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2023
October
Enabling Solar and Micro-storage in Saskatchewan

Enabling Solar and Micro-storage in Saskatchewan

Name: Enabling Solar and Micro-storage in Saskatchewan
Start: Thu Oct 26 13:15:00 CST 2023
End: Thu Oct 26 17:30:00 CST 2023

Location: EA 106

1:15 pm Raman Paranjape – opening remarks, land acknowledgment, Ranjith (Ran) Narayanasamy CEO of PTRC – Greetings

1:20 – 1:45 Wyatt Baker – City of Regina

1:45 – 2:10 Doug Wagner – Engineering, URegina

2:10 – 2:35 Jason Praski – Saskatoon Solar Co-op and Martin Boucher – Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, USask

(10 minute break)

2:45 – 3:10 Nathan Hoffart & Cory Gelowitz – SaskPower

3:10 – 3:35 Brett Dolter – Economics, URegina

3:35 – 4:00 Plenary discussion of the path forward to enable solar and micro-storage in SK

4:00 – 4:05 Raman Paranjape – closing remarks

4:05 – 5:30 Pizza & Beer Reception / Discussions (CK 185)

Bios and Pictures

Raman Paranjape Ph.D., P.Eng. Raman is the Associate Dean Research and Grad Studies in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science. Dr. Paranjape’s research interests are in both physical systems and software systems. Research in physical systems has focused on the development of sensor systems and new technologies in image and signal processing for real world applications in robotics and automated systems. Dr. Paranjape is currently working with SaskTel in a Mitacs supported study into the operations of Heterogeneous Cellular Networks (HetNets) using the University of Regina campus as a Test Bed. He also has a Mitacs project on Potash Mine safety and the use of Ground Penetrating Radar to evaluate the thickness / stability of mine room roofs. raman.paranjape@uregina.ca

Ranjith (Ran) Narayanasamy M. ENG, MBA, P. ENG.
Chief Executive Officer and President
Ranjith comes to the PTRC from a senior management position at SaskPower. He has been working in the utility industry since 2005 in Canada, and has over 16 years of versatile experiences in SCADA Cyber Security, Engineering and Operations, Corporate Finance, Business Transformation, Green Field Hydro Electric Development and Indigenous Business Development. He has also worked on SaskPower’s Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Mobilization to India Initiative to build partnerships with Indian thermal utilities.

Wyatt Baker P.Eng. is a Senior Engineer within the City of Regina’s Land, Real Estate & Facilities Department, managing several projects including: rooftop solar photovoltaic systems, charging infrastructure for the battery electric bus fleet roll-out, and the Energy and Sustainability Framework implementation plan for City facilities .

Doug Wagner P.Eng. Teaching Focus: Analog Electronics, Analog Design; Energy and Power Topics, geared to Electronic Systems Students; Power Quality; Industrial Electrical Protection and Coordination; Economics of Electrical Power in Industrial Applications; Student Capstone Project Support and Management. Research Support and Interests: Arc Flash Mitigation Strategies; Small Scale Generation applied to Demand Side Management; Enhanced Engineering Teaching Engagement Strategies; Engineering Recruitment Strategies in Saskatchewan; Industry Liaison Doug.Wagner@uregina.ca

Jason Praski is the Principal of Exa Energy Consulting, where he draws from his 30 years of unique experience in the energy sector in Saskatchewan to help organizations understand and accomplish their most cost-effective clean energy climate actions. Jason has a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Saskatchewan and has contributed as a project planner, developer and advisor on a variety of technologies and businesses including solar power, energy storage, electric vehicles, bioenergy, natural gas, waste heat and others. In 2015 Jason joined the board of the SES Solar Co-operative where he has been fortunate to play a lead role in developing several of their commercial and industrial solar power installations. Jason lives in Saskatoon and puts his clean energy knowledge to work at home with a solar powered house and vehicle.

Martin Boucher Ph.D. Dr. Boucher is a Faculty Lecturer at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan. He leads the Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) and plays a key role in the Governance and Entrepreneurship in Northern and Indigenous Areas (GENI) program. His research focuses on Public Sector Entrepreneurship and Energy Transition Acceleration. Within this research area, he is interested in energy justice, comparative public policy, low-income energy efficacy, renewable energy cooperatives, northern entrepreneurship, and small modular reactors.

Nathan Hoffart, Manager, Customer Solutions: Nathan leads Customer Solutions at SaskPower where the team develops strategy and builds and implements customer-facing products, programs, and services. Customer Solutions is a team of engineers and program managers focused on EVs and electrification, distributed generation and storage, demand side management, and smart technologies. Nathan has worked in various roles at SaskPower since 2011 and is a graduate of the College of Commerce at the University of Saskatchewan.

Cory Gelowitz, Project Manager, Grid Modernization: Cory plays an integral role in developing SaskPower’s long-term grid modernization strategy and roadmap. As the Portfolio Manager for Distribution Transformation, Cory leads the development of new and innovative initiatives that will enable SaskPower to accommodate the introduction of electric vehicles, customer generation and smart technologies.

Brett Dolter is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics, University of Regina. Brett’s research is focused on modelling the costs and consequences of climate and energy policy. In a recent paper Brett modelled the financial returns from rooftop solar in Regina, and surveyed Regina residents to understand how many households might install rooftop solar under different solar programs. Brett also led the ‘Let’s Talk Solar’ engagement process for SaskPower in 2017, which explored ways to improve SaskPower’s solar program offerings.