate mitigation and emphasize the ongoing need to evaluate system costs for sustainable energy policies.

James Glynn – ESMA
Mark Purdon – Université du Québec à Montréal
Elizaveta Kuznetsova – ESMIA
Vaios Triantafyllou – Cornell University

16:45-17:00

Closing Remarks

In-person Edition Registration
Register here for free!
Online Edition Registration
Online Edition
Sponsorship opportunities
Contact us!
Find the schedule
of the event!
View the agenda